Celtic Park is set to undergo several changes as it prepares for the return of Rangers supporters next season. In recent years, supporters of both Glasgow giants have been unable to attend away fixtures at Celtic Park and Ibrox.
However, an agreement has been reached that will see both clubs represented in the eagerly anticipated derby fixtures during the upcoming season.
With the new campaign just a month away, Celtic have started making amendments to their famous old home. This includes new gates and access steps as they carry out work hinted at by SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster, who discussed the possible return of supporters to derby clashes in a recent interview.
He said: “Yeah, it’s very important that if we can have away fans at games then that happens and we were pleased to announce earlier this year that we expected to see the return of away fans at Rangers-Celtic derby games. There’s some work needs to be completed over the summer to make that happen so we reached out to both those clubs to get an update on those works and we’re certainly hopeful that we’ll see the return of away fans to those fixtures this season.”
Further details on the Glasgow City Council website reveal that Celtic applied for permission for the “installation of security gates and fencing, alterations to existing fencing with formation of gates and new access steps.” That permission was granted by the authorities, but there were conditions, including ensuring the gates did not open onto a public walkway.
Following the release of the fixtures for the new Premiership season, we now know the first meeting of the Glasgow rivals is not far off. Rangers will visit Celtic on Saturday, August 31. The return fixture at Ibrox is scheduled for Tuesday, January 2, and their final pre-split meeting will be back at Celtic Park on Saturday, March 15.
The return of away fans to these fixtures will undoubtedly add to the excitement and atmosphere, making the already fierce rivalry even more thrilling for supporters. Celtic’s preparations and improvements to Celtic Park signal their readiness to welcome back Rangers supporters and ensure a safe and vibrant environment for all attendees.