Here, we list the biggest match attendances involving Celtic, including the Celtic Park all-time record and other milestones.
Celtic are an absolutely massive football club renowned across the globe. And with a packed trophy cabinet of well over 100 major honours, it is no wonder.
With success on the park brings a huge following of passionate Hoops fans and the sheer size of the Glasgow giants’ fanbase is evident purely by looking at the club’s record attendances since its formation in 1887.
From Old Firm clashes and domestic cup finals to European encounters and more, Celtic hold some of the most stunning attendance records in Britain and across the continent.
So what are some of the Bhoys’ biggest attendances ever recorded? Below, 67 Hail Hail delve into the archives to reveal all. Stats and information are sourced from Celtic’s official website.
Celtic all-time record attendances
Highest attendance involving Celtic
- Celtic 2-1 Aberdeen
- 1937 Scottish Cup Final
- Hampden Park, Glasgow
- Attendance: 147,365
The record for the most-attended Celtic game was set way back in 1937 and the venue was the famous national stadium of Hampden Park.
The occasion was absolutely massive as the Hoops met Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup Final, with Celtic aiming for their 15th title.
The official crowd figure for this match is 147,365. However, written data states that the real number could have been more by a few hundred spectators.
And if the near 20,000 people crammed outside the ground waiting to get through the turnstiles managed to squeeze in, the attendance could have approached 170,000.
Unfortunately, those fans packed like sardines around Hampden did not gain entry and were simply turned away by match stewards. What a bummer!
Celtic Park record attendance
- Celtic 3-0 Rangers
- 1938 Old Firm Ne’erday derby
- Celtic Park, Glasgow
- Attendance: 92,000
Celtic Park has never welcomed in more supporters since the traditional New Year Old Firm derby in January 1938.
There are many sources that state the actual crowd figure was closer to 83,500. But Celtic officially claim it to be 92,000 due to the ground capacity of 88,000 at the time plus thousands more waiting outside the ground to gain access.
There could be a legitimate theory for why the attendance was so great that day, with Celtic going on to win 3-0 against Rangers. It is said that fellow Glasgow side Queen’s Park were playing Third Lanark at the same time and thus an overflow of a huge number of fans.
Celtic’s European attendance record
- Celtic 2-1 Leeds United
- 1970 European Cup semi-final
- Hampden Park, Glasgow
- Attendance: 136,505
Celtic and Leeds United played out a thrilling ‘Battle of Britain’ clash across two legs in 1970 for a place in the European Cup Final against Feyenoord.
The first-leg at Elland Road ended in a 1-0 triumph for the Hoops before the eagerly-anticipated return date in the east end of Glasgow.
A whopping total of 136,505 spectators watched Celtic secure a 2-1 victory and thus passage to second European Cup Final in three years.
That remains a UEFA record for a European match more than 50 years on. The game was actually supposed to be played at Celtic Park but was moved to Hampden due to the enormous interest in the tie.
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