Former Downing Street Press Secretary tells the BBC he’s ‘always had a soft spot for Celtic’

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Celtic have a number of high-profile fans across a broad spectrum of genres.

From rap legend Snoop Dogg confessing his love for Celtic to even Premier League players like Archie Gray loving the Bhoys, the Parkhead club’s global appeal is unmatched.

However, it’s not very often that Celtic fans will hear that a member of the political spectrum was a fan of the club.

And it appears that watching the Lisbon Lions lift the European Cup for Celtic in 1967 sparked this ex-Downing Street official’s connection with the Parkhead club.

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Former Downing Street official Alistair Campbell remembers Celtic legends the Lisbon Lions

The Lisbon Lions will always remain immortals after the Celtic legends lifted the European Cup in 1967.

And it appears that it was that win that inspired Alistair Campbell’s love affair with the Glasgow giants.

Campbell told BBC podcast Sacked in the Morning [23m 30s], “I’ve always liked Scottish football. In fact, because all my holidays are in Scotland, I think my very, very first-ever game was Hibs v Hearts Derby on New Year’s Day.

“No, sorry, that wasn’t my first game. My first Scottish game was Celtic v Motherwell. I’ve always had a soft spot for Celtic. I don’t know if I’m allowed to say that on Sacked in the Morning.

“Lisbon was on my 10th birthday. Never forgotten it. Do you know what though? ESPN showed the whole game recently.

“One of the most amazing football matches you’ll ever see. It was non-stop. Non-stop.”

Celtic’s other celebrity fans

Celtic have loads of celebrity fans that the Parkhead support might not have known about.

Rod Stewart is, of course, probably the most high-profile Celtic fan of them all but did you know Michelle Keegan is a fan of the Bhoys?

Another former political figure who is a huge Celtic fan is ex-First Minister Humza Yousaf who once famously said, “It’s got to be something to do with Celtic. Yes, I mean other than being chairman of Celtic Football Club, which is of course what I would be doing if I wasn’t in politics.”

And former member of pop supergroup Girls Aloud, Nadene Coyle is also a massive fan of the Bhoys.