Hampden Park & The Celtic End

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Topic: Hampden Park Stadium, Glasgow
Ref: National Stadium, The East Stand/Terracing (‘The Celtic End Terracing’), The Hampden Celtic End

Background

Hampden is a second home to every Scottish football fan, firstly as the centre for the national side, then as the location for the national football authorities, but also then as the site of some of the pinnacle moments in their club’s history.

Celtic as a highly successful side has played there so often that over the generations, it is as much part of Celtic folklore as Celtic Park. This ground has played host to some of Celtic’s greatest moments:

2001: Scottish Cup victory: Sealing the treble,
1995: Scottish Cup victory, first trophy after long barren spell following ‘Sack The Board’ days,
1988: Scottish Cup victory in Centenary Season,
1970: European Cup Semi-final victory over Leeds,
1965: Scottish Cup victory, first trophy since 1957, set up the Golden Years under Jock Stein,
1957: League Cup record victory over Rangers (7-1),
1937: Celtic winning Scottish Cup in front of club record crowd,
1904: Scottish Cup victory over Rangers coming back from 2-0 down, 3-2 final score.

Celtic even spent a period there from 1994-95 to 1996-97 whilst Celtic Park was being renovated. Not always a popular choice for some, with some spats between Celtic chief executive Fergus McCann and the SFA over the terms of the rent, conditions and facilities, but it was necessary as Celtic Park had missed the deadline for the required all seater stadium requirements (due to the Celtic Takeover events).

Add in the numerous appearances at Hampden through Scottish Cup and League Cup matches, Celtic have fashioned a whole end for themselves. The East Stand/Terracing is dubbed traditionally as “The Celtic End” and the opposing end “The Rangers End”, in respect to the countless times the sides had matched each other at the ground. The new TheRangers club has stepped in to take the place of the old club for the opposing end.

At one time ‘The Celtic End’ at Hampden could host an estimated 72,000, which is larger than the bulk of stadiums even today in the world. Still possibly the largest single terracing ever in football.

Annoyingly, until the revamp in the 1990’s, the Celtic End was left uncovered which infamously meant that Celtic fans were soaked whilst their counterparts in the other end weren’t. The ‘Rangers’ end was covered in 1968 while the Celtic End remained uncovered for the next 22 years.

Celtic matches at the ground hold some records, and not just Scottish records:

147,365. Scottish Cup Final, 1937 – Celtic v Aberdeen – All-time world record gate for national cup final.
136,505. Celtic v Leeds Utd, 1970 – All-time record for a UEFA competition game.

Often now derided as outdated and lacking atmosphere due to the botched revamp (wide track round the pitch), it still holds a place in the hearts of many supporters in certain ways. It will always be the home of Scottish football, and that at least must always be treasured.

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