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Celtic Park- One resounding message from the stadium formerly known as Paradise

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Image for Celtic Park- One resounding message from the stadium formerly known as Paradise

Celtic Park was a pale shadow of its old self last night as the hoops beat Utrecht 4-2 in the Europa League.

While the club still peddles the myth of those magical European nights under the floodlights the reality is very different.

Once again the pocket of away fans created almost all of the noise and atmosphere.

There are a variety of reasons for the flatness at Celtic Park.

Twelve months ago it felt very different when YB Berne lost out 1-0 to a late goal in the Champions League.

CELTIC CUT DEEP

On the pitch Celtic had Kyogo Furuhashi, Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah, off it the Green Brigade were giving it heart and soul for 90 minutes plus.

Michael Nicholson has chosen to remove them one by one. The bank balance has swelled, the team has been decimated and the atmosphere destroyed.

A 3-0 lead after 20 minutes in a European match ought to be the the cue for lift off.

You’d expect the celebrating fans to push the team on for more, 5-0 at half time wouldn’t be unrealistic.

Instead Utrecht scored in the 44th minute. It took a full length save from Kasper Schmeichel to prevent the Dutch side from scoring a second.

At the start of November Celtic suspended the Green Brigade.

The lively corner of the stadium that spread the noise and atmosphere. Based on a grainy video showing nothing in particular 300 fans had their Season Tickets suspended.

GREEN BRIGADE BAN

With the Green Brigade banned the true extent of the Celtic support has been revealed.

Most Season Ticket holders have held their ticket for 20 years, many are pushing towards 30 years. They are not in the first, or even second flush of youth.

They aren’t the type to jump up and shout. That’s life. Fans in their twenties are livelier and more animated than those in their forties and fifties.

Interim Chairman Brian Wilson called for unity among the fans to back Martin O’Neill in his return as manager.

He has done nothing to follow that up. Twenty five days since that call Wilson has yet to find a time to meet with the Celtic Fans Collective.

Utrecht fans chanted ‘Celtic, Celtic give us a song’.

On Sunday Celtic host Falkirk. Around 40,000 fans will turn up to watch, mainly in silence.

In the next 10 weeks Celtic will be sending out their Season Ticket Renewal email. Usually signed off by the manager with a 5% price increase.

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Joe McHugh has edited Video Celts since 2010, every day covering events in and around Scotland's most successful club.

When a six year stretch at the Sunday Mirror came to an end it was clear that the future was digital, print had ran its race.

Smart phones and social media created a new landscape, Video Celts has certainly made an impact with Joe described as having an unhealthy obsession by Peter Lawwell at the 2024 Celtic AGM. A priceless endorsement.

There are issues breaking around the clock, no two days are the same. More than 50 years on from his first match Joe is enjoying the ongoing successes of Celtic.

6 comments

  • Phil says:

    Was at the game – I’m no fan of the G.B. political views but 100% a huge void last night in the support – they are sorely missed.

  • Stevie says:

    I’m a celtic da I support the Green Brigade.
    I was in the old jungle we where much worse.
    Not
    Another
    Penny.

  • Bob (original) says:

    You’d think that MN and Wilson will have to break cover and engage with the support,

    before the ST renewal notices go out?

    They’ll probably make ‘promises’ about doing better in the summer window…! 🙁

  • Jim Duffy says:

    Renewals should be held back as long as possible to see what this useless board do to improve matters on the field and off it,me personally I think the mythical 10 to 15 thousand waiting list is a false scare tactic.

  • Clachnacuddin and the Hoops says:

    Bye Bye to Buy Buy when it comes to Celtic these days !

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