For Celtic fans, Club Football: Celtic felt like a dream come true when it launched in 2005. It was the first chance to virtually play at Celtic Park, a feature FIFA and PES didn’t include for years. You could create yourself, play alongside the Bhoys, and listen to Gary Lineker on commentary, adding to the novelty of the whole experience. Celtic were just one of a number of clubs who got their own version of the game.

But beyond the Celtic branding and the thrill of finally seeing Celtic Park in a video game, the truth was the game wasn’t very good. The controls were clunky, the animations stiff, and the gameplay was frustratingly slow. While FIFA and PES were delivering slick, polished simulations of the beautiful game for the time, Club Football felt like a step backwards. Reviews called out the unresponsive player movement and oddball physics, making it feel less like a football match and more like kicking a balloon about.

The game’s appeal lay entirely in its Celtic-specific elements, from the official kits and stadium to hearing familiar chants echo through the stands. But once the novelty wore off, it was hard to argue it held much value beyond that. Without the deep gameplay or lasting appeal of its competitors, Club Football: Celtic quickly faded into obscurity. Codemasters never released another iteration, realising they couldn’t compete in a genre dominated by the big boys.

For fans of a certain generation, though, there’s still a nostalgic fondness for it. Back in the early 2000s, before online multiplayer and digital downloads, you’d gather your mates around the telly, plug in your controllers, and play Club Football because it had your team’s badge on it. Today, when we can seamlessly play online with anyone across the globe, it’s easy to forget the days when playing as Celtic at Celtic Park—however clunky the game—felt special. Despite its flaws, Club Football: Celtic remains a quirky part of Celtic’s gaming history. It might not have been great, but for a brief moment, it was ours.