Celtic missed out on a Treble by the skin of their teeth last season.
After Brendan Rodgers guided Celtic to the League Cup and the club’s 55th Premiership title, Aberdeen shocked many by beating the Hoops on penalties in the Scottish Cup final.
Fast forward to the present, and soon-to-be Wilfried Nancy’s side will want to put things right this season, as Celtic will face Auchinleck Talbot in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup in early January.
It’s a fairytale story because the West of Scotland League Premier Division get to face the champions of Scotland, but there has been talk about where the fixture should be played.
Celtic’s recent Scottish Cup record
- 2016/17: Winners
- 2017/18: Winners
- 2018/19: Winners
- 2019/20: Winners
- 2020/21: Fourth Round
- 2021/22: Semi-Finals
- 2022/23: Winners
- 2023/24: Winners
- 2024/25: Runners-up
Andy Walker on Celtic’s Scottish Cup clash against Auchinleck Talbot
Not long after Auchinleck Talbot confirmed the fixture with Celtic, they shared with their social media followers that all of their hospitality had been sold out.
Auchinleck Talbot’s home ground has a capacity of 4,000, but playing at a bigger stadium would enable them to generate much more money.
Former Celtic striker Andy Walker spoke about that situation on Go Radio, and whilst he understands that debate, he thinks it would be a ‘great pity’ if the game wasn’t played at Beechwood Park.
“I assume they are going to try and maximise their potential for a windfall here,” said Walker. “I don’t know whether they are going to move grounds.
“I don’t know if the police might insist, given the huge attraction of people potentially going to the game. No idea how much their junior ground holds. I am assuming it’s something really small.
“Whether they move it to Ayr to Kilmarnock. It’s a great pity. You would like it to be on their own ground, but we will wait and see what happens.”
‘Brilliant payday’ for Auchinleck Talbot
Whatever happens, it’s a win-win situation for Auchinleck Talbot, because, as Barry Ferguson pointed out that it would keep the club going for ‘another two or three years, easily.’
“What a draw,” added Ferguson. “It will be interesting to see. Will they move it to Somerset or Rugby Park?
“If I am Auchinleck Talbot. I know they are a very well-run junior club. If they want to coin it in, I would move. If it’s possible to get them down to their home pitch. I am sure they will try to make that happen.
“It’s a brilliant payday for these clubs. It could keep these clubs going on for another two or three years, easily.”
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
