The highs. The heartbreak. The people who made it. This is their story.
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FC HISTORYEST. 1887
Celtic ↗
Founded
1887
Known as
The Bhoys
Home turf
Celtic Park
From
Glasgow
The long read
More than a scoreline.
From local beginnings to the big occasions. This is Celtic.
An introductory history of the men’s first team, from the club’s origins through 2003. Selected turning points and honours, rather than a complete season archive; later results are outside this edition.
A foundation in Glasgow’s East End
Celtic’s founding meeting took place in November 1887, with Brother Walfrid’s charitable purpose central to the project. The first match followed in May 1888. Distinguishing the founding meeting from the playing debut explains the two years often associated with the club’s beginnings. Source →
Establishing a lasting club
Celtic won their first league title in 1893. Under Willie Maley they became a major force in Scottish football. The move to the present Celtic Park site in 1892 gave the developing club a home close to its original ground. Source →
Lisbon, 1967
Jock Stein’s team beat Inter 2–1 in the European Cup final, with Tommy Gemmell and Stevie Chalmers scoring. Celtic became the first British winners. The Lisbon Lions’ achievement sits at the heart of an era that also produced nine consecutive league titles. Source →
Another European journey
In 2003 Celtic reached the UEFA Cup final in Seville, losing to Porto after extra time. It was a different outcome from Lisbon, but another major European journey for the club and its travelling support. This introduction ends with that final. Source →
The moments that mattered
Through the years.
✦
1887
A club with a purpose
The founding meeting takes place at St Mary’s Hall. [source]
1888
The first match
Celtic beat Rangers in their inaugural game. [source]
Our first chapter is an introduction, not an exhaustive archive. We credit existing research and will expand the collection as more material is checked. Our editorial approach ↗