Match Pictures | Matches: 2024 – 2025
Trivia
- KO: 12:30, Saturday, Sky Sports, League Match 38 (final league match)
- Celtic trophy presentation day.
- Celtic end the league season on 92 pts, +86GD, 112 goals scored, 26 conceded, 29 wins, 5 draws, 4 lost. 17 pts & 47 GD ahead of second placed Sevco (they drew 2-2 v Hibs today). Hibs have had an incredible season after really poor start. and finish third in the table.
- Minute silence held for recently departed ex-Celtic chairman Jack McGinn (RIP).
- At the start where there was a sign language routine done by a group of wee kids [from St Bartholomew’s in Coatbridge] on the pitch… a really nice touch.
- Club created an in-house TIFO and blocked off the Green Brigade from doing one, but the Green Brigrade did have some great displays today.
- Wearing the Celtic cross on the jerseys to mark the national day of commemoration of the Irish Famine. After the match, several jerseys to be sold at auction for children’s charitable associations in Ireland.
- James Forrest scores at the death to finally score his first goal of the season, and has now scored a goal for 16 seasons in a row for Celtic! All were desperate for it to happen, and an incredible way to cap off the league season.
- Hatate out for rest of season after a heavy challenge in the last match v Aberdeen. So will miss the Scottish Cup final.
- A restructure of tier five of Scottish football is on the verge of being completed and introduced for season 2026-27, with the Lowland League split into east and west sections and the Highland League being fed by the North Region Juniors and the North Caledonian League.
- Scottish football is set to retain the current league set up after plans to revamp the lower leagues failed to attract enough support after Championship clubs were asked to consider expanding the second tier from 10 clubs to 12 or 14.
- Orange Order march in town with many Celtic fans going in to celebrate the league title win!
- Celtic celebration ‘mayhem’ as flares set off and ‘200 police officers’ at scene!
- Glasgow City Council: “SPFL Trophy Day 1. We want supporters of every team in Glasgow to be able to celebrate their successes but ask fans – including those visiting the city – to please avoid disruptive mass gatherings at Merchant City / Trongate and other public places. 2. These events and others like them have consistently led to disorder – causing significant disruption for the local community and businesses. 3. Damage to buildings and infrastructure robs the public purse of hundreds of thousands of pounds that would otherwise be spent on the essential services we all rely on. 4. Enjoy trophy day, but respect the city and your neighbours. Do not attend unsafe and disruptive gatherings in public places like Merchant City / Trongate.”
- FA Cup final played in the evening, Crystal Palace 1-0 Man City.
- Liverpool have reportedly activated ex-Celt Frimpong’s £35m release clause so Celtic make sellon profit!
Summary
joebloggscity of TheCelticWiki
In what was a day to celebrate, the Celtic side came out with a very community feel with some sign language singers pre match and a guard of honour by St Mirren. Great weather was waiting, and maybe in this atmosphere the Celtic side took things way too easy! Some back passes, and playful moves, including one at a corner which the referee forced a retake, and it was no suprise when a resilient St Mirren side stole the lead with an admittedly fine goal. Thereafter Celtic put more pressure on with their dominance to little avail. Some great opportunities from Kenny & Yang, and some others, but it just wouldn’t happen.
It turned into fairytale moment! There was hope for Forrest to finally score this season, to make it 16 years in a row he had scored for Celtic, but he had struggled to get that goal despite many fine performances whenever called onto the field. Then in the 94th minute of the game, Johnstone selflessly laid the ball off to Forrest instead of taking a risky shot at goal, for Forrest to control & then shoot to get the equaliser. Few other goals have been so received for a player as well as this one, the emotions for Forrest were so high, and it made up for what was otherwise a frustrating match.
Onto the Scottish Cup final next weekend!
“He’s created the narrative today. It was a brilliant way to end what has been a fantastic league campaign for us. It’s testament to him and his hunger, his desire, his professionalism; all the things that it takes to be a top player. The noise (that met his goal) was absolutely amazing.”
Rodgers on Forrest
“This is what it feels like to be Celtic.”
Rodgers
“Amazing career and he still has more to give. The ultimate professional.”
Rodgers on Forrest
“We work so hard all year and there are so many sacrifices to bring this success, so that’s why it belongs to everyone at the club,” he tells BBC Scotland. To serve them on a day like today, it is a real honour and privilege to manage the club and, of course, when you pick up the title, it is a real conviction for all the hard work. It is the expectation of the club – it drives you every day and, when you are at such a big club, there is no time to rest. We enjoy this today and tonight and the supporters deserve to do that, but you are quickly on to next week and the next season.”
Brendan Rodgers
“Last minute, last kick of the game, and a really good finish – he had to show composure and finished it so well,” the Celtic manager tells BBC Scotland. “It was an amazing finish to the game. It is a testament to his tremendous professionalism and hunger. He is so disciplined in his profession. “He clearly has an emotional attachment to the club – he has been here since he was young and to have lasted this long at a club like this, you have to be doing so many things right and you also need to be performing. “He has performed to such a high level and he is deserving of that and I’m so happy for him because he is at that stage of his career where he still has a lot to contribute and he’ll hopefully continue to do that.”
Rodgers on Forrest
Celtic winger James Forrest has been speaking to BBC Scotland about his late equaliser that made sure he has now scored for a 16th consecutive season.
“I don’t think you could have written it any better,” he says. “Everyone has been wanting me to score and get the record, so I’m just happy to do it for everyone. It’s hard to put it into words. I’m just trying to enjoy every last minute of playing for Celtic. It’s been an unbelievable career and I’ve absolutely loved it and I hope I still have a few big moments and trophies like this. When you get days like this, it just makes you want more.”
Asked how he felt when the ball hit the net, he replies: “Relief. I was just buzzing.”
James Forrest
The fans drive the standards week in, week out. We’re not allowed to drop the standards ever. “It’s great, brilliant. You’ll get the best out of everyone if there’s competition all over the park.”
Liam Scale
“It’s everything I thought [it would be] – something I’ve dreamt of since I was a kid. “I’ll never forget this day now. I need to relish days like today. I need to keep pushing.”
McCowan
Inside The SPFL @AgentScotland · 4h The reaction to Forrest’s goal was the loudest I’ve heard since Cadete’s goal 30 years ago.
Leo McGarry of KDS:
Sure today will be remembered for Jamesy’s goal and the relief.
It was also a microcosm of our season. Frustrating and inconsistent. For the brilliant performances of Red Bull, 1st Huns game Bayern away and Atalanta, we had some derisory performances such as Dortmund, Huns at new year as well as the frustrating games where we looked lost, unmotivated and inconsistent compared to normal; Huns loss at home, Dundee, zagreb and St Johnstone away and I’d include today in the mystery of games when we don’t turn up, especially after Wednesday and even a fluid start today.
Nothing to take away from the joy, but I can’t help feeling there is a too regularly a disconnect between potential and performance, attitude and motivation. I’m not close enough to know how much of it is down to individual players or how much down to man management.
Brilliant season, but far from invincible. I don’t mind losing at all, I thought Hibs were good value for the win, despite the iffy officiating, but the massive gap from week to week (or less than 72 hours this week) is hugely frustrating.
Anyway, that’s end of season whinge out the way. I’m off for a beer and to avoid GSTK.
Teams
Celtic
Manager: Brendan Rodgers
Formation: 4 – 3 – 3
01 K. Schmeichel
03 G. Taylor
05 L. Scales
20 C. Carter-Vickers
02 A. Johnston
28 Paulo Bernardo, subbed for Yang Hyun-Jun at 54mins
42 C. McGregor (c), Captain
27 A. Engels, subbed for J. Schlupp at 80mins
38 D. Maeda, subbed for J. Kenny at 72mins
09 A. Idah, subbed for L. McCowan at 55mins
10 N. Kühn, subbed for J. Forrest at 54mins
Subs:
49 J. Forrest
24 J. Kenny
14 L. McCowan
17 M. Nawrocki
56 A. Ralston
15 J. Schlupp
12 V. Sinisalo
06 A. Trusty
13 Yang Hyun-Jun
Goals:
J. Forrest (90’+4)
Assists:
A. Johnston (90’+4)
St Mirren
Manager: Stephen Robinson
Formation: 3 – 5 – 2
01 Z. Hemming
05 R. Taylor
13 A. Gogić
22 M. Fraser 88′, Yellow Card at 88mins
24 D. John, subbed for S. Tanser at 68mins
06 M. O’Hara (c), Captain75′, Yellow Card at 75mins
15 C. Boyd-Munce, subbed for G. Kiltie at 63mins
88 K. Phillips 44′, Yellow Card at 44mins
02 R. Alebiosu, subbed for A. Iacovitti at 82mins
07 J. Ayunga, subbed for R. Idowu at 63mins
09 M. Mandron, subbed for J. Scott at 81mins
Subs:
04 A. Iacovitti
12 R. Idowu
11 G. Kiltie
10 C. McMenamin
33 E. Mooney
14 J. Scott
08 O. Smyth
03 S. Tanser
27 P. Urminský
Goals:
J. Ayunga (51′)
Assists:
Referee David Dickinson
Video Assistant Referee Calum Scott
Assistant Referee 1 Ross Nelson
Assistant Referee 2 Steven Traynor
Fourth Official Peter Stuart
Assistant VAR Official Andrew McWilliam
Venue:Celtic Park
Attendance:58,889
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Match Links
Stats
Overall possession
Celtic 76.5% St. Mirren 23.5%
Shots
Celtic 21 St. Mirren 4
Shots on target
Celtic 5 St. Mirren 3
Total touches inside the box
Celtic 65 St. Mirren 12
Goalkeeper saves
Celtic 2 St. Mirren 3
Fouls
Celtic 12 St. Mirren 6
Corners
Celtic 14 St. Mirren 0
Advanced match stats
Shots
Celtic 21 St. Mirren 4
Shots on target
Celtic 5 St. Mirren 3
Shots off target
Celtic 6 St. Mirren 1
Blocked shots
Celtic 10 St. Mirren 0
Attempts out of box
Celtic 9 St. Mirren 0
Total offside
Celtic 2 St. Mirren 1
Total tackles
Celtic 12 St. Mirren 12
Won tackles
Celtic 7 St. Mirren 8
Fouls
Celtic 12 St. Mirren 6
Total yellow cards
Celtic 0 St. Mirren 3
Total clearances
Celtic 20 St. Mirren 44
Headed clearances
Celtic 17 St. Mirren 16
Duels won
Celtic 41 St. Mirren 38
Clearances off the line
Celtic 0 St. Mirren 1
Total passes
Celtic 675 St. Mirren 210
Accurate passes
Celtic 601 St. Mirren 137
Backward passes
Celtic 87 St. Mirren 39
Forward passes
Celtic 203 St. Mirren 102
Total long balls
Celtic 19 St. Mirren 62
Successful final third passes
Celtic 277 St. Mirren 28
Total crosses
Celtic 38 St. Mirren 10
Touches
Celtic 866 St. Mirren 396
Touches in the box
Celtic 65 St. Mirren 12
Dispossessed
Celtic 2 St. Mirren 5
Goalkeeper saves
Celtic 2 St. Mirren 3
Diving saves
Celtic 0 St. Mirren 2
Saved shots from inside the box
Celtic 2 St. Mirren 4
Keeper throws
Celtic 6 St. Mirren 1
Goal kicks
Celtic 5 St. Mirren 16
Punches
Celtic 0 St. Mirren 2
Pre match facts
Celtic have won 11 of their last 12 meetings with St. Mirren in all competitions (D1), including each of their last eight in a row.
St. Mirren have only won one of their last 37 away games at Celtic in all competitions (D3 L33), a 2-1 victory in January 2021 under Jim Goodwin.
Celtic have won their final league game in 14 of the last 17 seasons (including curtailed 2019-20 season), with their only defeat in this time coming in 2017-18 (0-1 v Aberdeen).
St. Mirren have lost their final league match in both of the last two seasons, a 0-3 defeat to Rangers in 2022-23, and 2-3 to Celtic in 2023-24.
Celtic have scored 111 goals in this season’s Scottish Premiership. Only in 1915-16 (116), 1935-36 (115), 2022-23 (114), and 1937-38 (113) have they ever netted more in a single league campaign.
Articles
16-in-a-row for James Forrest on Trophy Day at Paradise
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2025/may/17/forrest-makes-it-a-sweet-16-in-a-row-with-last-gasp-equaliser/
First Team
By Matthew Campbell
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17 May 2025, 2:55 pm
Scottish Premiership
Saturday, May 17, 2025
Celtic Park
CELTIC…1
(Forrest 90 +4)
ST MIRREN…1
(Ayunga 51)
The champions of Scotland saw out the league season with a 1-1 draw against St Mirren as James Forrest extended his incredible scoring run to 16 consecutive seasons with an outstanding last-gasp equaliser.
From the first whistle, the champions were in full control of the game and with just over five minutes gone, the first chances of the match arrived.
Callum McGregor showed his creativity and class to skip past two St Mirren defenders and feed the ball to Arne Engels, who flashed a ball across the face of goal.
St Mirren’s keeper, Zach Hemming, was able to pounce on the crossed ball, but he fumbled it which allowed Daizen Maeda to take a swipe at the ball, but he was unable to direct it goalwards and the chance was gone.
Celtic continued to dominate possession throughout the half, with St Mirren spending most of the first 45 minutes on the back foot.
The visitors’ first attempt on goal came in the 25th minute when Mikael Mandron got a shot on target from inside the box, but Kasper Schmeichel was able to hold on to the ball with ease before getting the Celts on the front foot again quickly.
The same can’t be said for Schmeichel’s counterpart in the St Mirren goals, with Zach Hemming looking to slow the game down throughout the first half and ensuring that every goal kick took as long as possible.
Just after the half-hour mark, Callum McGregor found himself with a shooting opportunity from outside the area, and given his goalscoring exploits this season, it would have been no surprise to see his effort nestle in the back of the net, but on this occasion it drifted over the bar.
The champions continued their hunt for the opening goal as the half wore on, but with no big chances presenting themselves, the teams went in level at the break.
77%
Possession
24%
21
Shots
4
5
Shots On Target
3
14
Corners
0
12
Fouls
6
0
0
Cards
3
0
Five minutes in to the second half, St Mirren took the lead as Declan John sent the ball in to the box from a free-kick. Liam Scales’ clearance only went as far as Jonah Ayunga who slotted the ball in to the bottom corner to make it 1-0 to the visitors.
Brendan Rodgers made a triple substitution a few minutes later, with James Forrest, Luke McCowan and Yang brought on in place of Nicolas Kühn, Paulo Bernardo and Adam Idah.
James Forrest’s impact was instantaneous as he caused all manner of problems for the visitors’ defence and, with 61 minutes played, it looked like he had set up the equaliser, but Daizen’s header from his crossed ball went over the bar.
The champions continued to hunt for the equaliser and had St Mirren camped in their own final third for most of the second half, but still the goal wouldn’t come.
Forrest continued to put pressure on the St Mirren defence, with he and Yang switching wings frequently in an attempt to catch the visitors’ defence flat-footed.
With five minutes to go, Johnny Kenny, who was brought on in the 70th minute in place of Daizen Maeda, was unfortunate not to find the back of the net. The Irishman showed great pace as he burst in to the box with the ball before seeing two efforts saved in quick succession.
It looked like the league season was going to end with a home defeat for Celtic, but there was a feeling inside Paradise that the story wasn’t finished just yet.
Billy McNeill famously said that there is a fairytale about Celtic Football Club, and in the final minute of stoppage time, that fairytale struck again.
Much has been made about James Forrest requiring a goal this season to take his consecutive scoring run to 16 successive campaigns and, with 94 minutes on the clock, his opportunity arrived.
Alistair Johnston looked like he had a great opportunity to shoot, however, the Canadian spotted Forrest on the right wing and opted to slide the ball through to the winger.
And Celtic’s most decorated player ever made no mistake as he fired his shot in to the back of the net to equal Paul McStay and Jimmy McGrory’s records of scoring in 16 consecutive campaigns.
The scenes inside Celtic Park as the ball hit the back of the net were joyous, and those joyous scenes continued after the match, as the four-in-a-row champions of Scotland lifted the league trophy in front of the Celtic faithful, rounding off an exceptional league campaign for the Celts.
Celtic: Schmeichel, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor, Engels (Schlupp 80′), McGregor, Paulo Bernardo (Hyunjun Yang 54′), Kühn (Forrest 54′), Idah (McCowan 55′), Maeda (Kenny 72′)
Subs: Trusty, Sinisalo, Hyunjun Yang, McCowan, Schlupp, Nawrocki, Kenny, Forrest, Ralston
St. Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic, Taylor, Alebiosu (Iacovitti 82′), Phillips, Boyd-Munce (Kiltie 63′), O’Hara, John (Tanser 68′), Mandron (Scott 81′), Ayunga (Idowu 63′)
Subs: Tanser, Iacovitti, Smyth, McMenamin, Kiltie, Idowu, Scott, Urminsky, Mooney
Celtic are the Champions again!
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2025/may/17/celtic-are-the-champions-again-/
First Team
By Matthew Campbell
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17 May 2025, 3:44 pm
Trophy Day at Celtic Park is always a memorable and joyous day, but the celebrations from today’s match will continue long in to the night thanks to James Forrest’s stoppage time equaliser against St Mirren.
For weeks, there has been so much written and said about Forrest’s run of scoring in consecutive seasons, and how he required just one goal in this campaign to extend that run to 16 seasons in a row.
And, in true fairytale style, Celtic’s number 49 got his goal and extended his run with a finish in the 49th minute of the second half, with 94 minutes on the clock.
That finish comes at the end of a league season where Forrest became the most decorated Celtic player of all-time, and he deserves all of the praise and warm words that will come his way after today’s match.
And those words of praise should also extend to every one of his teammates and the Celtic management team, all of whom have worked tirelessly to deliver yet more silverware to the Celtic Park trophy cabinet.
After the league trophy was held aloft at Paradise for the fourth consecutive season, Celtic TV was on hand to catch all the instant post-match reaction from the champions.
All of the post-match celebrations are available to watch now and you can enjoy hearing from Liam Scales, Paulo Bernardo, Adam Idah, Luke McCowan, Nicolas Kühn, Kasper Schmeichel, James Forrest, Callum McGregor, John Kennedy and Brendan Rodgers.
Manager: This is a day for us all to celebrate a great achievement
First Team
By Paul Cuddihy, Celtic View Editor
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17 May 2025, 3:56 pm
Brendan Rodgers enjoyed his fourth Trophy Day as Celtic manager after guiding the Hoops to yet another Premiership title.
His Celtic side have dominated the campaign, ultimately finishing 17 points clear at the top of the table.
It was a dominant season for the Hoops, who also won the League Cup back in December. And there’s still one more trophy to play for, with the Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen at Hampden on the horizon next Saturday.
Winning that would be another treble, and make Brendan Rodgers the first Celtic manager to win three domestic trebles.
For today, however, it was all about celebrating the Premiership title, with the trophy being lifted at Paradise following a 1-1 draw against St Mirren.
Speaking to Celtic TV after the game, the Celtic manager said: “It’s been brilliant and the guys deserved to get something from the game.
‘The consistency overall, and with consistency that’s about mentality, and the players every single day deserve so much credit.’
“We’ve pushed them, they responded from mistakes and you can only be as good as we’ve been this season because of the players.
“They’ve been absolutely incredible, but I think there’s been a real connection with the support and the team, and that’s been great to see.”
Celtic’s equaliser came late in added time at the end of the game and it was a fairytale ending to the match as James Forrest scored.
It was his first goal of the campaign but, more importantly, it meant he has scored in 16 consecutive seasons for Celtic, taking him alongside Paul McStay and Jimmy McGrory in achieving that feat.
And his manager was delighted to see the winger get the goal.
“In the second half we were better, created a lot of chances and then what a story at the end,” he said.
‘It’s just incredible really and it’s so deserving, and it means everybody leaves here a champion but also seeing James score, so it was amazing.’
“Ali did so well because I was thinking it’s opened up for him and he’s got a good strike on him, but it was really good composure and, also for James, he could have just lashed at that but it was a nice touch, good composure and it hit the target and went in.
“It’s important to celebrate this achievement because to be as comfortable as we’ve been throughout the season – that takes a lot of work.
“However, we’ve kept going, kept focused and now we’ve got one more title to try and aim for, but we’ll celebrate this and then get ready next week for next Saturday at Hampden.”
H
12:30 Sat 17 May
Celtic Crest
Celtic
BBC
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cy8dnz1xg23t#Report
Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland at Celtic Park
Celtic’s most decorated player of all time, James Forrest, scored for a record-breaking 16th consecutive season in stoppage-time to make sure trophy day did not fall flat against a St Mirren who fell just short of European qualification.
With nearly the last kick of the ball, the veteran winger fired low past goalkeeper Zach Hemming to deny St Mirren a famous victory.
Jonah Ayunga’s strike looked as if it would fire the Paisley side to only their second victory at Celtic Park in 38 visits.
It also looked as if it would seal a Conference League place, with St Mirren needing to better the result of a Dundee United side who trailed against Aberdeen.
However, United came from behind to lead before Forrest scored at the death deny Stephen Robinson’s side the victory that their composed, disciplined performance seemed set to earn.
St Mirren’s organisation and work-rate frustrated Celtic for most of the first half and, when their chance came, Ayunga fired hard and low into the bottom left-hand corner of the net when the home defence failed to clear a free-kick.
As if to underline the lack of intensity and quality from Celtic, Hemming was largely untroubled throughout, but was a relieved spectator when Daizen Maeda headed wildly over from substitute Forrest’s fine cross.
It was not until the final few minutes when Hemming was called into action to deny late attempts from Johnny Kenny and Yang Hyun-Jun.
Forrest, Yang and Luke McCowan all came on for the last half hour for Celtic and, while the champions did improve slightly, St Mirren held firm with some terrific last-ditch defending necessary and also some composed play on the break.
Even had they won, they would not have been able to improve on sixth place thanks to United’s win over Aberdeen.
For Celtic, how fitting that a modern-day great got the record-breaking goal before bringing the trophy out for their 13th title party in 14 years.
Celtic’s man for all seasons maintains 16-year record
Published
38 minutes ago
Celtic lacking a spark
Ninety-two points and 112 goals tells you all you need to know about Celtic’s season.
That there were still howls of derision from the home fans on trophy day when their heroes huffed and puffed but failed to blow the St Mirren house down speaks volumes of the standards expected at Parkhead these days.
Manager Brendan Rodgers will not be happy that the party was spoiled somewhat by the performance.
The silver lining for him will be that his men will go into next week’s Scottish Cup final, with a treble on the line, fully aware that they canot let their levels drop again if they want to complete the domestic clean sweep.
Too many of his usual high performers could not find their usual standards. Perhaps understandable, given this title was effectively won a long, long time ago.
St Mirren’s season a success
Absolute heart-break for St Mirren. They did their bit, with a fabulous performance and draw at the home of the chamions.
That it still was not enough to secure them fifth place – and European football in successive season for the first time – will be a bitter pill to swallow after nine points from 15 post-split.
Regardless of that disappointment, it has been another terrific season and the pain will eventually dissipate as they reflect on yet another top-six finish and a sparkling end to the campaign.
Anyone watching St Mirren this season will surely have been impressed by their organisation, work ethic and quality.
Solid at the back, inventive in midfield and pacy out wide, it is no surprise they have had another good season once they recovered from their European exertions.
What they said
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: “We enjoy this today and tonight and the supporters deserve to do that, but you are quickly on to next week and the next season.
“A lot of guys have had minutes now and now we can form the plan for the Scottish Cup final. It’s been a wonderful season up until now and we can make it a really memorable one next weekend, but we have a lot of hard work and preparation before then.”
St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson: “Even if we had won the game, we couldn’t have got Europe, but to remain unbeaten in the top six and come here and not be beat by a Celtic side coming to party.
“In the first half, I’m not sure they had a shot on target – we were really disciplined. You obviously don’t get so much of the ball against Celtic, but when we did, we tried to play, we tried to pass and we got punished for our one mistake right at the end.
“Overall, I can’t ask any more of this group of players. They are playing way above the resources that we are putting into the team and I am proud to say I am the manager of this group of boys.”
Glasgow Celtic fans in heated Orange Walk clash as bottles and cans thrown
Footage has emerged of a heated altercation between Celtic fans and people supporting the Orange walk, with a number of cans and bottles lobbed in the direction of the Celtic fans.
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News
ByRyan Thom
Jonathan Blackburn
14:44, 17 MAY 2025
Crowds supporting an Orange walk clashed with fans celebrating Celtic’s title win in a tense encounter on George Square.
Members of the Orange Order made their way through the city centre this morning (May 17) as Hoops fans made their way to Celtic Park to see their side lift the Premiership trophy. Footage has emerged of a heated altercation between Celtic fans and people supporting the Orange walk, with a number of cans and bottles seen flying through the air after being lobbed in the direction of the Celtic fans.
Fans were seen wearing Celtic colours and standing within the square yards from the march, with supporters waving union flags along the route. Police were seen separating the crowds, the Daily Record reports.
READ MORE: Glasgow Celtic celebration ‘mayhem’ as flares set off and ‘200 police officers’ at scene
READ MORE: Park near Glasgow issues diarrhoea and vomiting warning as harmful algae found in pond
It comes after fears were raised this week over the Orange Order event clashing with Celtic’s title party as Brendan Rodger’s men are set to be crowned Scottish Premiership Champions after today’s match in Parkhead against St Mirren.
Thousands of Celtic fans are expected to descend on the Trongate area despite being warned not to attend by the club, council officials and Police Scotland. Previous years have seen widespread disruption in the unofficial party-zone where Hoops revellers have taken over the streets wreaked havoc.
Last year cops were called in and made 19 arrests amidst disorder at the title bash. Meanwhile the Orange Order VE Day event is set to weave through the city centre before finishing off in Cessnock. VE Day commemorates the end of World War II in Europe on May 8, 1945.
Last night Celtic released a statement pleading with supporters to “not attend” the planned celebrations. In a statement released on the club’s website, a spokesperson said: “Outside of Celtic Park, while we want to celebrate in style, we want to do so mindful of others and in a safe and responsible manner.
“The club has engaged in recent months with local community and residents’ groups, many of which include Celtic supporters, and it is clear that large gatherings in public spaces, even when positive and celebratory, can cause issues for those living and working in these areas.
“For all of these reasons, the club would encourage supporters not to attend unlicensed large public gatherings, which do not have safety planning, facilities or infrastructure for supporters attending.”
On Thursday, Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Mark Sutherland said: “We are aware of concerns regarding events in Glasgow on Saturday with large crowds expected to gather.
“I’d like to reassure the public we are working closely with Glasgow City Council to minimise disruption to the wider community and a proportionate policing plan is in place, with a focus on public safety.
“We respect the right to public assembly, however it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure their behaviour does not negatively impact businesses or those looking to enjoy our city.
“Please do not gather in large groups and be respectful of those around you.
A Glasgow City Council spokesperson said on Thursday: “We want supporters of every team in Glasgow to be able to celebrate their successes but ask fans – including those visiting – to please avoid disruptive mass gatherings at Merchant City/Trongate and other public places.
“These events and others like them have consistently led to disorder – causing significant disruption for the local community and businesses.
“Damage to buildings and infrastructure robs the public purse of hundreds of thousands of pounds that would otherwise be spent on the essential services we all rely on.
“Enjoy trophy day, but respect the city and your neighbours. Do not attend unsafe and disruptive gatherings in public places like Merchant City/Trongate.”