The atmosphere at Celtic Park on a European night is world renowned. The roar of the crowd, combined with the iconic UEFA Champions League anthem as the players line-up before kick-off, which then leads into You'll Never Walk Alone. Just reading that is enough to the make the hairs stand on the back of your neck. 

As Celtic, by way of Brendan Rodgers and his players, now prepare for their opening encounter in this season's new-look competition - against Slovan Brastislava on Wednesday evening, September 18 - Paradise under the lights will be showcased once more on the world stage.  

What does Celtic Park's Champions League atmosphere mean? The following article was first written in July, 2021, but its relevance is universal - not least as Celtic prepare for another journey into European football's flagship tournament. 

"Being a Celtic supporter is not always easy, but it is always worthwhile."

The words of former Celtic chief executive Fergus McCann.

There have been fewer truer words spoken... if you happen to be a Celtic supporter that is.

This is exactly why nights like tonight's Champions League second-round qualifying tie against Danish side FC Midtjylland are so special.

A meagre 9,000 will cram into the 60,000 capacity colosseum in Glasgow's East End with renewed optimism and hope in their heart that new Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou can get his competitive era off to a flying start.

The noise generated by the Celtic supporters lucky enough to be allocated a matchday ticket will feel just like a full-house crowd.

From this moment onwards Ange will 'never walk alone.'

It's that same feeling that has been handed down from generations of Celtic supporters from grandfathers and grandmothers right through to fathers, mothers, sons, daughters and grandkids.

You name it, they will always answer the European rallying cry.

The rarified atmosphere of Celtic Park on European night borders on mythical.

My formative years growing up supporting Celtic were spent in the main stand with my brother and my father staring out at the notorious old 'Jungle' which created one of the most hostile and partisan environments for every visiting European team.

In my young mind, Celtic always competed on the European stage as they went toe-to-toe with the likes of Real Madrid, Juventus, Ajax, Real Sociedad, Rapid Vienna, Dynamo Kyiv, and Borussia Dortmund to name but a few.

Blame Kenny Dalglish and my father for my affinity with Celtic, as well as my childhood obsession with the colour green.

Celtic Park will always be my spiritual football home and the place where my football heart lies.

They come in their thousands every week to watch Celtic.

From the Milton of Campsie to the Milton it will always be Paradise to us - never 'Paradise Lost'.

There is no occasion more special than a European night when the gladiatorial amphitheatre that is Celtic Park juts out of the Glasgow skyline.

"Barcelona, Real Madrid, who are you trying to kid, cause Celtic are the greatest football team."

They are not, of course, but they once were... back in the mists of time over half a century ago.

This is why every European night at Celtic Park is a homage to the halcyon days and achievements of Jock Stein's legendary Lisbon Lions side of 1967 who captured the greatest ever prize in club football.

The impeccable standard by which modern-day Celtic sides are measured.

Under the lights on a European night, visiting Celtic Park has become some sort of spiritual experience and uplifting affair.

Throughout history, lesser Celtic teams have somehow managed to perform to the peak of their powers at times with displays on European occasions that have bordered on supernatural, especially when you consider some of the phenomenal opposition.

Since season 2000/01, Celtic Park has shaken to the rafters as the likes of Porto, Juventus, Barcelona, Valencia, Bayern Munich, Lyon, Manchester United, Manchester City, AC Milan, Inter Milan have all left Glasgow without a win.

Coincidence? I think not.

Whenever 'Zadok's The Priest' or as we like to refer to it as 'The Champions League' theme music plays, the ground just erupts.

It's the ritualistic coming together of 60,000 Celtic supporters in a Primal Scream where no words are uttered.

For a full two minutes, sheer pandemonium and bedlam emanate from the Parkhead stands.

You really do get the feeling that this is akin to what life must have been really like in ancient Roman times.

Celtic Park is a wonderful theatre when the Hoops supporters are in full cry.

There is a rawness to it.

It reeks of sheer passion and devotion.

It genuinely is hairs on the back of the neck, standing to attention stuff.

That wave of electric noise at the outset sets the tone nicely.

If that is not enough to frighten any opposition then the club anthem 'You'll Never Walk Alone', is an emotional jolt to the senses.

The tug of the heartstrings football song that no true fan can resist.

Watching 60,000 fans hold scarves in the air in perfect unison on a European night to create a sea of green and white still gets to me even now.

And I'm nearly a grown man at the age of 49!

There are fewer, if any, football spectacles in world football that can rival Celtic fans rendition of Rogers and Hammerstein's anthem from Carousel. Made even more famous by Liverpool band 'Gerry and the Pacemakers'.

You do not even have to be a Celtic supporter to know that said anthem can still reduce grown men, women and even children to tears whenever it is played over the Parkhead PA system.

The Celtic supporters also feel safe in the knowledge that there are thousands just like them packed into the stadium and countless more spreadeagled over the globe all singing from the same hymn sheet.

That's what European nights mean to the Celtic supporters It's that sense of belonging to something truly unique.

It is what makes Celtic Park one of the greatest sporting arenas in the world.

Don't take my word for it though.

There is a who's-who list of world football legends who have raved about the world-famous Celtic Park atmosphere.

Gianluigi Buffon, Cristiano Ronaldo, Samuel Eto'o, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Carles Puyol, Steven Gerrard, Owen Hargreaves, Michael Owen, Gerard Pique, Sven-Goran Eriksson, Oliver Kahn, Xavi, Iniesta and Pep Guardiola have all spoken about the subject in the past.

Perhaps the last words on the issue should go to two bonafide football legends.

Former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson once famously remarked: "Anyone going to Celtic Park now is saying, 'You've got to beat that atmosphere, the energy they spend in their games'."

AC Milan and Italy defender Paulo Maldini arguably summed it up best when he said: "Every professional footballer should seek to play at least one game at Celtic Park, I have never felt anything like it."

Ange Postecoglou would do well to remember the words of the late and great former Celtic player and manager Tommy Burns when he walks into Celtic Park tonight.

Burns said: "When you put on the Celtic jersey you’re not playing for a football team, you’re playing for a community and a cause.”

Celtic Park will echo tonight and no matter what team takes to the field, the supporters will gather in the hope that Ange's players can rally to the community and the cause.

Here's hoping the Aussie can enjoy his first game in Europe with Celtic and gain a positive result.

The Celtic fans though few in number will generate an incredible noise inside Paradise.

Ange, you ain't heard nothing yet, because when you do - that's when it all becomes 'worthwhile'.