Celtic are set to be the first opposition team to play on grass at Rugby Park since 2014.
That’s after Kilmarnock decided to move their matches away from their home stadium for the group stage of the Premier Sports Cup.
Killie begin their Scottish Premiership campaign away to newly-promoted St Johnstone on August 2nd at 2PM.
A week later, they welcome Celtic to Ayrshire in their first home match of the season.
Rejoice 🥳
Celtic will be first opposition side to play on grass at Rugby Park since 2014
Killie have moved their group stage matches against Raith Rovers and Hamilton Accies to Beechwood Park, home of Auchinleck Talbot.
Ironically, Auchinleck themselves moved their clash with Celtic to Rugby Park in January.
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Celtic had traditionally struggled on the plastic at Rugby Park… the days of Steve Clarke’s side haunting Brendan Rodgers will hopefully now be behind us.
More recently, Martin O’Neill’s men triumphed with a 3-2 comeback win at the ground in March, one of the most memorable games of this season’s league and cup double.
The change means that only Falkirk remain as a Scottish Premiership team playing on an artificial surface at their home ground.
You could argue that this only adds to the achievement of John McGlynn in playing the style of football he does with the Bairns.
Neil McCann himself has vowed to initiate a change in Killie’s style of play after the direct approaches of Stuart Kettlewell and Derek McInnes.
It’s part of a wider shift in playing styles in Scotland which has also been evidenced at Motherwell, Partick Thistle, St Johnstone and even East Kilbride.
Martin O’Neill on agreeing to stay at Celtic
On the day that his permanent stay was confirmed, O’Neill was asked by Track Radio about his decision to stay.
He said: “The club gave me some time to think about it, probably because of my age as much as anything else, and whether I would have the energy, determination and all those things that go with it.
“Despite the fact that I’ve not been away on holiday yet, you get some sort of rejuvenation, and I kind of feel up to it.
“Time will tell — I must admit, I’m in a better headspace, if there’s such a thing in this life as being in a better headspace.”
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