VENUE #59 GLASGOW CELTIC Celtic Park

SCOTTISH PREMIER

Celtic... 3
Dundee United... 0

Saturday 21st March 2015

@ Celtic Park Stadium
          Glasgow

ORIGIN AND BRIEF HISTORY

     Celtic was formed by an Irish Marist Brother Walfrid as a way of raising money for his charity   the poor children's dinner table on the 6th November 1887.  It was an ambition of Walfrid to relieve or expel poverty in the East end of Glasgow.  He got the idea from Hibernian who formed a few years earlier out of Irish immigrants in Edinburgh.  He named the club Celtic with the intention of reflecting the clubs Irish and Scottish roots
     The first match that Celtic played was apparently on the 28th May 1888 against Rangers and became the first of what is known these days as the "Old Firm" games.  Celtic were made up of a team of guest players mainly from Hibernian and  Irish players, or players with Irish backgrounds based at Scottish clubs. The goalkeeper was named \Michael "Mick" Dolan from Uddingston, South Lanarkshire, (no relation), and he played for Drumpellier until acquired by the new Glasgow team.  The Rangers team was reportedly a reserve team called the "Swifts" and had only 4 main team players in it.
     Celtic ran out winners by five goals to two and Neil McCallum goes down in history as the player to score the first ever goal for Celtic.

     If you look at the picture, (right), you will see that Celtic aren't wearing their traditional green and white hooped shirts, that's because they didn't originate until 1903, they wore a green and white striped shirt from 1889 to 1903, again the colour green is significant as to link the team with Ireland.
     The greatest period in Celtic's history has to be the 1966/67 season when not only did they win the European cup but they also won everything Scotland had to offer, the Scottish league, the Scottish league cup, the Scottish cup and the Glasgow cup scoring a record 196 goals in the process.
   

Memorial to Jock stein outside main stand

The manager at the time was John "Jock" Stein and many fans of Scottish football believe that Stein should have been knighted after his European success as Matt Busby was when his Manchester United side emulated Celtic's achievement the following year.  Apparently, Stein wasn't recognised in the Queen's birthday list because of  the intercontinental cup clash with Racing club of Argentina when Celtic had four players sent off.  He was eventually honoured in 1970 receiving a CBE, a bit of a compromise maybe.




RUN UP TO GAME

     This will be the fourth consecutive game between Celtic and Dundee United in two weeks.  The first game took place at Tannadice park and was the Scottish cup quarter final on the 8th of March and finished in a 1-1 draw.  Nadir Ciftci scored a penalty right on half time for the terrors but Leigh Griffiths equalised in the 71st minute after earlier missing a penalty.  Paul Dixon of Dundee United and Virgil Van Dijk of Celtic were sent off in the first half for fighting and Paul Paton of the terrors was also sent off in the second half for deliberate handball which led to the Griffiths missed penalty.

Main stand building

     The second game was the league cup final at Hampden Park last Sunday afternoon which Celtic won by two goals to nil.  Kris Commons opened the scoring in the 28th minute and the man who replaced him on the field in the 69th minute James Forrest scored after being on the pitch ten minutes.  United did slightly better this time round finishing with ten men, club captain Sean Dillon was sent off for a dangerous challenge on Emilio Izaguirre.
     Just three days ago the third match was played here at Celtic Park, it was the replay of the Scottish cup quarter final and the Terrors were trounced 4-0 with goals from Jason Denayer (16), Leigh Griffiths (57), Kris Commons (79) and Virgil Van Dijk (90).  Two more sending off's in this game, Anthony Stokes was sent off for Celtic for elbowing Paul Paton and Ryan McGowan was red carded for the visitors for a foul on Liam Henderson.
     Celtic make four changes from Tuesday night, out are James Forrest, Kris Commons, Anthony Stokes and Leigh Griffiths, being replaced by Gary MacKay-Steven, Stefan Johansen, Stuart Armstrong and John Guidetti.
     Three changes for Dundee, Callum Morris, Chris Erkstine and Ryan Dow are out and John Souttar, Charlie Telfer and Paul Dixon are in.

THE MATCH

     Seeing that these two clubs had player's sent off in the previous three games I was expecting a blood and thunder, no holes barred sort of attitude from the start but it was nothing of the sort in fact the early stages were quite tentative and cautious from both sides.

Celtic players celebrating third goal

  It took Celtic a quarter of a hour to get into their stride and take the lead with a fine strike from former United player Gary Mackay-Steven, he received the ball on the right hand edge of the Terrors penalty area and fired a low shot passed the Dundee keeper and into the net.
     Mackay-Steven became provider for the second goal in the 33rd minute when he rolled the ball back to Guidetti who's shot was deflected and looped over the head of Cierzniak in the Dundee goal.
     Just as the fans were leaving their seats for half time refreshments and to visit the watering hole Celtic made it 3-0. Mackay-Steven was involved again when he was scythed down outside the Dundee 18 yard box, Stefan Johansen took the free kick which was met by Virgil Van Dijk but his shot was partially blocked by the Terrors defence and back healed into the net by Jason Denayer.
     With Celtic being three goals to the good at half time the game, as a contest was as good as over and the Bhoys tried to make the second half an exhibition match which was entertaining but lacked passion and desire for it would have been nice to see a goal at the end where I was seated as the sun was hidden behind the Jock Stein stand about 20 minutes into the half and I would have actually been able to see something for a change.
    

THE CELTIC PARK EXPERIENCE

     What an absolute fantastic day out I've had today, no real problems with the journey and everything seemed to run smoothly and efficiently for a change, I didn't even have pay for the upgrade to first class on the train.

Can see stadium from Dalmarnock Stadium

When arriving at Glasgow Central station I purchased a return ticket to Dalmarnock which cost one pound ninety.  The train, or tube if you like leaves from platform sixteen which is down the escalators at the end of the platform area, you just have to keep going down I think it was two sets of escalators and the same amount of stairs, just follow the signs and you'll eventually get there.
     When you come out the exit door to Dalmarnock station you cross the road directly in front of you and follow the main road for about a mile till you come to the ground.  You can see Celtic Park from Dalmarnock station it's like a giant vessel in the distance, you can't miss it.
     After visiting the club shop I made my way up the area outside the main stand where they have statues of famous Characters from Celtic's past.  There is one of brother Walfrid the founder of the team, Jock Stein their great manager from the late 60's early 70's and one of  their legend player of the past Jimmy Johnstone.
    

Jock Stein stand

The inside is fantastic, all corners are filled with seats and so it is fully enclosed.  The stand where I watched the game from, the North stand lower has two tiers and is fully covered so are the two end stands behind the goals the Jock Stein stand and the Lisbon Lions.  The stand opposite where I was sitting is the South stand it's fully covered but only single tiered which means the two end stands adjoining it have wind shields attached to the ends of the upper tiers.
     The toilets are in a good condition and, really, there's not a bad thing to say about the place.  The atmosphere is electric, everybody gets right behind the team and they know all the Celtic (Keltic) folk songs that they play at intervals.
     Price of entry is quite reasonable I paid £34 for my seat and for a top flight Premier club that's good.  I've been to Manchester City and that cost me £44 to get in and Chelsea's Stamford Bridge £51.
     If I have to moan about something then catching the subway train back was a nightmare, I left five minutes before the end of the game but the first train isn't until quarter past five meaning that everybody who stops till the end of the game that's travelling in the same direction as you is trying to get on the same train and it was jam packed.
     Also, I wish there had been an eclipse of the sun today for the duration of the game as it was a nightmare to see what was going on and to take pictures.

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