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Ref: Season Ticket books & history
Overview
The following article is made up of memories, anecdotes and input from various Celtic fans
First Years
The First ever “Patron’s Ticket No.1” was Dr.John Conway in 1887-89. Hard to measure prices over such long times, but as per below advert a season ticket could be got for 7 shillings, the equivalent of £30 in 2023 prices (which is practically on par with a single match day price today!).
Collect here:
1920’s-1940’s
The previous generations before me had season tickets for the enclosure, believe the price was 15 bob, 75p, and it didn’t rise in something like 3 decades during the 1920s,30s,40s.
1960’s
In 1968 a fan recalls writing to Celtic in asking to purchase a season ticket. “I received a letter written by Jock Stein pointing out that the number of season tickets was set at 500 and the club had no plans to increase that number and that there was no waiting list.”
1970’s
Another recalls “In the 1970’s season tickets were apparently limited to a 1000 for some reason, but I don’t know if that was all Scottish clubs. Possibly an SFA/league rule from the days of sharing the gate money 50/50 with the away team. Our family spot was the old enclosure, now call the Main, South Stand.When the old enclosure became the front stand, we got shiny plastic orange seats, Celtic advertised season tickets for that section in the View. Sure the price was £11.
Don’t know about oldest but I had my first one about 1976. I’m positive it was £12, which the old fella gave me. Up to West Nile St I went, and the book was handed over by D White himself. This was a season book in the true sense; entitled you to attend every game played at Celtic Park i.e. league, scottish cup, league cup, european cups, reserves
“I’ve had one (with two exceptions – the Kelly Boycott and 2010-11) for about 32 years. I thought the limit was 450 not 500 and was imposed by the SFA though. I think it was rangers got this changed. Anyway I had to go to Desmond White’s office to get it each year (you had to wait until someone gave theirs up) and had my name crossed off a sheet of foolscap paper by an elderly lady….
1980’s
I got my first season ticket in 1980. It was for the Main Stand, without a reserved seat.
“My recollection is we struggled to get 20,000 fans to some games around 1981 – be lucky if there were anywhere close to 10,000 season tickets then.”
“1st season ticket was for Main Stand (South Stand Upper) in 1982 ands it cost £65 – also bought form Desmond White in Bath St office. Was a credit card type ticket back then.”
“I’m pretty sure that the first year of terracing season tickets was the centenary season. I remember going to the office in Bath St to get it and it was 50 quid, I had number 0005! There was also a “season ticket holders” turnstile at the Celtic end next to the main stand. ”
“Nah; I recall going to a game in 1979/80 courtesy of a borrowed season ticket for the terracing”.
1990’s
Terry Cassidy
It was Terry Cassidy (Celtic Chief Executive) who kind of changed the whole impetus to be on season tickets. Prior to 1991-1992(?), being a season ticket holder didn’t give too many benefits. Before that away ticket allocations and favours were reserved for the supporters buses and organisations, rather than season ticket holders. He changed the whole policy, and it created a bit of a hoo-haa as the supporters buses/clubs were no longer priority but rather season ticket holders were.
The season book didn’t give any privileges, other than guaranteeing you a Stand seat at all of our League matches. One advantage, however, was that you could buy a Stand Ticket for a European Match prior to the Public sale. This would normally occur during half-time in a domestic match. You would just go downstairs show your Season Ticket, pay your money, and get your ticket. The Season Ticket numbers were not recorded, which meant that the Season Tickets used to be passed around so that one Season Ticket managed to secure multiple stand seats.
I remember a blow up about tickets for Ibrox. You usually got offered a ticket for Ibrox and such like going through the turnstile the week before.
Few hundred season ticket holders started shouting at the Kelly/White gang during a game. We got our tickets.
Pre-Fergus, there were less than 8,000 season ticket holders, mainly because there wasn’t any need to pay upfront when the average attendance was 25k and the capacity 67k
There were bought from an office in Bath Street (Desmond White’s CA office?)
Fergus & the Hampden Season
“I got my first book the year they put seats in the jungle 93-94 and i got a child one at £80”
2000’s
in 2006? it changed from a book of tickets to a Card
Approximate costs over the years
- 83/34 £45 (“front stand”)
- 88-89 which was for ‘Ground’ and cost £60. Stapled cardboard sleeve with numbered pull-out vouchers for League, Cup and European games
- 94-95 = £160 (Sector C Hampden) £99 (kid ticket)
- 95-96 = £199 (143) £309 (408)
- 96-97 = £199(143)
- 97-98 = £229(143)
- 98-99 = £229(143)
- 99-00 = £249(143)
- 00-01 = £249(143)
- 01-02 =
- 02-03 = £405(143)
- 03-04 = £455, (143)
- 04-05 =
- 09-10
- 10-11 = £470 (408)
Pictures
July 2018
Comically to differentiate the rail seating/standing area tickets from the stands, the club issued blue season tickets to those respective supporters. There was mostly amusement with the expected odd bit of outrage from the few, but showed a lack of nous from whoever ordered this and sent it out!
