Football, Glasgow

I thought I'd add a few pics and tips about Parkhead or Celtic Park as it is better known, home of the world famous Celtic FC. I first attended a match in the early 80s and the stadium then had a real buzz with the jungle almost never quiet.

We generally headed for the Janefield End with my abiding memory being of Paddy Bonner saving a penalty against Aberdeen that somehow seemed better than a goal.

The stadium was extensively re-built in the 90s to become the then largest club ground in the UK (Man Utd overtook us shortly afterwards). The current capacity is 60,832 and it is almost full for every game but you can get tickets if you are willing to make the effort, either by going through the ticketline number as below or just turning up at the ground and going to the ticket office to the right of the main stand. Failing that, there is often people trying to offload tickets that friends/family are unable to use, these may even be season tickets that now come in the form of a credit card.

So if you do fancy heading for a match then all the best.

Clive

This is Scotland’s national football stadium. It is the home of Queen's Park F.C., the 'grandfathers' of Scottish Football.

Hampden Park seated capacity is 52,000.

We took a guided tour around the stadium and visited the fine museum one morning. This was an excellent tour with a very knowledgeable guide. We went around the changing rooms and warm up areas, including a go at taking the fastest penalty. Then it was up to pitch side to take in the view. We followed this by taking a look around the great museum which has some interesting items. Well worth the visit.

Home of Glasgow Rangers.

51,100 all seater stadium.

Built in 1899.

A decent stadium but a lot of people had a great deal of delays trying to get into the stadium.

I was lucky because I swapped my ticket with a friend so that she could go in with her husband. They went in one queue and I was around the corner in another. I got in relatively quickly but they missed at least thirty minutes of the first half. I'm not sure what the delay was for as there was no trouble outside the stadium. I can only put it down to incompetent policing and stewarding. It's not rocket science to organise a crowd but time and time again in Europe I see it go wrong.

Home of the green and white side of Glasgow, Celtic FC.

All seater stadium of 60,000, built in 1892 and renovated last in 1995.

I and many others had a great deal of trouble getting into the ground. I turned up early and after having a brief chat with a few friends outside the stadium found myself locked out. The police and stewards had decided that there were enough people inside our particular part of the stadium and that it was full up. So they closed the gates to all those outside, including me who had a valid ticket for the game.

We were then persuaded to leave the stadium vicinity by methods which included being pushed by police on horseback.

Some people decided that enough was enough and headed back into town. After about twenty minutes I made it back to the stadium entrances and hung about hoping that some one would see sense but was told that there was no way that I would be allowed into the stadium.

After about forty minutes I spotted a policeman with a lad in tow looking purposeful. I decided to follow him. The officer managed to get on of the stewards inside the ground to open up one of the exit gates and asked him whether or not they were still letting people in with valid tickets. The steward looked perplexed and shrugged. Obviously no one really knew what was going on. So I took a chance and waived my ticket about and stepped into the stadium. I got inside just as the half time whistle blew and so met my mates upstairs in their seats. It was all a bit unnecessary to say the least.

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Im obviously a bit biased about this, as Rangers are the team I support, but if you fancy taking in a football match in Glasgow, then get yourself over to the south side and go and watch "The Teddy Bears".

If you manage to get a ticket for decent game, i.e a European match or a game against our greatest rivals, arguably the greatest rivalry club football, Celtic, then you will be in for a special day as the atmosphere in the ground is bound to be phenomenal. Obviously, tickets for these games are very hard to come by (especially v Celtic and the latter stages of European competitions). In fact they are pretty much impossible to get a hold of, unless you can afford tout prices on the net (some sites sell for around £400 v Celtic!!).

Otherwise, get yourself to another game against the likes of Aberdeen, Hibernian or Hearts where you should be able to get a ticket as long as you purchase a few weeks in advance and you will still have a great day (but dont eat the food, its sh**e!!)

As for the stadium itself, it is a 51,000 all-seater stadium and is classed in the 5* category of football stadia in Europe. (unlike our rivals ground which is 4*!!) We have 42,000 "permanent" season ticket holders and a further 5,000 who have season tickets for every game except against Celtic as we have to give them 8,000 tickets for their support (they do likewise for us). So that only leaves around 4,000 tickets available for public sale, so be quick!! Tickets are around £26 for most matches, rising for the bigger games in Europe etc.

Equipment: Just don't wear green and white!!.

Our colours are Blue top, white Shorts and red/black socks.

So a red, white and blue scarf available outside with a street vendor for around £5 is suffice. Maybe a Union Flag/Scotland Flag as well if you have the cash to splash!!

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Historically linked to the Irish community of Scotland, Celtic is one of the most beloved/hated football clubs in Scotland. Part of the Old Firm (derby with Rangers Football Club), its history dates back to 1888 and it is one of Scotland's most successful clubs having raised the European Cup before any other club in the United Kingdom.

Tours of Celtic Park run for about two hours and are full of information that suits tourists as well as football fanatics. Entry to the tour costs £8.50 and it runs Monday to Sunday at 11:00, 12:00, 13:45 and 14:30 except on home matchdays.

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Situated just south of the Clyde River is Ibrox Stadium, home to Rangers Football Club. The club is one of the two largest clubs in Scotland and are part of the Old Firm (derby between Celtic and Rangers). A football match is a great way to spend a night in Glasgow. First there are many pubs situated around the stadium. These are great places to get to know the supporters of Rangers and have a good laugh. Then proceed to the stadium. Purchase tickets in advance. I was able to get a ticket for £25.

If you can not arrange to see a match while you are there, the club also offers guided tours of the stadium providing you with a tour guide who can explain the clubs history.

No trip to Glasgow would be complete without a mention of football. Celtic and Rangers both have their respective Stadia at opposite ends of the city, personally I would recommend the tour of Celtic Park.

However the museum of football history is also a good bet at Hampden Park.