Celtic supporters will welcome Kilmarnock’s ‘pitch perfect’ Rugby Park message

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While the handball drama from Celtic’s win over Motherwell takes the headlines, there is one thing many would have missed from midweek.

On Tuesday night, Kilmarnock beat Dundee to secure their Premiership status for next season, but it’s not that which should be of interest to Celtic supporters.

It’s the fact that, for the final time, Rugby Park hosted a top-flight match on an ‘artificial surface’, because it is no more and no longer allowed.

Over the years, Celtic have expressed their annoyance at having to play on such a surface, including former manager Brendan Rodgers claiming in 2024:

“The sooner that is the possibility up here (to ban artificial pitches), then the better it would be for everyone,” said Rodgers.

“It’s a constant conversation. It’s clear that every coach would want to play, I’m pretty sure, on a grass pitch.”

• READ MORE: Martin O’Neill sets Derek McInnes straight with strong response on Celtic call

⫚ Kilmarnock’s artificial surface is no more, how do you feel, Celtic fans? ⫚

Grass pitch at Rugby Park from next season…

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Kilmarnock’s reaction to playing on an ‘artificial surface’ for one last time

For large parts of this season, Celtic have been pretty abject, but some of their best moments this season have come at Rugby Park.

Go back to Kelechi Iheanacho’s debut at the start of the season, and his stoppage-time winning penalty.

But perhaps an even better moment was Julian Araujo’s last-gasp winner against Killie when Celtic came from 2-0 down to seal all three points.

Either way, this was Killie’s reaction on social media to playing on an ‘artificial surface’ for one final time.

‘We can confirm that last night’s victory over Dundee was the final game to be played on the artificial surface at BBSP Stadium Rugby Park,’ wrote Kilmarnock on social media.

‘Pitch perfect until the end.’

Are artificial pitches now banned in Scottish football’s top-flight?

The simple answer is, yes!

Back in 2024, Scottish Premiership clubs voted in favour of banning artificial pitches in the top-flight.

At the time, Killie were the only team using that surface in the Premiership, because Livingston had just been relegated, and funnily enough, it has happened again.

But when teams voted for that move, the powers that be at the SPFL gave the likes of Kilmarnock two years, up until 2026, to get rid of their plastic pitch, and that will now come into force next season.