WE recalled Celtic’s Centenary Birthday Party on this day in 1988 when the old Paradise was at capacity, at least, and Celtic secured the title against Dundee. You can catch up on that using the link below, then we have some additional supporter feedback for you to enjoy below that. What a day that was in Paradise!

I was a seven year old boy when my Auntie, also my Godmother, took me to the game. We were in the Main Stand and I will never forget looking onto the old Jungle that day. Unbelievable atmosphere. It was the first You’ll Never Walk Alone I had experienced. I was very young at the time but it’s sticks out in my mind very clearly. There was that many people in the old Celtic Park that day there were people sitting on the ash between the pitch and the terraces. There’s footage I think on the highlights that evening with Big Roy Aitken having to kick, nudge people out the way before he could take a throw in.

What a day. Andy Walker scored a double I think and with the supporters all singing Happy Birthday Dear Celtic also. The Centenary season was my first memory of us winning silverware. Between the Dundee league game and the Dundee United cup final it really was a fantastic way to mark our Centenary year.

Regards

Brendan Murphy

Hello, regarding your request for supporters stories who were there on that day. Great memory, I was there with my uncle and brother in the Celtic end and the crowd was immense.

We managed to get a space in front of a barrier which kept us ok from the pressure from the back, although we were still quite far back, about two thirds the way up and ‘in amongst it’. My father and another pal had managed to get tickets for the main stand and they had a great view of all the surrounding terracing.
On the way of course, we had the obligatory libation which set us up nicely. By kick off the stadium was packed, easily way over the capacity with the groundstaff allowing fans to stand round the track. The atmosphere was brilliant and I think the adrenalin was pumped up so high, that when we scored the reaction was incredible.

Still to this day, it had one of the best You’ll Never Walk Alone versions from the support I remember. Worth a mention too, because the crowd was so packed, the staff had to open a gate on the east terracing where a small group of Dundee fans were, to let Celtic fans in and relieve the pressure on the other side. So for a good part of the game, Celtic and Dundee fans mixed together without any problem or trouble. Maybe the wee ‘favour’ Dundee and ‘Sir’ Albert Kidd had done us a couple of seasons earlier helped.

One of the best days of my supporting lifetime and we still had the trophy presentation the following week against Dunfermline and the Scottish cup final to look forward to. Celtic 2 Dundee Utd 1. The double in our Centenary year Hail Hail.

Cheers

Kevan McKeown

Saw your request for memories of the game v Dundee in the Centenary season.

Like countless supporters, I had been looking forward to celebrating our special year but sadly my father died suddenly in February of 1988, so it will always tinged with sadness. He had followed the Bhoys for 60 years and took me to my first games in the late 1960s, it’s such a shame he wasn’t there with me to witness the special events at Celtic Park that day.

In the days leading up to the game the papers were telling supporters to get in early as a big crowd was expected, incredibly it was pay at the gate. I took their advice and arrived at the ground an hour and a half early, and took my place halfway up the old Celtic end near the main stand.

As the kick-off approached I found myself having to move constantly towards the old Jungle such were the numbers of fans entering the ground. I eventually stopped moving at the far end of the Celtic end near the jungle. Thousands still streaming in long after the game started and by this time fans were being brought along the track to different parts of the stadium. Fans were even sitting on the track as there was nowhere else to put them. The ground was absolutely jam packed.

Having been to countless European games in the 60s and 70s when 75,000 crowds were commonplace, it is my view that 90,000 were in Celtic Park that day. I shed tears of joy as we sang You’ll Never Walk Alone, my only regret was that my father wasn’t there to see it.

It is a day I and all the souls who attended the game will never forget.

Hail Hail

Andy Boyle

Highlights below…

INVINCIBLE by Matt Corr

The Celtic Star’s very own Matt Corr – who you may also know as a Tour Guide at Celtic Park – publishes his first Celtic book, titled INVINCIBLE – early next month. This beautiful hardback book will be the definitive story of Celtic’s magical2016-17 season – it truly is wonderful, a real joy to read, and brilliantly written by Matt.

If you have been reading Matt’s regular contributions on The Celtic Star or indeed in the Matchday Programme or in the Celtic View you will know just how talented a Celtic writer he is. The book is published by The Celtic Star and you can pre-order below.

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