The Celtic Underground

Well folks, it’s that time of year - the end of season awards and unlike the press and players who vote with a month remaining, we wait until everything is done and dusted, perspective is gained and the joy & frustrations of the season have faded away. So here we have the CU Top Ten for season 2025/26.The announcement is in two podcasts, this week and next, with this edition containing the det...

30 years ago – in July 1996 - the Lisbon Lions stand was opened at Celtic Park, continuing the ground’s redevelopment. There are four stands at Celtic Park: the main stand, North Stand, Lisbon Lions stand and Jock Stein stand. Each time one these has been opened, matches have been held to celebrate this. The original Celtic Park opened in 1888 before 1892 when the Bhoys moved the short distance to...

45 years ago, Celtic completed their own Olympic Challenge. For the first time, the Bhoys played a game in Africa, completing the full ‘Olympics Rings’ set of continents. This podcast tells the story of how this happened. Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sit...

Celtic have finally appointed Maloney and Fotherignham and the bhoys discuss what the delay in getting this deal done say about the club. Were they sweating every pound or simply penny wise and pound foolish? We’ve also appointed a designated set-piece coach and that gets universal approval. The chat’s more than that, but have a listen. We also have a follow up podcast covering Scotland’s departur...

This is episode II of our special series focussing on supporters clubs from near and far. In this week’s episode, Paul shares the rich history of the HWEU CSC, its traditions like the Tommy Burns Supper, and the unique Edinburgh-Celtic culture. Andrew & Paul explore the club’s origins, memorable stories, and the deep-rooted community spirit that keeps the club vibrant. We’ve had some fantastic...

25 years ago, the Celts completed their first 21st century treble. This achievement – delivered by new manager Martin O’Neill – was the club’s first triple celebration since the days of Jock Stein. This podcast describes the whole story. Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).You can also take part in free walking tours whi...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com The domestic season may be over but there’s still football and Celtic to chat about. Andrew & I decided to have a 30 min Celtic news chat followed by whatever other football stuff was going on but we ended up chatting Dermot and Celtic for nearly an hour before nipping on to talk signings (or lack t...

50 years ago, Celtic Park rose to acclaim two club legends: Jimmy Johnstone and Bobby Lennox. And this testimonial match even included another poignant event. This podcast tells the full story. Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoy...

Will he/Won’t he? The big debate in the days following the cup final seemed to be whether Dermot would or wouldn’t appoint Robbie Keane. all the while, many were saying that it was MArtin’s job if he wanted it, and he very much did and so (despite, as I write, no official confirmation) it has come to pass that Martin will be confirmed as the continuing/new permenant manager of Celtic. There’s vari...

This week, Scotland begin their World Cup campaign, the first time they have done this in the 21st century.95 years ago, it was Celtic’s turn for an American first when the Bhoys first made the journey across the Atlantic. This podcast tells the full story. Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).You can also take part in fr...

For decades, football, boxing and other contact sports have thrilled millions, but an uncomfortable question continues to grow louder: what price do athletes pay for repeated blows to the head? In this fascinating discussion with expert (and Celtic fan) Paul Fivey, we explore the latest research linking sport-related brain injuries to neurodegenerative conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer’s dise...

Controversy in matches featuring Celtic and Rangers is hardly unusual. One particularly notable game took place 80 years ago this week. It featured poor decisions, arguments – and on-field drunkenness! This latest podcast tells that story. Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).You can also take part in free walking tours w...

Celtic’s 1921 ‘Tour de France’105 years ago, Europe was still hurting from the tragedy of World War One. In 1921, the Celts took part in their own ‘Tour de France’ a journey of football and also remembrance. This latest podcast tells that story. Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).You can also take part in free walking t...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com The podcast was supposed to be recorded Wednesday night but circumstances moved it to Thursday and as luck would have it we get to record within 30 minutes of the SFA audio confirming that not only did Hearts know the game was ended by the ref, but they asked for it! Oh the tangled web we weave, when fi...

This weekend, Celtic face Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup Final. It will be the sixth meeting between the sides in a national final, and the previous games involve numerous interesting stories. This latest podcast describes these matches, with often surprising outcomes. Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).You can also ta...

Celtic had a woeful summer transfer window. In October we wrote a piece setting out why we were playing so poorly - in the summer and previous Jan window we’d sold players who, in the 12 months prior, had scored 86 goals and had 41 assists and replaced that with 28 goals (16 Nygren). That paucity of attacking options has been evident all season. Chuck in the injuries to CCV, AJ and Jota and the cl...

A Celtic win – or even draw – tonight will ensure that this year’s title race will go to the final day. Over the years, the Celts have had numerous momentous ‘final day’ moments that have brought the League flag to Celtic Park. This podcast describes the whole story. Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).You can also take...

When Martin O’Neil arrived back at Celtic Park we were 8 points behind leaders Hearts. He closed that and handed a level playing field to Wilfried Nancy. That incredible gamble failed and he came back with the club 6 points behind again. We now go into the final 2 games of the league campaign just 1 point off the lead. It’s there for us to claim history. On this weeks podcast the bhoys discuss the...

There’s now just 4 games to go in the search for an unlikely double, 3 of them in the league. At the weekend Celtic (and the officials) made the victory over Hibs much harder than it should have been and then there was the Hearts v Rangers game where every outcome could be seen through positive or negative eyes, depending upon your outlook. Hearts won and it has now become a two horse race. Victor...

65 years, the Celtic career of one popular Celt came to a conclusion. Bertie Peacock – the Bhoys’ ‘Little Ant’ – ended his time in Glasgow, an era with some notable Celtic moments. This latest podcast tells Peacock’s Celtic story. Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).You can also take part in free walking tours which visi...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com To quote George Michael “If you were there, you’d know…”I don’t think there’s any Celtic fan of 50+ who couldn’t tell you in minute detail about every aspect of that cold May Day at Love Street. For most of us now, those memories are the TV ones, the fans errupting behind Jim Stewart as the news of the...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com We’ve been here before - disputes between fans and The Board and for those us old enough to remember, the names of the protagonists are seared in our memories. The Kelly’s, The Whites, The Grants, The Weisfelds, Brian Dempsey and Fergus McCann. Just like today, everyone was a Celtic fan and just like to...

40 years was one of Celtic’s most celebrated league triumphs. It was a day when the club’s biggest hero was not wearing green-and-white. This is the story of Albert Kidd and 1986.Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To...

In this week’s episode the bhoys take stock of our recent run of results and what it means for the title race. While a strong winning streak has pushed Celtic into a commanding position, the discussion is far from complacent. Injuries, squad depth, and recurring tactical questions remain key talking points. The bhoys deliberate on whether Celtic are peaking at the right time or simply getting the...

45 years ago (25 April 1981) was a small piece of Celtic history. For the first time, the Bhoys received the League trophy in an on-field presentation. The way things are going, that might not be an issue this season! This latest podcast tells the story of Celtic and the League trophy. Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History)...