Supporter Stories from Celtic’s Crazy Birthday Party – 23 April 1988

I was a young lad of eight on this day and made my first ever trip to Paradise with my dad, until then my only other games watching the hoops were a couple of away games at Tannadice and Dens. We were up early for the train from Aberdeen to Queen Street.

The main thing I remember before the game is the amount of people outside the ground and the length of queues to get in. My dad walked us right up to the front of one of the queues for the old Rangers end, exchanged a few expletives with grumbling fans who must have been waiting ages that we’d just pushed in front of in the process.

We went right down to the front of the Rangers end and watched the match from there. Bedlam at the early goal and fans on the touchline in front of us as the Jungle was packed. We had a perfect view for the Celtic end singing YNWA in the 2nd half when game was in the bag. This sight will forever be my abiding memory of watching Celtic.

We headed for the exit a few minutes before full-time. Partly to avoid the expected pitch invasion and probably something to do with getting back to Queen Street on time for our train home. On the way out my dad bought me a scarf with Champions 87/88 on it. I kept that for a few years before getting a new one (Champions being a distant memory!), I eventually gave that scarf away to my pal Ryan, he didn’t have any Celtic connections in his family but as far as I know he’s a Celtic supporter to this day and I hope he’s still got that scarf!

Happy memories
Tommy Lavin Jnr. & Snr.

Me and two school pals travelled up on the 0800 train from Girvan on the old SPT family scratch card (1 adult and two kids for £1.50). I had turned 16 that year the other two hadn’t so I was the Celtic Da.

Got out to Parkhead early and Janefield street was mobbed. We couldn’t see how we could get to the jungle turnstiles given the number of folk between the stadium and the cemetery wall.

I climbed on a metal fence and up onto the wall for a better look. From up there I could see that the very last turnstile had hardly anyone queuing so got the other two up and we ran along the wall then dreepied doon and got straight in!

The early goal set the place alight and then when Andy Walker scored he ran towards where we were and I could clearly see him mouthing Champions!

The final whistle seemed to take ages to blow and the numerous tannoy announcements for fans to remain on the terraces were never going to work. Finally it came and we were up and over and on. We went to the penalty spot at the Celtic end and found little containers the photographers chucked which we filled with grass from paradise.

What a day! Davie N and Marco if you’re reading this hope you are both keeping well!

Bryan Mcneill

I thought I’d send you my memories from the Celtic v Dundee match in 1988.

It was the first season I’d attended every home game with my younger 12 year old brother, I was in my late teens and had just passed my driving test and had bought my first car, only staying 10 mins away in Bellshill was easy to get to home games, back in the old stadium days you could just pay in at the gate, it was the Centenary year, BigBbilly McNeill had come back to (hopefully) lead us to the league trophy.

The crowd that day was immense, the official figures said 60,000 but in reality it was closer 80,000. The old board had a much joked about counting system for the crowd (one, two, miss a few…..) plus you could lift the kids over the turnstiles for free entry and members of the clergy got in for free (never seen as many dog collars in side a football stadium as I did that day, Tam Shepherd’s joke shop must have been doing a roaring trade in them that day).

We got to the ground one hour early, I knew it was going to be busy, the line for the turnstiles were already snaking round the ground, we eventually got in just before kick off, the traditional Celtic end just under the old electric pylon, it was wall to wall people, even the wee man selling the spearmint chewing gum and the macaroon bars could get through the throng of people, the atmosphere was electric, when Chris Morris scored in 3 mins with a 6 yard rocket it was bedlam, the tension had eased, the party had started, it was all “Happy Birthday Celtic” and “we’ll win the league again, fly the flag” from the elated hoop fans.

With Andy Walker scoring from a though ball from McAvennie in 75 mins the place erupted again, I like most people missed Walkers 2nd goal, coming only 45 seconds after the other I was still jumping up and down hugging my wee brother when the goal went in.

At the end of the game there was a pitch invasion we were too far up the terracing to get on, I remember hold my wee brother by the scruff of the neck to stop him, my maw would have killed me if I’d have lost him.

It took about 20 minutes for the stewards to clear the pitch so the team could come back out for a lap of honour, not one person left the ground, everyone just waited singing our hearts out.

The dream had been achieved…..just Dundee Utd to beat in the Scottish Cup Final for a Centenary Double.

Hail Hail
Bellshill bhoy

Started queuing at Celtic end 2pm, got near turnstiles by 3.30pm Police horses barred entrance claiming end was packed. Escorted thousands up to the Rangers end. Managed to see second half and the Celtic end was jet black with bodies at times it looked scary. And then the atmosphere took over, happy days.

James Hanlon

This was the culmination of one of my favourite seasons watching Celtic, still is to this day. I always stood near the centre of the Jungle but there was no chance I could get in that day so we headed for the Rangers end instead. A nice wee early nerve settler from Chris Morris set us up.

In the second half when Walker made it two my brother fell over and had no idea that Walker had made it three about 45 seconds later – he thought we were still celebrating the second!

All in front of exactly 60,800 of us, aye right!

Scott Glasgow

About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

1 Comment

  1. Took my late father-in-law to the game. He’d suffered a stroke some 3 years before so we tried (unsuccessfully) to get into the main stand. Managed to get into the rangers’ end where thanks to the decency of Celtic supporters got him to a crush barrier. No mean feat as others have mentioned the size of the crowd that day. Irrelevant note but he was at the 8 goal thriller in the League Cup Final of October 19th 1957 (in their end!). Aye told me how the sky was black with the storm of bottles during the 2nd half!
    Anyway, the Dundee game was his last ever. Went out in style!
    Hail! Hail!