This evening we play lower league opponents on neutral territory. Thirty years ago Celtic did something very similar when we took on Whitehill Welfare at Easter Road…
Dumbarton v Auchinleck Talbot , Scottish Cup Third Round at Marbill Coaches Stadium in Dumbarton on 29 November 2025. Auchinleck fans celebrate with their team. Photo IMAGO Andy Scott
This afternoon Celtic will make the short trip down the M77 to take on lower league outfit Auchinleck Talbot in the Scottish Cup in the neutral surroundings of Rugby Park, after the Ayrshire sides own Beechwood Park stadium was deemed to be unsuitable to host such a big occasion, principally by Police Scotland.
Some will say it takes away some of the romance of the cup and I understand that but it was probably the correct decision in the end as more than ten thousand extra spectators will be able to attend, making Auchinleck Talbot a small fortune in the process. It actually makes perfect sense for all involved.
Dumbarton v Auchinleck Talbot , Scottish Cup Third Round at Marbill Coaches Stadium in Dumbarton on 29 November 2025 Auchinleck Talbot’s players celebrate with their fans. Photo IMAGO Andy Scott
I recall a decade ago we faced lower league opposition in the shape of East Kilbride in the fifth round of the national cup at Airdrie’s stadium, and won by two goals to nil against a dogged and determined underdog side. It was hardly a classic match as far as the Celtic support was concerned.
Kazim-Richards scores during the East Kilbride v Celtic match in the Scottish Cup February 2016. Photo Geo (The Celtic Star)
Kazim-Richards applauds the Celtic support after the East Kilbride v Celtic match in the Scottish Cup February 2016. Photo Geo (The Celtic Star)
Incidentally the more things change the more they stay the same. The Celtic banner at Airdrie that afternoon a decade ago had three words – ‘SACK THE BOARD‘.
Sack the Board Banner help up by Celtic supporters during the East Kilbride v Celtic match in the Scottish Cup February 2016. Photo Geo (The Celtic Star)
Taking a longer look back, Thirty years to be exact ago we faced the same kind of situation when we were paired with Whitehill Welfare in the third round of the Scottish Cup. Welfare were regarded as the best side in the East of Scotland circuit, and had been enjoying a long unbeaten run, which came to a halt to just a week before the clash with Celtic.
Tommy Burns’s side were the Scottish Cup holders and boasted a pool of talented players such as Jackie McNamara, Tom Boyd, Paul McStay, John Collins and Pierre Van Hoojidonk, and were naturally seen as overwhelming favourites.
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- PAUL MCSTAY. 1995 -1996 CELTIC PHOTOCALL. Mandatory Credit: Allsport UK/ALLSPORT
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- JOHN COLLINS. 1995 – 1996 CELTIC PHOTOCALL. Photo: Allsport UK/ALLSPORT
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- 1995: PORTRAIT OF PIERRE VAN HOOIJDONK TAKEN AT THE 1995 – 1996 CELTIC PHOTOCALL. Mandatory Credit: Allsport UK/ALLSPORT
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- 1995: PORTRAIT OF TOM BOYD TAKEN AT THE 1995 – 1996 CELTIC PHOTOCALL. Mandatory Credit: Allsport UK/ALLSPORT
The pressure was all on the holders to win, and win by a big margin as rivals Rangers (1872, RIP) thumped non league Keith just 24 hour before, hitting double figures as they put ten without reply past the highland league side.
On a bitterly freezing cold day in Leith, the non league side performed heroically keeping Celtic at bay for a full thirty nine minutes thanks to the performance of postman keeper Scott Cantley who pulled off a string of impressive stops, but was helpless as Pierre Van Hoojidonk opened the scoring much to the relief of the huge travelling Celtic support.
Morten Weighorst set up Celtic’s second and third goals
The floodgates were expected to open, but the East of Scotland side held firm and made Celtic sweat until the 75th minute when Simon Donnelly doubled the lead and secured our place in the next round, with Pierre Van Hoojidonk grabbing his second five minutes later to round off the scoring and giving the game a scoreline it deserved.
Simon Donnelly, photo Allsport. 1995-96 season photo-call.
It was an admirable showing in the end by Welfare, and Auchinleck will be pumped up to do similar. It will be tough, but I still expect us to win by more than a three goal margin.
Enjoy the match whether you’re going down to Rugby Park or watching on Premier Sports or even Celtic TV for subscribers outside of Britain and Ireland.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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