The close season gives fans a chance to recharge batteries and reflect on the season just ended. For Celtic fans we have a few more news stories to digest over the summer, with Brendan Rodgers returning as manager and the club cashing in on one of our most dynamic players, selling Jota to the ever expanding Saudi Pro League.
Even with all that going on, the need to get a fix of Celtic in any way whatsoever is still foremost in many fans minds. If you’re one of the fortunate ones to be travelling to Japan or Dublin for the pre-season friendlies I am sure the occasions will be etched in your memory forever. For those staying a lot closer to Paradise, that fix might be taking in the tour at Celtic Park. For me, the tour has become an annual summer event ever since I started going to the matches with my children in 2011. This summer is no different.
A lot has changed on the Celtic Stadium tour recently, and to be honest it's for the better. The new sports lounge nestled in the south west corner provides a welcome that is fitting with a club our size, and one that continues to entertain visitors from around the world. The lounge gives visitors an opportunity to shelter from the summer rain in Glasgow, enjoy snacks and refreshments before and after the tour, as well as taking in the memorabilia from matches through pictures and pennants from our global travels over the years.
The tour itself is a just a magnificent and at times emotional walk through the historic achievements of one of the worlds most decorated football teams. The collection of silverware and medals each with their own story is enough to give you goose bumps. From humble beginnings in small parish hall less than ten minutes walk from the stadium, to European champions and our most recent world record 8th domestic treble, our guide Stephen provided the commentary as we followed in the footsteps of the giants of our club. From Walfrid, Maley and McGrory to Stein, McNeill, McStay Larsson and Kyogo - it really is something special.
From the trophies of the boardroom, to the Lisbon lions and then the home dressing room, Stephen not only gave the historical context of our achievements, he added in his own personal experiences of following Celtic from a young age; for me the very fabric of what makes Celtic fans, those stories behind the matches and the memories.
The walk down the famous Celtic Park tunnel opens up to the wide expanse of our impressive 60,000+ seated stadium. The modern theatre is testimony to the fans who invested heavily when Fergus McCann arrived in 1994 and steered the team and club into the 21st century and our modern day dominance of Scottish football.
From the dugouts you get a pitch side view of one of the most lauded stadiums in world football, but can only imagine the crescendo that would spur the players on every matchday. The tour then wraps up in the directors box before heading back through the main stand to the sports lounge where you have the opportunity to relax and reflect on the tour.
No matter how many times I do the tour, it will always pull on my heartstrings having the opportunity to listen and see the story of Celtic.
