The first ball has been kicked as Celtic’s 2025/26 campaign is officially underway.
On Friday, Celtic beat Queen’s Park 1-0 in their opening friendly encounter, with Johnny Kenny getting the only goal of the game, as the players built up their fitness and sharpened their tools for another title push.
This was the same Queen’s Park that beat Rangers in the Scottish Cup in February, so it was a very good early tester for a Celtic side mixed with senior stars and youngsters.
One young man playing for the other side was rising defender Cole Burke, and he had a quite brilliant reaction to facing Celtic.
Queen’s Park star Cole Burke on facing Celtic in a pre-season friendly
There isn’t a better test in Scottish football for the opposition than Celtic after they won the 2024/25 Premiership title by 17 points – and plenty more before that.
That’s why Burke was delighted at facing the champions of Scotland, and he noted how he ‘loved it’, as he told Queen’s Park’s YouTube channel.
Burke explained that he was ‘glad’ to play a team like Celtic because there isn’t anyone in Scotland who is better.
“Listen, I loved it,” said Burke. “It’s the biggest challenge you can get because, let’s be honest, right now, they are the best team in the country.
“I am just glad to get some experience against the best players in the country, so I really enjoyed it. I am still a young boy. Getting minutes and chances like this are really important, especially at a young age. I am just looking to maintain myself in the squad. I am looking forward to the rest of the season.”
When and where is Celtic’s next pre-season match?
Next on the list for Rodgers and his players is a trip to Ireland, and their second pre-season match of the summer against Cork.
The likes of Daizen Maeda, the returning Kieran Tierney, and new signing Benjamin Nygren, to name a few, are back in training after reporting for pre-season duty later than the first crop.
But it seems like they won’t be involved in the clash against Cork.
- Next pre-season game against: Cork
- Date: July 8
- Kick-Off: 18:00 BST
- Stadium: SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh
- Location: Cork, Ireland
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