Celtic undertook a 5 game Pre-Season tour of Scandinavia prior to the start of the 1987/88 season.
This was a chance for new manager Billy McNeill to get to know the members of the first team squad and look and assess the team in action.
All the new signings went on tour – Mick McCarthy, Chris Morris, Billy Stark and Andy Walker. Walker arrived prior to the second game of the tour having just got married and being allowed slightly longer off.
There were a number of absentees from the tour – Paul McGugan was not taken nor was Doug McGuire both of whom had featured in the first team the previous season.
All the games were evening / night games with kick-offs generally 19:00
19th July, 1987. IFK Stromstad 3-0 Celtic, Pre-Season Friendly Scandinavian Tour
80th Anniversary of the Club’s foundation. Stromstad were part-timers in the Swedish Second Division.
Celtic:
Bonner, Grant (Morris), Rogan, Aitken, McCarthy (O’Leary, 75), Whyte, Stark (Shepherd), P McStay, McGhee (Archdeacon), Smith, Burns
Bonner had a howler and looked rusty. Lost the first goal on 30 minutes when he was still lining up the wall and the free kick was taken quickly by Henning Johannessen. On 75 minutes McCarthy was subbed with an injury. This was later diagnosed as a stomach muscle tear and he was out for the next 2 months though he stayed on with the party watching the games but unable to train. On 80 minutes Bonner failed to pick up on a Morris pass back and Steffen Baldebo snuck in rounding the keeper to score. And on 86 minutes Bonner brought down Baldebo in a one-on-one and saw the opposing goal keeper, Michael Langmann step up to take the penalty and score.
21st July, 1987. Varbergs BOIS 0-0 Celtic, Pre-Season Friendly Scandinavian Tour
Played at Påskbergsvallen, Varberg, KO: 19:00. Pierce O’Leary had rushed back to Scotland to be with his wife who was ill and expecting their first child. Lex Baillie was called into the squad.
Celtic:
Bonner (McKnight, 46), Morris, Rogan, Aitken, Whyte, Grant, Stark, P McStay, McGhee, Walker, Burns
Non-Used Subs: Shepherd, Archdeacon
Celtic looked as though they were lacking fire-power up front. Billy Stark had a goal in the second half chalked off for offside. Derek Whyte was praised for his distribution and Morris won plaudits for his attacking and crossing.
23rd July, 1987. Tidaholms GIF 1-2 Celtic, Pre-Season Friendly Scandinavian Tour
85th Anniversary of the Club’s foundation. Celtic fielded a younger side with Morris dropping to the bench, McKnight and Shepherd starting and Baillie starting his first representative game for the club.
Celtic:
McKnight, Grant, Rogan, Baillie, Whyte, Shepherd, Stark, P McStay, McGhee, Walker, Burns
Non-Used Sub: Morris
Scorers: Archdeacon (17), McGhee (20)
Scorer for Moss: Jonsson
Comprehensive training sessions after the lack of a win saw the team in a more upbeat mode and goals from Archdeacon and McGhee in a 3 minute spell in the first half saw Celtic pick up their first win. In all truth it could have been a 6 – 1 win and Celtic eased through the game in total command. They opened fast with Archdeacon troubling the Swedish side with runs on the left wing. before switching sides. On 17 minutes he drove inside and beat the keeper with a left foot shot. McGhee got the second on 20 minutes. Rogan, Walker, McGhee and Stark all had good chances to extend the lead.
26th July, 1987. Moss FK 0-1 Celtic, Pre-Season Friendly Scandinavian Tour
A quick trip across the border into Norway to play what at the start of the tour was thought to be the toughest match. Moss were the current Norwegian Champions. Billy McNeill missed this game returning via Germany to watch Borussia Dortmund, Celtic’s upcoming opponents in the UEFA Cup. He also was still in negotiations to try to lure Joe Miller away from Aberdeen and Frank McAvennie from West Ham. These negotiations were still ongoing. The team was managed in his absence by Assistant Manager, Tommy Craig.
Attendance: 1,600
Celtic:
Bonner, Morris, Rogan, Aitken, Whyte, Grant, Stark, P McStay, McGhee (Shepherd, 13), Walker, Burns
Non-Used Subs: Baillie, Archdeacon
Scorer: Shepherd (88)
A deft lob from substitute Tony Shepherd sealed this one on 88 minutes. Celtic lacked penetration in attack throughout the game without being overly troubled at the back and commanded the game throughout the 90 minutes. Walker made sharp runs at a defense marshalled by ex-Bayern Munich and Nottingham Forest defender Einar Aas. McGhee, who was suffering the effects of a virus, was subbed after 13 minutes by Shepherd who went on to have an outstanding game. The goal came when Burns fashioned an opening for Shepherd to lift the ball over goalkeeper Nils Eriksen from 15 yards. Burns had been denied earlier after a 30 yard rasper was tipped onto the bar by the keeper. Moss won their first corner on 60 minutes and the corner count was 9-3 in Celtic’s favour.
28th July, 1987. IK Oddevold 1-4 Celtic, Pre-Season Friendly Scandinavian Tour
The local part-time team in Uddevala where Celtic were based for the tour – However for part-timers they were getting a bit of a reputation having only just beaten UEFA Cup Winners IFK Göteborg 4-2. Morris was out injured for this game with a groin strain.
Celtic:
Bonner, Grant, Rogan, Aitken, Whyte, Shepherd, Stark, P McStay, McGhee (Archdeacon, 56), Walker, Burns
Non Used Sub: Baillie
Scorers: Walker pen (7), Whyte (27), Walker (43)
Described as pretty much one-way traffic. Bonner needed to be sharp to make a one-handed save in the first half from the striker that had done the damage against Göteborg, Tomas Hemberg. Walker got the first from the spot after 7 minutes putting the ball emphatically past the Oddevold keeper Olle Wallin. A Tommy Burns corner was nodded on by Peter Grant for Whyte to slip home on 27 minutes. Both Stark and Walker were then denied by good saves. On 43 minutes Shepherd picked the ball up and beat three defenders before loosing a shot which hit the post and Walker was there for the rebound. Just before half time a good move from Burns and Grant saw Walker finish. In the second half Celtic took their foot off the pedal but were still good enough to see misses by McStay, Stark and Archdeacon. Oddevold scored on 79 minutes from the penalty spot when Bonner brought down Hemberg
