BBC confirm upcoming broadcast boost for Celtic fans after ticket lockout

By John McGinley

April 28, 2023

The BBC have confirmed they will be broadcasting the Scottish Youth Cup final contested between Celtic and Rangers next Wednesday night.

Stuart McLaren’s U18s side will take on their Ibrox counterparts at Hampden on 3rd May, with kick-off scheduled for 7pm. Given tickets are not on sale to the public and have been restricted to friends and family only, it’s significant that fans will at least get the chance to watch on from home.

The match will be shown on the BBC Scotland channel on Wednesday night, with programme coverage starting at 6:50pm – as confirmed by the broadcaster earlier this afternoon.

Youth clash between Celtic and Rangers is “essential”

It’s a big match for McLaren’s team and the youth coach has been talking up the experience of playing at Hampden and how it aids their development as they move through the Bhoys Academy.

He said [CelticFC.com]: “We spoke right before the first game against Dundee about what a tremendous opportunity the Youth Cup provides. In terms of the players’ development and experiencing all the things that come along with a successful cup run.

“They have applied themselves tremendously well in the cup. The consistency and the performances has been brilliant. Scoring the number of goals that we have, and conceding only once up until the final – it has been a terrific run.

“That only earns you the right to get out there at the final at Hampden Park. What the boys have to do now is make sure they embrace everything that comes with that experience. I’ve got every belief in them that they will go and produce a level of performance that they are well and truly capable of.

“Getting the opportunity to play at Hampden Park is absolutely essential for them. If we are talking about trying to develop Champions League players, then you need players who can go and perform at the highest level, under all the pressures that these types of games bring.

“So when you are on the big stage, and there is a trophy on offer, you are playing against your rivals, those are all things that come with that. Pressure like friends, family and the numbers in the stands. All those things are what we want our young players to experience and hopefully, we will see many of them flourish in that environment.”

It’ll be a great opportunity to check in on the progress of some of the youths, with development becoming an increasing part of Celtic’s thinking under Ange Postecoglou. With youngsters such as Rocco Vata and Ben Summers making a first-team breakthrough, the future is looking bright.

In other news, Celtic success finally manages to quieten down Rangers squad with amusing “then we lose” admission.