The folks running Celtic were worried ahead of breaking the news to the Celtic support that the Europa League Group stages match at Celtic Park initially scheduled for tomorrow night would have to be brought forward to the Tuesday afternoon with a 3.30pm kick-off.
My mobile phone rang around tea-time just as the dinner was being put on the table and it was a senior member of staff at the club calling to give a briefing on the decision that had been taken and to stress that Celtic had argued long and hard but all alternative suggestions had been rejected by either UEFA or Police Scotland and due to the unique set of circumstances entirely beyond the club’s control the match would have to be played on Tuesday 19 October with a 3.30pm kick-off.
Celtic Park, puro espectáculo. #LaCasaDelFútbol pic.twitter.com/E90vKevok6
— Fútbol en Movistar+ (@MovistarFutbol) October 19, 2021
To be fair to the club they amended the usual three match package for season ticket holders so that they could buy two and if they couldn’t make the Ferencvaros early kick-off game then they didn’t have to pay. Plenty though will have simply bought their 3 match tickets – hoping to arrange the time off.
That’s the situation that young Lubo98 of this Parish was in yesterday, there was still a chance he’d be able to get away from work in Edinburgh in time to make the game if things went his way, they didn’t and he was thereafter relying on text message updates from yours truly which read like this…WHAT A GOAL! GREAT PASS FROM JOTA, WHAT A FINISH FROM KYOGO!!! and PENALTY TO CELTC!!…CALMAC TAKING IT…SAVED!!!…2-0 WORST GOAL EVER BY TURNBULL, BUT WHO CARES? Not sure it’s worth the £26 but probably better than the usual anti-Celtic biased ‘lucky to get 3 points’ stuff from the BBC.
READ THIS...‘Remarkable backing from the Incredible Celtic support,’ David Potter
Must admit was superb tonight when they refused to take the knee and then Celtic park erupted with a standing ovation when Celtic players done so 🍀👏
A club like no other 🍀👏 pic.twitter.com/yrBlvV59AF
— JUDDY 🍀🎥⚽️ (@Juddy19X) October 19, 2021
Older fans will remember the Ghost Game at Ibrox. It was in May 1979 and Rangers had already won the League Cup and were in the Scottish Cup Final against Hibs, which they won in the replay after a goalless draw. They had two league games remaining and were big favourites to win the league and of course a Treble was on.
The didn’t have to leave Glasgow either, they a Monday night trip to play Celtic at Parkhead (21 May) and then on the Wednesday night (23 May), a home game against Partick Thistle. These games were being crushed in to the calendar as there had been a severe winter with loads of postponements.
Almost a capacity crowd backing the Bhoys onto victory once again, unwavering support even with a 3:30 KO & Vax Passport, they’re there & they’re always there 🍀 pic.twitter.com/Vt1WXJZCXm
— 🍀 𝔻𝕒𝕟𝕟𝕪 ⍟ 🍀 (@COYBIG_1_8_8_8) October 19, 2021
Had they got a draw against Celtic all they’d have needed was to beat Thistle at Ibrox and the Premier League title was theirs. And with time running out at Celtic Park the scores were level and Celtic had played much of the second half with only ten men. There was a huge Rangers support in the old stadium and they were sensing a title win but there was more drama – a Colin Jackson OG then that strike from Murdo MacLeod and that meant Celtic were Champions (the highlights were meant to have been on TV that night but were never shown).

READ THIS…Sandman’s Definitive Ratings – Celtic v Fheckingargos…

A few days later Ibrox, instead of cramming 44,000 supporters in for a title party had instead just a few thousand there (Rothmans list the attendance as being 2500, Daily Record said it was 2000) in what became known as the Ghost Game.
I love everything about this man.
Our leader, Angelos Postecoglou 💚 pic.twitter.com/GHNjWNZ5TO
— Georgina (@Georgina87x) October 19, 2021
That’s the exact scenario Celtic feared for yesterday, just a few thousand supporters making it along to the game with the rest missing out due to work or education commitments. They certainly never expected a crowd of over 50,000 as yet again the Celtic support stood by the club and provided unbelievable backing.
How’s about this? #CelticFC nothing quite like the fans being back pic.twitter.com/ZL9CGCQZap
— Grant Philips (@PhilipsGrant) October 19, 2021
Ferencvaros were able to leave Celtic Park last August with a victory but with 50,000 supporters driving Celtic on yesterday that was never looking likely. It ended 2-0, it should have been five. Maybe sometime soon the Celtic Board will start to appreciate the wonderful backing that they are given from the Celtic support.
There was no Ghost Game going to take place at Paradise.
READ THIS…“Sparkling Celtic keep clean sheet in excellent win over Fenencvaros’ Conall McGinty

When I was walking up the Gallowgate on a Saturday to see a game 🍀 HH pic.twitter.com/9Q9lFRd1IS
— Proud Huddle CSC (@CelticCSCPride) October 19, 2021
50,427 people in attendance at a 3.30 kick off on a Tuesday afternoon 🙌🏻🍀 Some fans @CelticFC pic.twitter.com/aXqs8BDw3Q
— Nicky Hayes (@NicholasHayes13) October 19, 2021
We were there in the jungle,the best game I have ever been to,
This is what makes us special, this is what makes us proud to
Support the Famous Glasgow Celtic.HH.
Has the stadium capacity gone up? Looked like around half the seats were empty…
Very few empty seats.