FRIENDLIES

The season started with a mini-tour in the Republic of Ireland where two matches were played. The first against Cork City on the 6th of July followed by Shelbourne on the 8th. An A4 colour glossy was printed for both matches. Both of these programmes are now difficult to find as are all of the away friendly issues. Off to London next for the next issue, a match against Queens Park Rangers on Saturday 14th July. The 17th of July against soon-to-be Champions League opponents Oporto in the Stade Chariety in Paris was the first game where a programme was not issued (in fact they didn't even have a referee).

Two home friendlies against Fulham on the 20th and Sunderland on the 24th were next and programmes were issued for both matches. Celtic travelled to Manchester to play in the Ryan Giggs Testimonial match at Old Trafford and as you would expect, an A4 colour glossy was issued to celebrate this great players night that was attended by around 10,000 Celtic fans. The programme sold-out on the night and is now trading at £10

Leicester City produced a 32 B5 pages issue for the friendly match played at Filbert Street on 8th April 2002. The programme sold out on the night and is now difficult to get. This season's Leicester issue has won the Programme Monthly award for programme of the year in England.

Leeds United issued a programme for the Gary Kelly testimonial match at Leeds on the 7/05/02.

Arsenal issued a programme for the Tony Adams testimonial match at Highbury on the 13/05/02.

Rounding off the friendlies, the U21's represented Celtic in the following friendlies: v Forfar Athletic 18/07/01 no programme; Nairn County 27/07/01 programmed issued with two different covers; Keith 25/07/01 programme issued; Inverness Caledonian Thistle 27/07/01 Paterson Testimonial no programme (Celtic XI); Stirling Albion 31/07/01 programme issued; Horden Youth Tournament (Germany) 10-12/08/01 programme issued; Stenhousemuir 13/08/01 programme issued; Jersey Tournament 14-19/08/01 programme issued.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Before taking part in the Champions League Group Stage, Celtic had to first dispose of Ajax of Amsterdam. A programme was issued for both matches - away on 8th Aug and home on 22nd Aug. The home match was a sell-out on the night and both are now very difficult to get (if you are quick, you can still buy a copy from the Celtic programmes department from a few that were held back..... about a dozen are left of each issue). Ajax also issued a version of their newspaper for the match.

Because of the events in the USA, Celtic's debut in this format of the CL against Rosenborg at home on Wednesday 12th Sept was postponed until 10th October. A programme had already been printed and was being sold prior to the match in very small numbers to phone order customers, dealers and subscribers only. It is thought that as little as 500 to 1000 copies may have found their way out to collectors. All others were destroyed by the Programmes Department. No copies were put on general sale meaning that the programme will/has become a very rare item indeed and copies were being traded at £10 each even before the decision to destroy the rest had been taken. If you are quick, you can still buy a copy from the Celtic programmes department from a few that were held back from the skip ..... they have 1 left - written Friday 30/11. Update 29/12/01 programme now SOLD). You can call the Celtic Programme Subscription Department on 0141 551 4263.

No programme was issued for the Juventus match in Turin on the 18 Sep. This is usual procedure for Juve as they almost never issue official programmes. However, a pirate programme in the Champions League style was sold in very small numbers at the match. Although some people may criticise the sale of such issues, no one forces anyone to buy them and they allow the collector who wants a memento of the game to keep their collection complete. And, it is actually a good looking programme if you don't mind the glaring errors.

Celtic's first issue in the CL Group stages for the Porto match on 25th Sept was a sell-out on the day and is now difficult to find.

A new programme, with a completely different cover design was issued for the rearranged home tie with Rosenborg on the 10th October.

No programme was issued for the FC Porto match in Portugal on the 17 October. A pirate programme from the same source (Spain) as the Juve pirate was sold at the match in very small numbers and is sure to be difficult to get.

Rosenborg in Trondheim produced the first official Celtic away programme and the third pirate programme in the group stages. The official programme was sold at Kr 20 - about £1.70 and the unofficial at Kr 50.

Juventus at the Park 31/10/01 and the expected type of issue with another superb cover design (see above). A small print run (for a match like this) of 15,000 meant that this was a complete sell-out on the night with all of the wee broon boxes empty well before kick-off.

UEFA CUP

The Valencia away match produced three pirate programmes and one 8 page newspaper supplement. Two of the pirates were sold in the usual small numbers (more of the green and white one were sold) at and around the match and the third surfaced in Glasgow 5 days before the return match. It is doubtful whether this programme was ever out of the country but if you know differently, please let us know by sending us an email with your story.

Celtic issued a special A4, full-colour, 48 page glossy programme for the home match with Valencia. Heavy rain on the night (and programme sellers that sell outside with no shelter from the elements whatsoever) will have damaged the majority of the programmes sold. Why the Celtic programme has to be sold outside beats me. We are supposed to hand over our money for something that is soaking wet as soon as you've bought it and I would like to know why they have abandoned the idea of selling the match programmes inside the stadium. It certainly wasn't to suit the fans that buy it! The current board may have better business acumen (they're better at inventing ways to get their hands on our money) than the old one but they don't have any more regard for the fans than they had. While we're on the subject, the food on offer inside and outside the stadium is diabolical and if the Board think that this muck they are serving up is adequate, they should come out and try some.

The final match in European competition for 2001/02 was won by Celtic but the tie was lost on penalties. So the adventure is over for another year and the ten matches played produced fourteen programmes in total - 8 official issues with only 2 of these for away matches (1 for Rosenborg home postponed), 6 pirates in total, 4 from the same maker and all for away matches. Three of the pirates were issued for the Valencia away match (as far as I know, this is a record amount for Celtic). The best home issue was Juventus or Valencia and the best away was the Ajax issue.

CELTIC versus VALENCIA

If your programme was spoiled by the torrential rain on the night of the Celtic v Valencia UEFA Cup match at Celtic Park, you can still get a mint copy from the Celtic Programmes Department for the cover price. Because of the rain (programme sellers left early and fans were reluctant to stop and buy one), there are thousands left and you can get yourself one by calling the Programmes Department on 0141 551 4263.

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Programmes have been issued for all of the following SPL matches this season unless stated otherwise:

St Johnstone h 28 Jul;

Kilmarnock a 4 Aug;

Heart of Mid h 11 Aug;

Livingston a 18 Aug;

Hibernian a 25 Aug;

Dunfermline h 8 Sept;

Dundee a 15 Sep;

Aberdeen h 22 Sep;

Rangers a 30 Sep;

Motherwell a 13 Oct;

Dundee Utd h 20 Oct;

Kilmarnock h 27 Oct;

St Johnstone a 3 Nov;