Celtic Park
Encyclopedia
Celtic Park is a football stadium
in the Parkhead
area of Glasgow
, which is the home ground of Celtic FC
. Celtic Park, an all-seater stadium
with a capacity of 60,832, is the largest football stadium in Scotland and the sixth-largest stadium in the United Kingdom, after Murrayfield
, Old Trafford
, Twickenham
, Wembley
and the Millennium Stadium
. It is commonly known by Celtic fans as either Parkhead or Paradise.
Celtic was formed in November 1887 and first laid out a ground in the Parkhead area in 1888. The club moved to a different site in 1892, however, when the rental charge was greatly increased. The new site was developed into an oval shaped stadium, with vast terracing sections. The record attendance of 83,500 was set by an Old Firm
derby on 1 January 1938. The terraces were covered and floodlights were installed between 1957 and 1971. The Taylor Report
mandated that all major clubs should have an all-seated stadium by August 1994. Celtic was in a bad financial position in the early 1990s and no major work was carried out until Fergus McCann
took control of the club in March 1994. He carried out a plan to demolish the old terraces and develop a new stadium in a phased rebuild, which was completed in August 1998.
Celtic Park has often been used as a venue for Scotland
internationals and Cup Finals, particularly when Hampden Park
has been unavailable. Before the First World War, Celtic Park hosted various other sporting events, including composite rules shinty-hurling
, track and field
and the 1897 Track Cycling World Championships
. Open-air masses and First World War recruitment drives were also held there. Celtic Park has occasionally been used for concerts, including performances by The Who
and U2
.
was formed in November 1887. The original Celtic Park was built at the north east junction of Springfield Road and London Road in Parkhead by a volunteer workforce within six months of formation. Its opening game was a match between Hibs
and Cowlairs
. Celtic played its first match on 28 May 1888 at Celtic Park, against Rangers
, which Celtic won 5–2. It hosted a British Home Championship
match between Scotland
and Ireland on 28 March 1891. Celtic was forced to leave this site in 1892, however, when the landlord increased the rent from £50 to £450.
The new stadium was built in a disused brickyard at Janefield Street, 200 yards from the old site. The first turf, which had been transported from County Donegal
, was laid by Irish patriot Michael Davitt
and planted with shamrock
s. He recited a verse that said the turf would "take root and flourish", but it was stolen soon afterwards. A journalist said the move was like "leaving the graveyard to enter paradise", which led to the ground being nicknamed "Paradise". The new Celtic Park was opened on 20 August 1892 with a match against Renton
. A journalist writing in the Athletic News
described Celtic Park as the best ground in Britain, a title which may only have been disputed by Goodison Park
at the time. Celtic Park was immediately successful, attracting record gate receipts and an attendance of 45,107 for the Scotland v England
game in the 1894 British Home Championship
. Celtic F.C. purchased the site for £100,000 in 1897.
The new stadium initially consisted of terracing
with a capacity of approximately 40,000. A running track
and a concrete cycling track
were constructed around the periphery of the pitch. On the northern side of the pitch there was a pavilion and a seated stand. In 1898, club director James Grant financed the construction of a grandstand
and press gallery, built on stilts, on the south side of the pitch. The patrons watched through sliding windows from padded seats, but they had to climb four flights of stairs to reach their position and the windows frequently steam
ed up.
The Grant Stand was burned down in 1927 and replaced by a single-tier Main Stand, designed by Duncan and Kerr. This stand, which cost £35,000 and provided 4,800 seats, was smaller and less ornate than the Main Stand at Ibrox
. The Celtic Park main stand had a similar feature to Ibrox, however, in the pedimented roof gable over the press box
. Although it was only the third biggest ground in Glasgow, Celtic Park had a greater capacity than any club stadium in England. The record attendance
at Celtic Park was set by an Old Firm
derby against Rangers on New Year's Day 1938. Some sources give the attendance for this game as 92,000, but contemporary sources suggest that the attendance was approximately 83,500. Celtic Park was an elongated oval shape, similar to Hampden Park
.
. A roof was built over the western "Celtic End" terrace in 1957, while floodlights were installed in 1959. They were first used on 12 October, in a friendly match against Wolves
. The northern terrace, which became known as the "Jungle", was concreted in 1966 and a new roof was erected. A roof was built over the eastern "Rangers End" terrace in 1967, using the same design as the Rangers End at Hampden Park
. All of this work meant that Celtic had more covered terracing than every stadium in Britain, except Wembley. There were 4,800 seats, all in the Main Stand, in an overall capacity of 80,000. A further 3,900 seats were installed in the Main Stand paddock area in 1971. A new roof was erected over the Main Stand in 1971, which cost £250,000. It was supported by a "goalpost" framework, with the top girder measuring 97.5 metres long. The design was flawed, however, as the roof provided little shelter to the paddock seats, and retractable columns had to be installed to provide stability in case of high winds or heavy snow. Celtic later sued the designers and won damages.
The regulations in the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 reduced the capacity of Celtic Park to 56,500, but the club then increased the terracing to raise capacity to 67,000. In 1986, £1 million was spent on replacing the western terrace roof with a replica of the eastern terrace, which had been designed nearly twenty years earlier. The original red brick facade to the Main Stand was replaced during the club's centenary year, 1988, while lounges and offices were installed. Although the Main Stand had been modernised, terracing was still predominant at Celtic Park. This stood in contrast to most other major stadia in Britain, particularly Ibrox, where seating capacities had been increased. This left Celtic badly placed when the Taylor Report
mandated that all major clubs had to have an all-seater stadium
.
Celtic was heavily in debt and had been significantly outgrown by Rangers commercially in the early 1990s. The Celtic board initially prevaricated in response to the Taylor Report, partly due to divisions in the board. Celtic director Brian Dempsey
proposed a development on land he controlled at Robroyston
, but he was opposed by fellow directors, Michael Kelly
and Chris White, who had Dempsey removed from the board. Despite these divisions, a proposal to build a new 52,000 seat stadium on industrial waste ground at Cambuslang
was unveiled in April 1992. The £100 million scheme was meant to include wider commercial developments that would fund the completed stadium, which would have only provided 32,000 seats in a first phase of construction. There was scepticism about the plan, however, as it was unclear how Celtic or their partner in the project, Superstadia, would raise the necessary finance. The proposed site would have had to be decontaminated and contradictory statements about the ownership structure of the development were issued. Outline planning permission was granted in May 1993.
A deadline of August 1994 had been set to convert all major grounds to be fully seated. Even with planning permission granted, the first phase of the Cambuslang scheme would not be ready until 1995. As a stop-gap measure, Celtic installed 5,033 seats in the Jungle at the end of the 1992–93 season, at a cost of £350,000. The board hoped Celtic would be given a special dispensation from the rules. Installing seats in the Jungle itself caused an emotional reaction. Due to redevelopment work at Hampden, the 1993 Scottish Cup Final
between Rangers and Aberdeen
was to be played at Celtic Park. This meant that in the last competitive game in front of the Jungle, it would be occupied by Rangers fans. To give the Celtic regulars last use, a friendly match between veteran Celtic and Manchester United
players was arranged.
During the 1993–94 season, the board continued to talk optimistically about their plans. They claimed in February to have £20 million of funding in plance from Gefinor, a Swiss financial institution. The claim was denied by Gefinor, who denied that they had even had any contact with the club. Celtic then came under severe pressure from the Bank of Scotland
, who demanded a £1 million reduction in the club's overdraft, placing the club under threat of bankruptcy. With minutes to spare before a deadline set by the Bank, the board capitulated and sold control to Scots-Canadian businessman Fergus McCann
.
The detailed plans were finalised in December 1994. The club intended to build a 60,000 seat stadium, to be completed in three phases. The first phase was the new North Stand, which was designed by Percy Johnson-Marshall
Associates, engineered by Hutter Jennings Titchmarsh, and built by Miller Construction. Celtic Park reopened with a friendly against Newcastle
on 5 August 1995, with the new 26,970-capacity North Stand and the existing 7,850-capacity Main (South) Stand in place. This was augmented by a temporary stand on the site of the former West Terracing, which held 2,800 seats. Phase two of the redevelopment was completed in August 1996, with the opening of the 13,006-capacity East Stand. Phase 3a was completed in February 1998 with the opening of the South West Corner. This was followed by Phase 3b, the Jock Stein
Stand on the former West Terracing site, which was opened in August 1998 with a match against Liverpool
. Phase 3 added another 13,006 seats, bringing the total capacity of the new Celtic Park to 60,832. The whole redevelopment, which made Celtic Park the biggest club stadium in Britain, cost £40 million. In the 1998–99 season, the average attendance was 59,224 and season ticket sales exceeded 53,000, the highest number in Britain at the time.
(West), Lisbon Lions
(East) and Main (South) Stands. The North, East and West stands form a continous two tier loop. The two end stands each have a capacity of 13,006, while the North Stand holds 26,970. The Main Stand holds 7,850, giving a total capacity of 60,832. Celtic Park is now a rectangular shape, creating an enclosed and intimidating atmosphere for big games. It received 60% of the votes when BBC Radio Five Live
conducted a poll in 2002 to find the favourite sports venue in the United Kingdom.
The North Stand is squeezed into a tight space between the pitch and the Eastern Necropolis (cemetery). Part of the upper tier is cantilever
ed over the graveyard. To save at least £1 million of additional steelwork, fourteen internal pillars were installed to support the roof. Some local residents objected to the North Stand because of the shadow cast over the cemetery, which Celtic believed was necessary to install 4,000 seats in the North Stand and to complete the overall project. The proposals were passed, however, because the local officials felt that Celtic had come up with the best solution possible to the problem. Celtic paid £10,000 of compensation to the council for those residents that had been promised open space "from the centre of the earth to the sky". The structure also had to take account of the necessity to maintain access into the North Stand along Janefield Street, which has been closed to the public since the redevelopment. Between the two tiers there are 18 executive boxes and a restaurant. There are 1600 seats in the lower section of the North Stand which have a heated element, operated by a foot switch.
The Main (South) Stand is now the oldest part of the stadium, having first been built in 1929, although a new roof was installed in 1971 and the facade was rebuilt in 1988. Translucent sheets were added to the Main Stand roof in 1998, to allow more sunlight to reach the pitch. Suspended from the roof girder of the Main Stand is a glass-fronted box, which used to house the press box
, but was converted into two executive boxes in 1988. Alongside the main horizontal truss are two retractable columns. These can swing down to a fixing point on the rear wall of the former paddock, which provides additional stability in case of high winds or heavy snow.
The East Stand opened in 1996 and was renamed after the Lisbon Lions, the Celtic team that won the 1967 European Cup Final
, in 2000. The renaming ceremony was a few days after a Scottish Cup tie had to be postponed after strong winds had damaged guttering in the stand. Away team fans are housed in the Lisbon Lions Stand, in the south east corner of the ground. Some of the away section has its view restricted by one of the supporting pillars of the Main Stand. Celtic offer a discounted price on these seats.
Writing in 1996, Simon Inglis noted that the approaches to the Main Stand is an area of urban deprivation "reminiscent of Belfast
during the Troubles
". Redevelopment work is being carried out in the area, in anticipation of the 2014 Commonwealth Games
, in a scheme dubbed the 'Celtic Triangle'. Since 2005, statues of Brother Walfrid
, and Jimmy Johnstone
and Jock Stein
have been erected outside the Main Stand.
Celtic have considered the possibility of increasing the capacity of Celtic Park by redeveloping the Main Stand. A completed two-tier bowl stadium would give Celtic Park a capacity of nearly 75,000. Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell
stated in April 2007 that another 8,000 could be added to the capacity, but the work was not considered cost-effective. In September 2011, Celtic started a feasibility study into creating a safe standing
section in Celtic Park. Although there is a law in England preventing top-flight clubs from having standing sections, no such law exists in Scotland. SPL
rules prevent clubs from having standing sections, but these could be amended by a two third majority vote of the SPL clubs. In November 2011, SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster
said that he was open-minded about the issue and would like to see it explored further.
over 20 times, the most of any ground apart from the national stadium, Hampden Park
. Scotland secured qualification for the 1998 FIFA World Cup
with a 2–0 win against Latvia
at Celtic Park. The ground most recently hosted a Scotland game in 2006, when Hampden had been booked for a Robbie Williams
concert in advance of the UEFA Euro 2008 qualification fixtures being determined. Scotland were drawn to play the Faroe Islands
on the same day as the concert, which meant that the match had to be played elsewhere. While Hampden Park was being redeveloped during the 1990s, Celtic Park hosted the 1993
and 1998
Scottish Cup Finals and the 1993
, 1996
and 1998
Scottish League Cup
Finals.
Before the First World War, Celtic Park was a multi-event venue. It hosted the first ever composite rules shinty-hurling
match in Scotland, in 1897. Track and field
meetings were held every summer, while the only World Cycling Championship
to be staged in Scotland was held at Celtic Park in 1897. An experimental floodlit football game was played on Christmas Day 1893. This was unsuccessful due to the ball repeatedly striking the lamps, which were hung over the pitch by wiring. Open-air masses and a parade for the Coronation of King George V were staged. Celtic Park, along with many other football stadiums, hosted recruitment drives during the First World War. During one such event at Celtic Park, a demonstration of trench warfare
was carried out. The first speedway
race in Scotland was held at Celtic Park in 1928.
Celtic Park has been used for concerts by The Who
(1976
), Bryan Adams
(1992), Prince
(1992
) and U2
(1993
). Wet Wet Wet
played there in September 1997, but their performance had to be postponed by a day to avoid clashing with the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales
. Paul McCartney
planned a Celtic Park date in his 2003 Back in the World tour
, but it was cancelled. American evangelical Christian missionary Billy Graham
held an outdoor event at the ground in 1991, his first visit to Scotland since 1955. One of the supporting speakers was Aberdeen
player Brian Irvine
, who had scored the winning penalty kick
against Celtic in the 1990 Scottish Cup Final
.
Celtic Park will be used for the Opening Ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games
.
, are approximately 30 minutes walking distance from Celtic Park. Local trains from Glasgow Central on the Argyle Line
serve Dalmarnock railway station
, which is about 10 minutes walking distance from the ground. Fans travelling to Celtic Park also use Bellgrove
and Bridgeton
stations, which are both approximately one mile away. Between 1897 and 1964, Celtic Park was served by the eponymous Parkhead Stadium railway station. It is served by First Glasgow
route numbers 43, 61 and 62. Celtic Park sits adjacent to the A74
(London Road), near to the M74
and M8 motorways. Visitors to the ground travelling by car can park in the surrounding streets. The new Glasgow East End Regeneration Route
, which will link the two motorways, will run close by Celtic Park.
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
in the Parkhead
Parkhead
Parkhead is a district in the East End of Glasgow. Its name comes from a small weaving hamlet at the meeting place of the Great Eastern Road and Westmuir Street. Duke Street and Springfield Road also meet there, to form a turreted Edwardian five-way junction at Parkhead Cross...
area of Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, which is the home ground of Celtic FC
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
. Celtic Park, an all-seater stadium
All-seater stadium
An all-seater stadium is a sports stadium in which every spectator has a seat. This is commonplace in football stadiums in nations such as the United Kingdom, Spain, and the Netherlands. Most soccer and American football stadiums in the United States and Canada are all-seaters, as are most baseball...
with a capacity of 60,832, is the largest football stadium in Scotland and the sixth-largest stadium in the United Kingdom, after Murrayfield
Murrayfield Stadium
Murrayfield Stadium is a sports stadium located in the west end of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. Its all-seater capacity was recently reduced from 67,800 to 67,130 to incorporate the largest permanent "big screen" in the country though it still remains the largest stadium in Scotland and one...
, Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
, Twickenham
Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the largest rugby union stadium in the United Kingdom and has recently been enlarged to seat 82,000...
, Wembley
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
and the Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
. It is commonly known by Celtic fans as either Parkhead or Paradise.
Celtic was formed in November 1887 and first laid out a ground in the Parkhead area in 1888. The club moved to a different site in 1892, however, when the rental charge was greatly increased. The new site was developed into an oval shaped stadium, with vast terracing sections. The record attendance of 83,500 was set by an Old Firm
Old Firm
The Old Firm is a common collective name for the association football clubs Celtic and Rangers, both based in Glasgow, Scotland.The origin of the term is unclear. One theory has it that the expression derives from Celtic's first game in 1888, which was played against Rangers. However, author,...
derby on 1 January 1938. The terraces were covered and floodlights were installed between 1957 and 1971. The Taylor Report
Taylor Report
The Hillsborough Stadium Disaster Inquiry report, better known as the Taylor Report is a document, whose development was overseen by Lord Taylor of Gosforth, concerning the aftermath and causes of the Hillsborough disaster in 1989. An interim report was published in August 1989, and the final...
mandated that all major clubs should have an all-seated stadium by August 1994. Celtic was in a bad financial position in the early 1990s and no major work was carried out until Fergus McCann
Fergus McCann
Fergus McCann is a Scottish-born Canadian businessman and entrepreneur.McCann's wealth stemmed initially from a golf vacation company, based in Montreal and Phoenix. He is best known for his involvement in Celtic F.C., the football club based in Glasgow. He acquired a 51% controlling stake in the...
took control of the club in March 1994. He carried out a plan to demolish the old terraces and develop a new stadium in a phased rebuild, which was completed in August 1998.
Celtic Park has often been used as a venue for Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
internationals and Cup Finals, particularly when Hampden Park
Hampden Park
Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland...
has been unavailable. Before the First World War, Celtic Park hosted various other sporting events, including composite rules shinty-hurling
Composite rules shinty-hurling
Composite rules shinty-hurling , sometimes known simply as shinty-hurling) is a hybrid sport which was developed to facilitate international matches between shinty players and hurling players....
, track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
and the 1897 Track Cycling World Championships
UCI Track Cycling World Championships
The UCI Track Cycling World Championships are the set of world championship events for the various disciplines and distances in track cycling and are regulated by the Union Cycliste Internationale...
. Open-air masses and First World War recruitment drives were also held there. Celtic Park has occasionally been used for concerts, including performances by The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
and U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
.
1888–1957
Celtic F.C.Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
was formed in November 1887. The original Celtic Park was built at the north east junction of Springfield Road and London Road in Parkhead by a volunteer workforce within six months of formation. Its opening game was a match between Hibs
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
and Cowlairs
Cowlairs F.C.
Cowlairs Football Club was a 19th century football club from Glasgow, Scotland. One of the founder members of the Scottish Football League in 1890, the club was based in Cowlairs, in the Springburn area of the city.-History:...
. Celtic played its first match on 28 May 1888 at Celtic Park, against Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
, which Celtic won 5–2. It hosted a British Home Championship
British Home Championship
The British Home Championship was an annual football competition contested between the United Kingdom's four national teams, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from the 1883–84 season until the 1983–84...
match between Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
and Ireland on 28 March 1891. Celtic was forced to leave this site in 1892, however, when the landlord increased the rent from £50 to £450.
The new stadium was built in a disused brickyard at Janefield Street, 200 yards from the old site. The first turf, which had been transported from County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
, was laid by Irish patriot Michael Davitt
Michael Davitt
Michael Davitt was an Irish republican and nationalist agrarian agitator, a social campaigner, labour leader, journalist, Home Rule constitutional politician and Member of Parliament , who founded the Irish National Land League.- Early years :Michael Davitt was born in Straide, County Mayo,...
and planted with shamrock
Shamrock
The shamrock is a three-leafed old white clover. It is known as a symbol of Ireland. The name shamrock is derived from Irish , which is the diminutive version of the Irish word for clover ....
s. He recited a verse that said the turf would "take root and flourish", but it was stolen soon afterwards. A journalist said the move was like "leaving the graveyard to enter paradise", which led to the ground being nicknamed "Paradise". The new Celtic Park was opened on 20 August 1892 with a match against Renton
Renton F.C.
Renton Football Club was a prominent team in the early history of Scottish football. The club was based in the village of Renton, West Dunbartonshire...
. A journalist writing in the Athletic News
Athletic News
The Athletic News was a Manchester-based newspaper formed in 1875. Its sole purpose was to report sporting news.In 1931 it merged with Sporting Chronicle, part of Bell's Life in London....
described Celtic Park as the best ground in Britain, a title which may only have been disputed by Goodison Park
Goodison Park
Goodison Park is a football stadium located in Walton, Liverpool, England. The stadium has been home to Everton F.C. since its completion in 1892 and is one of the world's first purpose-built football grounds...
at the time. Celtic Park was immediately successful, attracting record gate receipts and an attendance of 45,107 for the Scotland v England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
game in the 1894 British Home Championship
1894 British Home Championship
The 1894 British Home Championship was an edition of the annual international football tournament played between the British Home Nations. It was won by Scotland in a close competition in which neither Scotland nor England lost a game but Scotland managed to accumalate one more point than England...
. Celtic F.C. purchased the site for £100,000 in 1897.
The new stadium initially consisted of terracing
Terrace (stadium)
A terrace or terracing in sporting terms refers to the traditional standing area of a sports stadium, particularly in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
with a capacity of approximately 40,000. A running track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
and a concrete cycling track
Track cycling
Track cycling is a bicycle racing sport usually held on specially built banked tracks or velodromes using track bicycles....
were constructed around the periphery of the pitch. On the northern side of the pitch there was a pavilion and a seated stand. In 1898, club director James Grant financed the construction of a grandstand
Grandstand
A grandstand is a large and normally permanent structure for seating spectators, most often at a racetrack. This includes both auto racing and horse racing. The grandstand is in essence like a single section of a stadium, but differs from a stadium in that it does not wrap all or most of the way...
and press gallery, built on stilts, on the south side of the pitch. The patrons watched through sliding windows from padded seats, but they had to climb four flights of stairs to reach their position and the windows frequently steam
Steam
Steam is the technical term for water vapor, the gaseous phase of water, which is formed when water boils. In common language it is often used to refer to the visible mist of water droplets formed as this water vapor condenses in the presence of cooler air...
ed up.
The Grant Stand was burned down in 1927 and replaced by a single-tier Main Stand, designed by Duncan and Kerr. This stand, which cost £35,000 and provided 4,800 seats, was smaller and less ornate than the Main Stand at Ibrox
Ibrox Stadium
Ibrox Stadium is a football stadium located on the south side of the River Clyde, on Edmiston Drive in the Ibrox district of Glasgow. It is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Rangers and has an all-seated capacity of 51,082...
. The Celtic Park main stand had a similar feature to Ibrox, however, in the pedimented roof gable over the press box
Press box
The press box is a special section of a sports stadium or arena that is set up for the media to report about a given event. It is typically located in the section of the stadium holding the luxury box. In general, newspaper writers sit in this box and write about the on-field event as it unfolds...
. Although it was only the third biggest ground in Glasgow, Celtic Park had a greater capacity than any club stadium in England. The record attendance
Scottish football attendance records
This article lists Scottish football attendance records under the categories listed below. The highest ever attendance for a UEFA competition match was in the 1969–70 European Cup semi-final at Hampden Park, Scotland's National stadium. A record 136,505 people attended that Cup semi-final....
at Celtic Park was set by an Old Firm
Old Firm
The Old Firm is a common collective name for the association football clubs Celtic and Rangers, both based in Glasgow, Scotland.The origin of the term is unclear. One theory has it that the expression derives from Celtic's first game in 1888, which was played against Rangers. However, author,...
derby against Rangers on New Year's Day 1938. Some sources give the attendance for this game as 92,000, but contemporary sources suggest that the attendance was approximately 83,500. Celtic Park was an elongated oval shape, similar to Hampden Park
Hampden Park
Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland...
.
1957–1994
Significant improvements were carried out between 1957 and 1971, partly due to the great success Celtic achieved under the management of Jock SteinJock Stein
John 'Jock' Stein CBE was a Scottish association football player and manager. He became the first manager of a British side to win the European Cup, with Celtic in 1967...
. A roof was built over the western "Celtic End" terrace in 1957, while floodlights were installed in 1959. They were first used on 12 October, in a friendly match against Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
. The northern terrace, which became known as the "Jungle", was concreted in 1966 and a new roof was erected. A roof was built over the eastern "Rangers End" terrace in 1967, using the same design as the Rangers End at Hampden Park
Hampden Park
Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland...
. All of this work meant that Celtic had more covered terracing than every stadium in Britain, except Wembley. There were 4,800 seats, all in the Main Stand, in an overall capacity of 80,000. A further 3,900 seats were installed in the Main Stand paddock area in 1971. A new roof was erected over the Main Stand in 1971, which cost £250,000. It was supported by a "goalpost" framework, with the top girder measuring 97.5 metres long. The design was flawed, however, as the roof provided little shelter to the paddock seats, and retractable columns had to be installed to provide stability in case of high winds or heavy snow. Celtic later sued the designers and won damages.
The regulations in the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 reduced the capacity of Celtic Park to 56,500, but the club then increased the terracing to raise capacity to 67,000. In 1986, £1 million was spent on replacing the western terrace roof with a replica of the eastern terrace, which had been designed nearly twenty years earlier. The original red brick facade to the Main Stand was replaced during the club's centenary year, 1988, while lounges and offices were installed. Although the Main Stand had been modernised, terracing was still predominant at Celtic Park. This stood in contrast to most other major stadia in Britain, particularly Ibrox, where seating capacities had been increased. This left Celtic badly placed when the Taylor Report
Taylor Report
The Hillsborough Stadium Disaster Inquiry report, better known as the Taylor Report is a document, whose development was overseen by Lord Taylor of Gosforth, concerning the aftermath and causes of the Hillsborough disaster in 1989. An interim report was published in August 1989, and the final...
mandated that all major clubs had to have an all-seater stadium
All-seater stadium
An all-seater stadium is a sports stadium in which every spectator has a seat. This is commonplace in football stadiums in nations such as the United Kingdom, Spain, and the Netherlands. Most soccer and American football stadiums in the United States and Canada are all-seaters, as are most baseball...
.
Celtic was heavily in debt and had been significantly outgrown by Rangers commercially in the early 1990s. The Celtic board initially prevaricated in response to the Taylor Report, partly due to divisions in the board. Celtic director Brian Dempsey
Brian Dempsey (businessman)
Brian Dempsey is a Scottish businessman, now resident in the Cayman Islands. He was a major funder of the Scottish Labour Party and a director of Celtic FC. He was declared bankrupt in June 2011, with debts in excess of £10 million....
proposed a development on land he controlled at Robroyston
Robroyston
Robroyston is a northeastern suburb of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It was where Scottish leader William Wallace was turned over to English soldiers in 1305. At the site of Wallace's capture there stands a monument — there have also been proposals put forward for a Visitors Centre in the area,...
, but he was opposed by fellow directors, Michael Kelly
Michael Kelly (Lord Provost)
Michael Kelly is a Scottish Labour politician and businessman. He held the position of Lord Provost of Glasgow from 1980 to 1984, and was Rector of the University of Glasgow from 1984 to 1987...
and Chris White, who had Dempsey removed from the board. Despite these divisions, a proposal to build a new 52,000 seat stadium on industrial waste ground at Cambuslang
Cambuslang
Cambuslang is a suburban town on the south-eastern outskirts of Glasgow, Scotland. It is within the local authority area of South Lanarkshire. Historically, it was a large rural Parish incorporating nearby hamlets of Newton, Flemington, and Halfway. It is known as "the largest village in...
was unveiled in April 1992. The £100 million scheme was meant to include wider commercial developments that would fund the completed stadium, which would have only provided 32,000 seats in a first phase of construction. There was scepticism about the plan, however, as it was unclear how Celtic or their partner in the project, Superstadia, would raise the necessary finance. The proposed site would have had to be decontaminated and contradictory statements about the ownership structure of the development were issued. Outline planning permission was granted in May 1993.
A deadline of August 1994 had been set to convert all major grounds to be fully seated. Even with planning permission granted, the first phase of the Cambuslang scheme would not be ready until 1995. As a stop-gap measure, Celtic installed 5,033 seats in the Jungle at the end of the 1992–93 season, at a cost of £350,000. The board hoped Celtic would be given a special dispensation from the rules. Installing seats in the Jungle itself caused an emotional reaction. Due to redevelopment work at Hampden, the 1993 Scottish Cup Final
1993 Scottish Cup Final
The 1993 Scottish Cup Final was played between Rangers and Aberdeen at Celtic Park on 29 May 1993.Rangers won the match 2–1, thereby securing a domestic treble. Rangers' scorers were Mark Hateley, scoring in his second consecutive Scottish Cup Final, and Neil Murray. Lee Richardson scored...
between Rangers and Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
was to be played at Celtic Park. This meant that in the last competitive game in front of the Jungle, it would be occupied by Rangers fans. To give the Celtic regulars last use, a friendly match between veteran Celtic and Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
players was arranged.
During the 1993–94 season, the board continued to talk optimistically about their plans. They claimed in February to have £20 million of funding in plance from Gefinor, a Swiss financial institution. The claim was denied by Gefinor, who denied that they had even had any contact with the club. Celtic then came under severe pressure from the Bank of Scotland
Bank of Scotland
The Bank of Scotland plc is a commercial and clearing bank based in Edinburgh, Scotland. With a history dating to the 17th century, it is the second oldest surviving bank in what is now the United Kingdom, and is the only commercial institution created by the Parliament of Scotland to...
, who demanded a £1 million reduction in the club's overdraft, placing the club under threat of bankruptcy. With minutes to spare before a deadline set by the Bank, the board capitulated and sold control to Scots-Canadian businessman Fergus McCann
Fergus McCann
Fergus McCann is a Scottish-born Canadian businessman and entrepreneur.McCann's wealth stemmed initially from a golf vacation company, based in Montreal and Phoenix. He is best known for his involvement in Celtic F.C., the football club based in Glasgow. He acquired a 51% controlling stake in the...
.
1990s redevelopment
McCann quickly discarded the Cambuslang scheme and instead started plans to bring Celtic Park into compliance with the Taylor Report. The capacity would have been only 34,000 if seats had been installed in the remaining terraces, which was greater than Celtic's average attendance in the previous six seasons. McCann, who believed the club could fill a much larger stadium, decided instead to effectively build a new stadium. In the summer of 1994, the Jungle, East Terracing and West Terracing were demolished, with only the structure of the Main Stand left intact. The relatively new Jungle seats were used to refresh the seating in the Main Stand. In the 1994–95 season, Celtic played their home games at Hampden Park, which cost £500,000 in rent. Celtic raised over £26 million to fund the work from two share issues: £12.3 million in a rights issue (£9.4 million invested by McCann) and £14 million in a public offering. 10,000 ordinary fans bought into the public offering, while season ticket sales rose from 7,000 to 26,000.The detailed plans were finalised in December 1994. The club intended to build a 60,000 seat stadium, to be completed in three phases. The first phase was the new North Stand, which was designed by Percy Johnson-Marshall
Percy Johnson-Marshall
Percy Edwin Alan Johnson-Marshall CMG was a British urban designer, regional planner and academic. Born in India, he was educated at Liverpool University, and worked initially with local authorities in the south of England...
Associates, engineered by Hutter Jennings Titchmarsh, and built by Miller Construction. Celtic Park reopened with a friendly against Newcastle
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
on 5 August 1995, with the new 26,970-capacity North Stand and the existing 7,850-capacity Main (South) Stand in place. This was augmented by a temporary stand on the site of the former West Terracing, which held 2,800 seats. Phase two of the redevelopment was completed in August 1996, with the opening of the 13,006-capacity East Stand. Phase 3a was completed in February 1998 with the opening of the South West Corner. This was followed by Phase 3b, the Jock Stein
Jock Stein
John 'Jock' Stein CBE was a Scottish association football player and manager. He became the first manager of a British side to win the European Cup, with Celtic in 1967...
Stand on the former West Terracing site, which was opened in August 1998 with a match against Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
. Phase 3 added another 13,006 seats, bringing the total capacity of the new Celtic Park to 60,832. The whole redevelopment, which made Celtic Park the biggest club stadium in Britain, cost £40 million. In the 1998–99 season, the average attendance was 59,224 and season ticket sales exceeded 53,000, the highest number in Britain at the time.
Structure and facilities
Celtic Park is an all-seated bowl stadium, although the ground is split into four geographic sections, officially known as the North, Jock SteinJock Stein
John 'Jock' Stein CBE was a Scottish association football player and manager. He became the first manager of a British side to win the European Cup, with Celtic in 1967...
(West), Lisbon Lions
Lisbon Lions
The Lisbon Lions is the nickname given to the Celtic team that won the European Cup at the Estádio Nacional in Lisbon, Portugal on 25 May 1967, defeating Internazionale 2–1. All the members of this team were born within 30 miles of Glasgow, Scotland. Celtic's style was the antithesis of the...
(East) and Main (South) Stands. The North, East and West stands form a continous two tier loop. The two end stands each have a capacity of 13,006, while the North Stand holds 26,970. The Main Stand holds 7,850, giving a total capacity of 60,832. Celtic Park is now a rectangular shape, creating an enclosed and intimidating atmosphere for big games. It received 60% of the votes when BBC Radio Five Live
BBC Radio Five Live
BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries...
conducted a poll in 2002 to find the favourite sports venue in the United Kingdom.
The North Stand is squeezed into a tight space between the pitch and the Eastern Necropolis (cemetery). Part of the upper tier is cantilever
Cantilever
A cantilever is a beam anchored at only one end. The beam carries the load to the support where it is resisted by moment and shear stress. Cantilever construction allows for overhanging structures without external bracing. Cantilevers can also be constructed with trusses or slabs.This is in...
ed over the graveyard. To save at least £1 million of additional steelwork, fourteen internal pillars were installed to support the roof. Some local residents objected to the North Stand because of the shadow cast over the cemetery, which Celtic believed was necessary to install 4,000 seats in the North Stand and to complete the overall project. The proposals were passed, however, because the local officials felt that Celtic had come up with the best solution possible to the problem. Celtic paid £10,000 of compensation to the council for those residents that had been promised open space "from the centre of the earth to the sky". The structure also had to take account of the necessity to maintain access into the North Stand along Janefield Street, which has been closed to the public since the redevelopment. Between the two tiers there are 18 executive boxes and a restaurant. There are 1600 seats in the lower section of the North Stand which have a heated element, operated by a foot switch.
The Main (South) Stand is now the oldest part of the stadium, having first been built in 1929, although a new roof was installed in 1971 and the facade was rebuilt in 1988. Translucent sheets were added to the Main Stand roof in 1998, to allow more sunlight to reach the pitch. Suspended from the roof girder of the Main Stand is a glass-fronted box, which used to house the press box
Press box
The press box is a special section of a sports stadium or arena that is set up for the media to report about a given event. It is typically located in the section of the stadium holding the luxury box. In general, newspaper writers sit in this box and write about the on-field event as it unfolds...
, but was converted into two executive boxes in 1988. Alongside the main horizontal truss are two retractable columns. These can swing down to a fixing point on the rear wall of the former paddock, which provides additional stability in case of high winds or heavy snow.
The East Stand opened in 1996 and was renamed after the Lisbon Lions, the Celtic team that won the 1967 European Cup Final
1967 European Cup Final
The 1967 European Cup Final was a football match between Italian team Inter Milan and Scottish team Celtic. It took place at the Estádio Nacional in Lisbon, Portugal on 25 May 1967 in front of a crowd of 45,000. It was the final of the 1966–67 European Cup, the premier club competition run by...
, in 2000. The renaming ceremony was a few days after a Scottish Cup tie had to be postponed after strong winds had damaged guttering in the stand. Away team fans are housed in the Lisbon Lions Stand, in the south east corner of the ground. Some of the away section has its view restricted by one of the supporting pillars of the Main Stand. Celtic offer a discounted price on these seats.
Writing in 1996, Simon Inglis noted that the approaches to the Main Stand is an area of urban deprivation "reminiscent of Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
during the Troubles
The Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
". Redevelopment work is being carried out in the area, in anticipation of the 2014 Commonwealth Games
2014 Commonwealth Games
The 20th Commonwealth Games in 2014 will be held in Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland. The winning city was announced by the Commonwealth Games Federation on 9 November 2007 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Games will run over 11 days of competition from 24 July to 3 August 2014...
, in a scheme dubbed the 'Celtic Triangle'. Since 2005, statues of Brother Walfrid
Brother Walfrid
Brother Walfrid is the religious name of Andrew Kerins, an Irish Marist Brother and founder of Celtic Football Club....
, and Jimmy Johnstone
Jimmy Johnstone
James Connolly "Jimmy" Johnstone was a Scottish football player. Johnstone was best known for his time with Celtic, and was voted their best ever player by the club's fans in 2002...
and Jock Stein
Jock Stein
John 'Jock' Stein CBE was a Scottish association football player and manager. He became the first manager of a British side to win the European Cup, with Celtic in 1967...
have been erected outside the Main Stand.
Celtic have considered the possibility of increasing the capacity of Celtic Park by redeveloping the Main Stand. A completed two-tier bowl stadium would give Celtic Park a capacity of nearly 75,000. Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell
Peter Lawwell
Peter Lawwell is the chief executive of the Scottish Premier League football club Celtic F.C.Lawwell started his career as a trainee accountant with Babcock Energy in the 1970s. After a career working as an executive for a number of companies, including ICI and Hoffman-LaRoche, Lawwell joined...
stated in April 2007 that another 8,000 could be added to the capacity, but the work was not considered cost-effective. In September 2011, Celtic started a feasibility study into creating a safe standing
Terrace (stadium)
A terrace or terracing in sporting terms refers to the traditional standing area of a sports stadium, particularly in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
section in Celtic Park. Although there is a law in England preventing top-flight clubs from having standing sections, no such law exists in Scotland. SPL
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
rules prevent clubs from having standing sections, but these could be amended by a two third majority vote of the SPL clubs. In November 2011, SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster
Neil Doncaster
Neil Doncaster is an association football executive. He was appointed as chief executive of the Scottish Premier League in July 2009, having previously held the same position at Norwich City F.C. from 2001 to 2009.-Profile:...
said that he was open-minded about the issue and would like to see it explored further.
Other uses
Celtic Park has been a home venue for the Scotland national football teamScotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
over 20 times, the most of any ground apart from the national stadium, Hampden Park
Hampden Park
Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland...
. Scotland secured qualification for the 1998 FIFA World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
with a 2–0 win against Latvia
Latvia national football team
The Latvian national football team is controlled by the Latvian Football Federation, the governing body for football in Latvia and represents the country in international football competitions, such as the World Cup and the European Championships. So far, they have never qualified for a FIFA World...
at Celtic Park. The ground most recently hosted a Scotland game in 2006, when Hampden had been booked for a Robbie Williams
Robbie Williams
Robert Peter "Robbie" Williams is an English singer-songwriter, vocal coach and occasional actor. He is a member of the pop group Take That. Williams rose to fame in the band's first run in the early- to mid-1990s. After many disagreements with the management and certain group members, Williams...
concert in advance of the UEFA Euro 2008 qualification fixtures being determined. Scotland were drawn to play the Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands national football team
The Faroe Islands national football team represents the Faroe Islands in association football and is controlled by the Faroe Islands Football Association, the governing body for football in the Faroe Islands. The Faroe Islands became a member of FIFA in 1988 and UEFA in 1990 and are the third...
on the same day as the concert, which meant that the match had to be played elsewhere. While Hampden Park was being redeveloped during the 1990s, Celtic Park hosted the 1993
1993 Scottish Cup Final
The 1993 Scottish Cup Final was played between Rangers and Aberdeen at Celtic Park on 29 May 1993.Rangers won the match 2–1, thereby securing a domestic treble. Rangers' scorers were Mark Hateley, scoring in his second consecutive Scottish Cup Final, and Neil Murray. Lee Richardson scored...
and 1998
1998 Scottish Cup Final
The 1998 Scottish Cup Final was played on 16 May 1998 at Celtic Park in Glasgow and was the final of the 113th Scottish Cup. Hearts and Rangers contested the match, which Hearts won 2–1, thanks to Colin Cameron's penalty and Stephane Adam's goal....
Scottish Cup Finals and the 1993
1993 Scottish League Cup Final
The 1993 Scottish League Cup Final was played on 24 October 1993, at Celtic Park in Glasgow and was the final of the 48th Scottish League Cup competition. The final was contested by Rangers and Hibernian. Rangers won the match 2–1 thanks to goals by Ian Durrant and Ally McCoist.-Match...
, 1996
1996 Scottish League Cup Final
The 1996 Scottish League Cup Final was played on 24 November 1996, at Celtic Park in Glasgow and was the final of the 51st Scottish League Cup competition. The final was contested by Rangers and Heart of Midlothian. Rangers won the match 4–3 thanks to two goals each by Ally McCoist and Paul...
and 1998
1998 Scottish League Cup Final
The 1998 Scottish League Cup Final was played on 29 November 1998 at Celtic Park in Glasgow and was the final of the 52nd Scottish League Cup. The final was contested by Rangers and St. Johnstone. Rangers won the match 2–1, thanks to goals from Stéphane Guivarc'h and Jörg Albertz.-Match...
Scottish League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
Finals.
Before the First World War, Celtic Park was a multi-event venue. It hosted the first ever composite rules shinty-hurling
Composite rules shinty-hurling
Composite rules shinty-hurling , sometimes known simply as shinty-hurling) is a hybrid sport which was developed to facilitate international matches between shinty players and hurling players....
match in Scotland, in 1897. Track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
meetings were held every summer, while the only World Cycling Championship
UCI Track Cycling World Championships
The UCI Track Cycling World Championships are the set of world championship events for the various disciplines and distances in track cycling and are regulated by the Union Cycliste Internationale...
to be staged in Scotland was held at Celtic Park in 1897. An experimental floodlit football game was played on Christmas Day 1893. This was unsuccessful due to the ball repeatedly striking the lamps, which were hung over the pitch by wiring. Open-air masses and a parade for the Coronation of King George V were staged. Celtic Park, along with many other football stadiums, hosted recruitment drives during the First World War. During one such event at Celtic Park, a demonstration of trench warfare
Trench warfare
Trench warfare is a form of occupied fighting lines, consisting largely of trenches, in which troops are largely immune to the enemy's small arms fire and are substantially sheltered from artillery...
was carried out. The first speedway
Speedway
-In racing:*Oval track racing, motor racing on an oval track which turns in one direction*Cycle speedway, a form of bicycle racing*Motorcycle speedway, a form of motorcycle sport*Dirt track racing in New Zealand-Other uses:Placenames...
race in Scotland was held at Celtic Park in 1928.
Celtic Park has been used for concerts by The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
(1976
The Who Tour 1976
The Who Tour 1976 was The Who's second concert tour for their The Who By Numbers album.-History:After spending most of the last three months of 1975 supporting The Who By Numbers, the group again embarked on a series of tours in 1976, with two stints in North America and several shows in the United...
), Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams, is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, bassist, producer, actor and photographer. Adams has won dozens of awards and nominations, including 20 Juno Awards among 56 nominations. He has also received 15 Grammy Award nominations including a win for Best Song Written...
(1992), Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
(1992
Diamonds and Pearls Tour
The Diamonds and Pearls Tour was a concert tour by Prince promoting his Diamonds and Pearls album, released the previous year. Like several of his then-recent tours, Prince chose not to tour in the United States...
) and U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
(1993
Zoo TV Tour
The Zoo TV Tour was a worldwide concert tour by rock band U2. Staged in support of their 1991 album Achtung Baby, the tour visited arenas and stadiums from 1992 through 1993...
). Wet Wet Wet
Wet Wet Wet
Wet Wet Wet are a Scottish pop rock band that formed in the 1980s. They scored a number of hits in the British charts and around the world. The band is composed of Marti Pellow , Tommy Cunningham , Graeme Clark and Neil Mitchell...
played there in September 1997, but their performance had to be postponed by a day to avoid clashing with the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales
Funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales
The public funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales started on September 6, 1997 at 9:08 am in London, when the tenor bell sounded to signal the departure of the cortege from Kensington Palace. The coffin was carried from the palace on a gun carriage, along Hyde Park to St. James' Palace, where...
. Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
planned a Celtic Park date in his 2003 Back in the World tour
Back in the World tour
The Back In The World was a European concert tour by Paul McCartney in 2003. After the first 6 dates , Paul caught a flu and had to cancel the second Sheffield date, promising to reschedule the date for later on the tour; the flu affected the set list directly, as Coming Up, Driving Rain & Maybe...
, but it was cancelled. American evangelical Christian missionary Billy Graham
Billy Graham
William Franklin "Billy" Graham, Jr. is an American evangelical Christian evangelist. As of April 25, 2010, when he met with Barack Obama, Graham has spent personal time with twelve United States Presidents dating back to Harry S. Truman, and is number seven on Gallup's list of admired people for...
held an outdoor event at the ground in 1991, his first visit to Scotland since 1955. One of the supporting speakers was Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
player Brian Irvine
Brian Irvine (footballer)
Brian Irvine is a former international footballer who played as a defender.-Career:Irvine began his career with Falkirk in 1983. After two years and nearly forty league appearances for the Bairns - where he played alongside his brother - Irvine moved to Aberdeen...
, who had scored the winning penalty kick
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
against Celtic in the 1990 Scottish Cup Final
1990 Scottish Cup Final
The 1990 Scottish Cup Final was played on May 12, 1990 at Hampden Park in Glasgow and was the final of the 115th Scottish Cup. The final was contested by Aberdeen and Celtic. Aberdeen won the match 9–8 on penalties after the match finished 0–0 following extra time.-Match details:-Road to the...
.
Celtic Park will be used for the Opening Ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games
2014 Commonwealth Games
The 20th Commonwealth Games in 2014 will be held in Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland. The winning city was announced by the Commonwealth Games Federation on 9 November 2007 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Games will run over 11 days of competition from 24 July to 3 August 2014...
.
Transport
The main railway stations in Glasgow, Central and Queen StreetGlasgow Queen Street railway station
Glasgow Queen Street is a railway station in Glasgow, Scotland, the smaller of the city's two main line railway termini and the third-busiest station in Scotland. It is between George Street to the south and Cathedral Street Bridge to the north, at the northern end of Queen Street adjacent to...
, are approximately 30 minutes walking distance from Celtic Park. Local trains from Glasgow Central on the Argyle Line
Argyle Line
The Argyle Line is a suburban railway located in West Central Scotland. It connects the Lanarkshire towns of Lanark, Larkhall and Motherwell to West Dunbartonshire via central Glasgow using sub-surface running...
serve Dalmarnock railway station
Dalmarnock railway station
Dalmarnock railway station serves the area of Dalmarnock, Glasgow. It is a station on the Argyle Line, 4 km south east of Glasgow Central. The northern part of the station is situated in a tunnel .-History:...
, which is about 10 minutes walking distance from the ground. Fans travelling to Celtic Park also use Bellgrove
Bellgrove railway station
Bellgrove Railway Station is a railway station in the East End of Glasgow, Scotland. The station is east of and is managed by First ScotRail....
and Bridgeton
Bridgeton railway station
Bridgeton railway station serves the Bridgeton district of Glasgow, Scotland and is a station on the Argyle Line, 3 km south east of . The station is operated by First ScotRail who also provide all train services.- History :...
stations, which are both approximately one mile away. Between 1897 and 1964, Celtic Park was served by the eponymous Parkhead Stadium railway station. It is served by First Glasgow
First Glasgow
First Glasgow is the largest bus company serving the Greater Glasgow area in, Scotland. It forms part of FirstGroup, a company operating transport services across the British Isles and in North America...
route numbers 43, 61 and 62. Celtic Park sits adjacent to the A74
A74 road
The A74 was a major trunk road in the United Kingdom, linking Glasgow in Scotland to Carlisle in the North West of England. The road has been largely replaced by the A74 and M74 motorways and now only one short stub remains....
(London Road), near to the M74
M74 motorway
The A74 and M74 motorways form a major motorway in Scotland. Following an extension opened on 28 June 2011, it connects the M8 motorway west of Glasgow to the English border at Gretna, creating an alternative route for traffic moving from the south to the west of the city...
and M8 motorways. Visitors to the ground travelling by car can park in the surrounding streets. The new Glasgow East End Regeneration Route
Glasgow East End Regeneration Route
The Glasgow East End Regeneration Route is a new road in the East End of Glasgow, Scotland. Currently under construction, the first phase was opened in 2011 with the second phase planned to open in 2012...
, which will link the two motorways, will run close by Celtic Park.
External links
- Details for Celtic Park (Parkhead), Glasgow WorldStadia.com
- Satellite map Google Maps
- Explore Glasgow - All round the city ScotCities.com - Modern drawings of the old and the new stands at Celtic Park
- Celtic Park Scottish Football Archive
- Virtual Celtic Park Stadium Tour Wantaco