Have you ever wondered how a football (or soccer as we call it) club that was originally founded to help the poor ended up becoming one of the most iconic teams in the world of soccer? For many supporters, Celtic FC is so much more than just a club, it’s a way of life. From its humble beginnings in Glasgow’s East End to becoming the first British club to achieve European glory, Celtic’s journey has impacted the beautiful game forever. Through its historic moments, legendary players, and unwavering love and support from fans across the globe, this iconic Scottish club is seen as a symbol of identity, community and tradition. Let’s take a deep dive into the history of Celtic FC, from their charitable beginnings to dominating football on a global scale!

Overview

Founded in 1887 by Irish Marist Brother Walfrid, Celtic Football Club was created with the sole purpose of feeding the poor in Glasgow’s East End. At a time when Association Football was just starting off in Scotland, Celtic quickly became one of the leading clubs in Scottish football through mainly playing friendlies as no league was yet formed. What started out as a club focused around charity led to one of the top powerhouse clubs known around the world, competing in the Scottish Premiership and playing home matches at Celtic Park stadium, also known as “Parkhead” or “Paradise”. 

Over the years, Celtic FC has become iconic, winning over 50 Scottish league titles, plenty of domestic cups, and was even the first British club to win the European Cup tournament! Famously recognized for their green and white hoops and Irish roots by their passionate fan base, Celtic is one of the biggest clubs in Scotland and in the world of football!

Early Beginnings

Celtic’s history goes back to a time when football was just starting to take off in Scotland. It was largely dominated by established clubs like Queen’s Park, which was the biggest club in the country at the time. Despite playing mostly friendly matches before becoming an official league, Celtic quickly established itself as a force to be reckoned with and started to make a name for themselves across Scotland. 

On May 28, 1888, Celic FC played its first-ever match at Celtic Park, where they defeated the Rangers 5-2 in a friendly match. The first goal was scored by Neilly McCallum, and this goal ended up creating one of football’s most famous rivalries. In 1889, Celtic went on to reach the Scottish Cup Final in their first full season and won the North Eastern Cup, their first trophy in history!

By the early 1890s, Celtic was quickly moving up the ranks, winning their first Scottish Cup and league title, moving to the Celtic Park we know and love today, and changing their kit from all white to green and white vertical stripes, which would be their look for the next 14 years and inspire the famous present-day kits!

Domestic Success

The early 20th century was when Celtic FC really transformed on a domestic scale under one of the greatest managers in the club’s history, Willie Maley. Between 1905 and 1910, the club won six consecutive league titles, making records at the time, and multiple Scottish Cup wins, including the first ever league and cup double in 1907. This was when Queen’s Park started to be on the sidelines, and Celtic and Rangers were rising to the top in Scotland as an iconic rivalry. 

Celtic FC started to find their identity in 1903 when the club introduced its iconic green and white hoops that they still wear today. Through the First World War, Celtic continued to succeed, winning silverware in tournaments, like the Glasgow Cup and Charity Cup, which were considered big domestic wins at the time. Legendary players like Jimmy Quinn and Patsy Gallacher were also making a name for themselves in this era!

European Glory

From the 1920s to the 1950s, Celtic FC continued to dominate domestically thanks to their legendary players! They beat attendance records that have still gone unbeaten to this day, including the European club match record crowd of 146,433 at the 1937 Scottish Cup Final. This time period was also when Jock Stein was discovered, which would later lead to one of the most successful eras in Celtic’s history! 

In 1965, Jock Stein became manager and Celtic entered what is famously known as their “golden era”. In 1967, Celtic performed their greatest season in history, winning every single competition they competed in, including the Scottish Cup, Scottish League, League Cup, Glasgow Cup, and European Cup. The European Cup Final on May 25th, 1967 in Lisbon was where Celtic defeated Inter Milan 2-1, becoming the first British club in history to win the tournament. This win was so legendary that the 1960s squad was nicknamed the “Lisbon Lions” and the victory is still one of the club’s most successful moments in history. 

Recent Years

Since their golden era, Celtic FC continued to make their mark on the sport. From the late 90s to present day, Celtic has had a major comeback domestically, famously known as “stopping the 10” in 1998 and they’ve been on the rise ever since. The club continued to win multiple league titles and domestic cups in the 2000s, also including a UEFA Cup Final in 2003. But the club absolutely dominated a few years later, winning eight league titles and 18 domestic trophies in the decade. This milestone has gone down in history, and 2017 to 2019 is commonly referred to as “Treble Treble”. 

To this day, Celtic FC is making their mark on the beautiful game on a global scale and is known as one of the most successful clubs in the world by total trophies won! With players, like Callum McGregor, Daizen Maeda, and Kieran Tierney, delivering outstanding performances for the club, Celtic has focused on maintaining their superstar squad while also being financially stable.

Fun Facts & Highlights

●      Celtic FC was founded to raise money for charity in Glasgow’s East End.

●      The club was the first British team in history to win the European Cup.

●      Celtic Park is nicknamed “Paradise”, dating back to the 1890s.

●      The iconic “Lisbon Lions” squad all came from within 30 miles of the stadium.

●      Celtic FC holds the European record for the highest attendance at a club match.

●      The “Old Firm Rivalry” between Celtic FC and Rangers is one of the most famous soccer rivalries and has become a part of Scottish culture.

●      The Celtic FC supporters are commonly nicknamed “Bhoys” and are famous for their unwavering passion and electric atmosphere.