Sunday is Celtic’s Scottish Cup Semi-Final Centenary

Callum McGregor of Celtic celebrates scoring the opening goal with James Forrest during the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Semi Final match between St Johnstone and Celtic at Hampden Park on April 20, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Celtic’s first such semi-final took them out of Glasgow. In 1889, the Celts travelled to Boghead in Dumbarton where they overcame the local team by four goals to one. This took the green-and-white men to their first final although they lost to Third Lanark.

Celtic then had two ‘first’ home game semi-finals. In 1892, Celtic beat Rangers 5-3 at the original Celtic Park. The Bhoys then went on to beat Queen’s Park in the final at Ibrox, claiming their first ever Scottish Cup.

The following season, Celtic again were drawn at home for the semi-final. However, this time it was the second (and current) Celtic Park where the match was held. The Celts beat Edinburgh team St Bernard’s but Queen’s Park got their revenge in the 1893 final.

Following this game, Celtic had numerous semi-final venues, mainly in Glasgow at Celtic Park, Ibrox or Shawfield. The Bhoys also left their home city to go to Paisley, (St Mirren Park), Edinburgh (Easter Road) and Aberdeen Pittodrie) for semi-finals.

That 1907 Easter Road match was unique for Celtic, the only time the club played two semi-final replays. Hibs and Celtic firstly drew at Celtic Park, then again in Edinburgh before a second game in Glasgow’s east end proved decisive.

Victory in that match set up another piece of Celtic – and Scottish football – history. The Celts went on to beat Hearts in the final and then won the league, making tis the first ever League and Scottish Cup double.

From 1912, the rules about semi-finals changed. The rule now was that neither of the teams should be at home. This has almost entirely been the case since then, with some exceptions.

Celtic’s first neutral semi-final was held in 1912, the same year the new rule was introduced. That game saw Celtic and Hearts travel to Ibrox for the semi, with the Bhoys enjoying a 3-0 win. Celtic also went on to claim the Scottish Cup at Ibrox by beating Clyde 2-0.

Since that date, Celtic’s semi-finals have been almost exclusively in Glasgow. The one exception was in 1926 when the Bhoys travelled to Tynecastle in Edinburgh to face Aberdeen. A 2-1 win took the Hoops to Hampden for the final but they lost to this weekend’s opponents, St Mirren, who claimed their first ever Scottish Cup.

St Johnstone v Celtic, Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park on Sunday 20 April 2025. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Celtic semi-finals have been mainly at Hampden Park, with the occasional Ibrox fixture thrown in. The last time this was different was in 1998. Celtic drew Rangers but Hampden was unavailable due to redevelopment work so a draw was made between Celtic Park and Ibrox.

The Bhoys’ ground was chosen and a near neutral crowd (Celtic had 26,000 fans, Rangers 22,000 watched on as the Light Blues had a 2-1 win. Still, Celtic won where it mattered that season and stopped the Ibrox side claiming ten-in-a-row.

Sunday’s game will be Celtic’s 100th semi-final game (including replays). So far, this Bhoys’ record is very positive: 62 wins, 17 draws and 20 losses. Here’s hoping the final and another trip to Hampden awaits in this turbulent season.

Matthew Marr

Follow Matthew on X @hailhailhistory

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