THE STATE OF CELTIC PARK: AN EYESORE THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION
- BY LIAM CARRIGAN
- Oct 2
- 2 min read
I have to be honest and say that when I watched the video posted by the Celtic World Order Podcast regarding the current of Celtic Park and its environs, I was sad, but also not in the least bit surprised.
The signs of neglect were already there when I last worked at the stadium, back in 2006.
Even then, the South Stand was always overcrowded, especially at half time. Its corridors were just far too narrow and its food kiosks too small.
Staff were over-worked and underpaid. The toilets all around the stadium had a smell that could only be described as “Eau de cigarettes, with a hint of weed and the all too familiar ammonia enthused fragrance of stale p*sh.”
Celtic Park Has Only Got Worse Since I Worked There, 20 Years Ago
From what I hear, this hasn’t changed, but the state of decay has worsened quite a bit, especially in the creaking South Stand, which, as I’ve said before, wasn’t fit for purpose when I was there nearly 20 years ago.
The revulsion with which Peter Lawwell recoiled at the AGM a few years back when cornered as to why Celtic don’t pay their staff the living wage, tells me that the “underpaid” aspect of the job is probably still very much the case.
The pies certainly haven’t got any better, according to what I have been told.
However, the state of disrepair which I saw this week is nothing short of disgraceful. One of my friends joked that it “evoked memories of an old Eastern Bloc gulag from the days of the cold war.”
I vehemently disagreed.
Say what you will about the Soviet Union, but I’ll bet under Communism at least the banners would have been clean and put up on time!
Anyway, jokes aside, the fact that such comparisons can even be made is an embarrassment to Celtic. Our home, Paradise, Celtic Park, should never have been allowed to get to this stage. Prices have gone up across the board.
Tickets, shirts, merch, lukewarm pies and scalding hot Bovril all cost far more now than they did when I was a regular. Yet it seems almost no money at all has been spent on maintaining the stadium since then. Still, I’m sure Mr Lawwell’s driveway has never been warmer.
There are a whole host of issues that need addressed at Monday’s meeting between the Celtic Board and Fan Groups. However, personally, I think the state of Celtic Park is an embarrassment that needs dealt with immediately.
New players can come in January. The manager’s contract can be sorted out over the next few months. But our stadium needs urgent attention right now. No excuses.
