Confirmed: First Glasgow Derby date and time, Celtic away first, broadcast details

By Euan Davidson

June 25, 2021

After an immensely disappointing 20-21, Celtic will be looking to land their first blow against Rangers in the Glasgow Derby as soon as possible.

Now we know exactly when that opportunity will come. Today, a rescheduling was announced by the SPFL News account, with details of the first Glasgow Derby of 21-22. Ange Postecoglou will have been eager to find out when he can first strike against our fiercest rivals. Predictably, it’s an early kick-off, for TV and policing reasons.

Per the SPFL News Twitter feed:

It won’t be Postecoglou’s first real test, of course; that comes on the 20th of July against FC Midtjylland. However, by that time, he’ll be aiming to have Celtic playing his way, with relentless, trophy-winning attacking football. Who he meets in the opposition dugout is subject to some speculation. Rangers boss Steven Gerrard is the latest to be linked with the vacancy at Tottenham Hotspur [Evening Standard].

What the Celtic team will actually look like by that point is anyone’s guess. But in terms of striking a first blow, a la Martin O’Neill’s famous 6-2 Derby debut [SPFL/YouTube], Postecoglou has an early-season chance to really get the supporters behind him.

For Celtic, the first Glasgow Derby of 21-22 is particularly important

After all, it’s a brand new era. It feels great. This is the Age of Ange. Perhaps, given how much upheaval is taking place behind the scenes at Celtic, nobody is expecting us to leather our rivals on the first attempt. Still, some of the clichés hold true; form goes out the window, your best players turn up, all that.

More celebratory scenes this season, please / (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

At the very least, Postecoglou will have a Scottish core of players who can integrate any new arrivals. They’ll be right up for a chance of revenge, while the likes of Jullien could return. His impact, and his absence from Derbies, was very telling in 19-20 and then 20-21.

Admittedly, it’s away from home. Visiting Ibrox wasn’t exactly the most fun last season under Neil Lennon and then John Kennedy. Part of the problem, though, was not taking chances, and being far too narrow in our approach. Given all the evidence, that won’t be a significant problem for an Ange Postecoglou team.

You excited for the new season yet?

READ MORE: Celtic are right to demand more for their assets