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Celtic Champions League roar is 'animalistic' as Alistair Johnston spots same thing from every opponent
It's been 30 years since Celtic Park had its major makeover and said farewell to its famous terrace.
But three decades on, Alistair Johnston reckons Parkhead is still a jungle on Champions League nights. The Canada star is gearing up for another epic under the lights in Glasgow’s East End with Club Brugge in town and the Hoops out to take a huge step towards qualification from the league phase. Johnston reckons there is nothing quite like Celtic Park on Champions League evenings. Not even close.
The 26-year-old grew up watching this competition from afar, racing home from school and begging his mum to allow him to tune in to the action – including Celtic games. He could tell even then from watching on the television there was something different about the place. Now he’s experienced it, the defender is completely hooked on the thunderous atmosphere. And Johnston reckons there’s something that’s not even HUMAN about Celtic Park on these nights – where the roars from the stands can make even experienced rivals fear a mauling.
He said: “When you walk out there and you hear that anthem, the noise that the fans make is almost inhumane. It’s guttural and ANIMALISTIC in a way – just the scream when the Champions League anthem happens.
“You can see it with the other team, the reactions when they hear it for the first time. It really is a special atmosphere that's created there. It's something as a footballer that I grew up watching and seeing.
“When Celtic were playing in the Champions League, you'd want to put it on because you want to see the atmosphere. Some of the best games I've ever seen were Celtic Park Champions League matches, just for the atmosphere. You can just see what it gives that power to the players, that extra level of sprinting and just everything that they give to the game.
“Now I’m a part of those matches, being out there and understanding the feeling and the tingle you'll get down your spine when you hear that noise. When there's a goal scored in a Champions League game the noise and feeling is incredible.”
Johnston feels the thrill of not just being involved – but in competing. And with Celtic already in prime position with seven points from for games, another three tomorrow night could all but seal a place in the play-off round beyond the group stage.
It won’t be straightforward. Celtic fans might fancy another win but Brugge are on the back of a big win against Aston Villa and will be every bit as tough as the likes of RB Leipzig and Atalanta.
Johnston said: “It's something that you want to be a part of, especially when you are in a campaign like this one. We have had a really strong campaign so far with two wins at home. Feeling that has been really cool, along with the positivity around the club. It's special. It's definitely something that not only draws players here, but keeps players here.”
Johnston is relishing his part in the action now having craved is as a kid. Growing up in Vancouver, most of his pals were into ice hockey, baseball, basketball or American Football.
For him it was always football. Coming from a Northern Irish ex-pat background, he even refused to go along with the locals by calling it soccer. Johnston was glued to any action from across the Atlantic but it was the Champions League that really got his juices flowing – even if he had to beg him mum to allow him to tune in.
He said: “The time difference from Europe was always five hours when I was growing up. So it was great. My mum used to never let us watch TV during the school week, only at the weekends.
“But because I was such a big football fan, I slowly convinced her. I was like, ‘It’s the Champions League. I kind of need to watch these Tuesday and Wednesday.
“Eventually she said okay and then I worked her into the Europa League games on Thursdays. Then sometimes there's a Premier League game on a Friday night and it was all perfect because an 8pm kickoff is a 3pm kick-off.
“So we'd run home from school after we finished at 2.50pm. Me and my brothers would run home and we'd get back onto the couch for 3pm kick-offs.
“Those were some of my best memories, running back to get back for some Champions League. It also got me some extra TV privileges and we would try and leave it on for the post match.
“My mum would then come in but I was probably going off to training after that anyways. We're doing a little bit of homework here and there, those are some of my best memories.”
Johnston is creating some of his own now at Celtic. The all action full back penned a contract extension last week to take his deal to 2029.
Hoops chiefs were smart to act quickly to secure one of Brendan Rodgers’ top talents on a long term deal with interest growing from all over the globe. The deal gives Celts an insurance policy, but the player isn’t thinking about being anywhere but here.
And his family back home are maintaining the tradition of watching games at ridiculous times. Johnston said: “It’s different for league games than Champions League. It is crazy. My dad's still living back home and my younger brother's all the way on the West Coast. So it's an eight hour time difference.
“A 12 noon kick-off is waking up at 4am, which is a little more difficult for them. But no, they still enjoy it and try to catch as many games as possible.”
