Celtic’s first away match of the 2024/25 season is at Atherton Collieries. Like Celtic's first opponents Stafford Rangers, Atherton suffered relegation last season from the NPL Premier Division. They finished bottom on 25 points, having won four matches at home all season. Kick-off is 7:45pm.

They conceded 96 goals in the league, more than any other team. With 47 goals scored, only Stafford and Basford scored fewer. The only league clean sheet they kept last season was back in October, when they beat FC United 2-0.

This season, Atherton’s opening match was a 1-0 loss away at Avro with a second-half penalty enough to win the game. 

We last met Atherton at the end of the 22/23 season, when we drew 3-3 at home, with DJ Pedro getting a brace and Frankie Sinfield putting Celtic ahead, only for an equaliser four minutes later from The Colls. 

Our last visit to Atherton came earlier in the season, when it finished 1-1 with Chris Dagnall scoring a stunning goal for Celtic. Our last win was the season before, when we beat Atherton 1-0 both home and away, with Raul Corriea scoring in both. Atherton’s last win was in March 2020, when they beat us 4-1 in the league cup, 3-0 at home and 2-1 at Bower Fold.

In their last match, the 1-0 away defeat to Avro, saw Atherton line up as:
1. Ellis Litherland
2. Toba Obitayo
3. Harry Stephens
4. Matthew Eckersall
5. Tom Dean
6. Calen Gallagher
7. Max Bardsley-Rowe
8. Alex Doyle
9. Lewis Mansell
10. Eden Bailey
11. Oliver Putnam

In Celtic’s last match, the 1-0 home win over Stafford, saw Celtic line up as:
1. Charlie Monks
2. Javid Swaby-Neavin
3. Kyle Brownhill
4. Jordan Butterworth
5. Sean Tse
6. Aaron Chalmers
7. Jack Banister
8. Liam Tongue
9. Connor Hughes
10. Jack Irlam
11. Matty Bryan

Celtic need to keep their momentum going and face their second relegated side inside the opening week, making this a tough start to the season.