Closing out 2023 I thought I’d wrap up the year with my own personal favourite moments of 2023 with a three part blog on my top 3 moments of 2023. The short list pretty much picked itself. It didnt take me long to decide to celebrate 2 footballing triumphs and a trip to an iconic stadium in Dublin. So, for part 2, we head back to Hampden to watch history being made and to enjoy one last hurrah with our former boss.
Date - 3rd June 2023
Venue - Hampden Park, Glasgow
The winter World Cup in Qatar resulted in an extended domestic campaign. Our national showpiece cup final was moved to June to accommodate the mid-season FIFA extravaganza and our kick off time was moved from the traditional 3pm slot to a 17:30 early evening window. Inverness Caley Thistle stood between Celtic and an eighth domestic Treble and another piece of footballing history for our club.
Our route to the final saw us overcome Morton and St Mirren, before heading to the capital to turn over Hearts at Tynecastle. The Semi-Final pitched us against our city rivals where once again we showed our superiority on the pitch and in the stands – that result effectively ended the season for the Govan club and set us up for a date with destiny.
Much of the chat in the run up to the final was focused on a “will he / won't he" narrative, as the prospect of losing Ange Postecoglou to Spurs became a reality. However, as ever, Ange was professional in his approach to the match and his sole focus (at least on camera) was on securing the final piece of silverware of the season.
With Celtic fans making up three quarters of the stadium, our fans were in full voice for the early evening kick-off. Callum McGregor followed in the footsteps of his predecessor Scott Brown, in leading the huddle and delivering a final rallying call to complete a domestic Treble.
When referee John Beaton blew the full-time whistle Celtic had run out 3-1 winners, securing the Scottish Cup thanks to goals from Kyogo, Abada and Jota. It wasn’t a vintage performance, but it was a perfect end to hugely successful whirlwind stopover in Glasgow for Postecoglou.
The shambles of a team inherited after the Covid season had been rebuilt and reborn. Our team had a new identity, style and purpose. The team that Ange built had graduated – with honours.
As the players celebrated with the trophy on the pitch, the fans in Hampden gave Ange and his Bhoys one final send off. Our rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone was spine tingling and our Ange Postecoglou/Papa Francesco chant echoed around Glasgow long into the night.
It was a bittersweet day in the end, celebrating success with the knowledge we would be searching for a new leader in the days that followed, but sometimes you’ve just got to live in the moment and make the most of what was a perfect occasion.
