BELFAST CELTIC
This article originally appeared in Issue 7 as part of the Venue Master series
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Belfast Celtic were formed in 1891 and from 1901 onwards played at Celtic Park in West Belfast. Their ground was just off the Falls Road, approximately half a mile from Windsor Park, the home of their great rivals Linfield. Celtic Park was a huge oval shaped arena capable of holding 50,000 fans in its prime. |
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| There were covered stands at each side of the pitch and sweeping banks of open terracing at both ends. After 14 league championships Celtic left football in 1949. After a match at Windsor Park against Linfield one of the Celtic players was attacked by spectators and nearly killed. The clubs' directors announced 'enough is enough' and at the end of the 1948-49 season the club was wound up. The ground itself survived for many years as a greyhound track but has now disappeared beneath a shopping centre. |
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