Maria McAneny and Kelly Clark talk Celtic Park memories with Sydney Cummings

In partnership with

Celtic F.C.

·5 April 2024

Maria McAneny and Kelly Clark talk Celtic Park memories with Sydney Cummings

That feeling of stepping on to the Celtic Park pitch is one that will never get old for the likes of Kelly Clark and Maria McAneny.

Having grown up supporting the club, the duo will have the opportunity to do so once again as the Ghirls return to Paradise against Hearts on April 21.

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Whilst there are several members of the squad who will enjoy being back at the stadium, there are also players who will step out on the pitch for the first time, including Sydney Cummings.

Ahead of the game against the Edinburgh side later this month, the defender sat down with two of her team-mates to pick their brains on their memories of playing at Celtic Park, the huge run of games coming up and the close spirit within the squad.

Going through some of their favourite memories from those two games at Paradise last campaign, Cummings was given an insight into some of the emotions she might come to expect when she takes to the pitch later this month.

For midfielder Maria McAneny, getting the opportunity to pull on the Hoops is a dream come true in itself. So being able to play in front of thousands of fans, with her family and friends also in attendance was one of

“It was one of the best experiences of my life,” she explained. “Just being able to come out before the game, walk on the pitch and see the surroundings.

“It’s obviously different walking around the pitch on a daily basis, but actually being right in the middle of the pitch was amazing.

“I remember in the Covid year when I was watching the girls play that game at Celtic Park, I was like ‘Wow! I would love to play here’.

‘Even as a wee girl growing up and coming here, I thought to myself, I’d love to play at Celtic Park.’

“It was the lights that hit me. When you walk on to the pitch, and there is just hundreds of lights shining on you, it was just so surreal.

“I think it was being able to see my friends in the stands and my family as well. Looking and seeing them, knowing they were there to witness that.”

Although the last campaign was McAneny’s first taste of the Paradise turf, Kelly Clark has enjoyed the opportunity on a number of occasions now.

However, playing in front of record-breaking crowds was something the Celtic captain never thought she would get to experience in her career.

"I feel like I’m quite a calm person, so I try to come and treat this like a normal game, like any other Sunday," she said.

'You get a little bit more excited when you turn up to the stadium, once you’re out on the pitch, looking around and people are coming in before you’ve even started your warm-up.'

"I guess because you are used to coming and watching the men play, so you’re the one that’s in the stand, but being on the pitch and realising that the emotion you feel when you come to watch the guys is the emotion the people that are already in the stadium will be feeling right now.

“It feels weird to be on the grass, and not in the stands, and the games we played here last season were just amazing.

“No matter how many times people told me that we were expecting a big crowd, both games blew my mind. It was unbelievable.”

Watch the full discussion between Sydney Cummings, Maria McAneny and Kelly Clark over on our official YouTube channel.