Euphoria on the pitch – The day Celtic stopped the dreaded ten

Euphoria on the pitch. The day Celtic stopped the ten…

Henrik Larsson scores
Henrik Larsson celebrates scoring Celtic’s first goal against St Johnstone on the day we stopped the ten. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Stopping the dreaded ten

I recently posted an image on X that captured a lot of attention, and rightly so as it brought back a host of wonderful memories. It was that day back in May 1998, the 9th to be precise, yes that day, the day we stopped the dreaded ten.

The image captured the Celtic supporters invading the pitch not long after the final whistle sounded as we clinched our first league title in a decade after a nerve wracking 2-0 win over St Johnstone on the final day of the season.

The Day we stopped the ten
Celtic fans invade the pitch to celebrate winning the league. Photo The Celtic Wiki

It was quite frankly sheer torture

That season seen the supporters go through every emotion possible. It was quite frankly sheer torture as not only were we fighting for the title, we were fighting to stop Rangers from winning a record ten titles in a row. Something they would never let us forget.

That day in May 1998 seen the supporters go through all those same emotions in 90 minutes. Healing ten years of hurt was in our own hands, but football, being football you never knew what was going to happen.

The Day we stopped the ten
Celtic fans invade the pitch to celebrate winning the league. Photo The Celtic Wiki

A mixture of both relief and euphoria

Those 90 minutes felt like 90 years. When that final whistle went it was a mixture of both relief and euphoria. The nerves and frustration we had endured for that entire campaign, those nerve wracking 90 minutes and the entire ten years for that matter had just been released and it showed as the supporters wept tears of joy and danced in the stands.

The Day we stopped the ten
Celtic fans invade the pitch to celebrate winning the league. Photo Celtic FC

An overwhelming number of supporters then made it on to the field to soak up the achievement on the sacred paradise pitch. It was a joy to behold to see so many happy faces celebrate such a historical moment in our history. One I myself will never forget.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

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About Author

An ordinary everyday Celtic supporters hailing and still residing in Govan in the shadows of the enemy. I’m a season ticket holder. I Witnessed my first Celtic game in 1988 and have attended when I can ever since. Growing up in the 90s I witnessed Celtic at their lowest, and now appreciate the historic success we enjoy today. I enjoy writing about this wonderful football club and hopefully will continue to do so. I’ve always been a keen writer and initially started this a hobby. My ambition is to one day become as good an author as my fellow Celtic Star colleagues.

1 Comment

  1. What a tense day that was.
    Even though Henrik scored a couple of minutes in there was tension in the ground especially when George O’Boyle missed a glorious chance for St. Johnstone just before half time.
    As the second half dragged on anxiety became worse, so much so that some people couldn’t watch and retreated into the main concourse of the North Stand.
    Then the moment Harold scored and emotions erupted around the stadium.
    At the full time whistle relief and happiness poured forth in equal measure.
    What a day.