Perplexed- Santa reveals the secrets behind his Celtic return

Santa Claus has revealed that he got kitted out in Brendan Rodgers’ office before taking the SPFL Premiership trophy onto Celtic Park on Saturday.

Most aspects about the presentation ceremony is fairly predictable as platforms and stages are set up, fireworks put in place, photographers positioned and the dignitaries are wheeled out to hand over the precious medals.

Celtic altered that script on Saturday with a random injection of irony, calling the man in red in out of season in a move that delighted 60,000 cheering fans.

The background is less wholesome, during the darkest days of the season, while losing to Hearts on the back of a defeat at Kilmarnock Santa took the brunt of supporter unrest when he showed up with the hoops trailing 2-0 to Hearts with the match looking dead and buried at half-time.

On that occasion it would have been best to have told Santa to stay indoors but on Saturday Celtic certainly ‘read the room’ with fans on social media pushing for Santa’s redemption on Presentation Day.

Santa, played by actor Andrew Bryden, spoke to the Daily Record about his contrasting visits to Celtic Park:

I hadn’t realised at the time just how big a deal the original reaction would be. As anyone who knows me will tell you, I take the role of the big man in the red suit very seriously. Father Christmas is someone who should always be respected. So at the time of the booing, I was a bit perplexed.

But it soon became clear that the fans were venting their frustration at the performance that day. They pay their money and that is their right. It was a shame that it happened but I’m so glad we were able to put that right on Saturday.

He added:

When I got the call asking me to present the trophy, I was stunned but knew it would be a special moment. It was a very closely guarded secret and I arrived during the game to get changed in the manager’s office. The look on his face and that of the captain when I walked out was incredible.

I couldn’t hold back the emotion when the fans reacted as they did – you could see it in my face. I wasn’t expecting it at all. Celtic are a hugely charitable club and I can’t thank them enough for that gesture on Saturday, it was the perfect ending to the story.

Fans outside of Scotland would have been left in the dark as they watched clips of Santa turning up in Glasgow in mid-May but they were quickly put right on the irony of Saturday’s joyful return.