Paradise Pause and Applause as Celtic Family remembers those we have lost

Celtic will play FK Jablonec in the second leg of their UEFA Europa League qualifier on Thursday evening in the first match at Paradise that has seen a capacity crowd since early March 2020. Before kick-off Celtic Park will pause for a moment and applaud those family members and friends who we have lost over the course of the pandemic.

Celtic have reacted to this request from supporters and confirmed this evening that the pause and applause tribute will happen ahead of kick-off in what is certain to be an emotion few minutes for everyone back at Paradise, many for the first time since the lockdown. Here’s the confirmation statement from the club issued this evening:

We are delighted to be looking forward to hosting a full house at Celtic Park on Thursday for the first time in such a long time.

While we do so and all strive again for some form of normality, it is important to recognise that the current pandemic has changed the lives of so many of us in so many ways.

Indeed, from speaking to our fans, we know that tragically, a number of supporters will not return to Celtic Park as they have lost their lives to Covid-19.

In fact, during the long enforced absence from Celtic Park, so many fans have passed away for other reasons too and not had the chance to see their beloved Celtic Park again.

So while we welcome our fans back and celebrate your return after such a long time away, the Club wanted to take time to remember those fans we have lost.

We will all take a moment – Club Management, players, staff, supporters, officials – pause and applaud and, of course, remember all those who we have lost, but who we have loved so dearly.

Our opponents, FK Jablonec, will also take part in the applause and we will, of course, all take a moment to think about those in the Czech Republic and all other countries affected by the pandemic.

We thank our fans for their continued support and look forward to welcoming you back to Celtic Park on Thursday evening.

On The Celtic Star we have being paying our own extra-special tribute to Charlie Gallagher, a friend and a Celtic legend who we lost during the time when we have not been allowed to attend games due to the pandemic. When you are applauding on Thursday night, remember Charlie too. He’ll certainly be in our thoughts. And God bless all those that the Celtic family has lost. YNWA.