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Richie Towell’s journey from Dublin to Hampden

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Richie Towell is looking to graduate out of youth football as a double winner after tonight’s Old Firm final at Hampden.

Celtic clinched the U19 SPL title at the weekend with Towell missing only one match of the campaign due to international commitments.

After three years at Celtic the former Crumlin United midfielder knows all about the Old Firm rivalry and the importance of the Hampden showdown.

He said: “A Celtic-Rangers game means everything and this one will mean that bit more because there’s a prize at the end of the game.

“At any level a Celtic-Rangers game is special. Two years ago I lost in the final to Rangers and experiences like that drive you on as a player.

“We’ve won the title and want to go on and do the double. We’ve won against each other in the league but over the season we’ve been the better side and we want to prove that at Hampden.

“There’s a lot of confidence around in the squad because we’re on a good run. We won eight games on the bounce to clinch the title and that’s very satisfying.

“At the start of the season the coaching staff set us the target of winning the double and we’ve still got work to do.

“I’ve got about 10 family and friends flying over for the match — that’s fantastic — and I feel that I owe them something back.

“My mum and dad were due over last weekend but that was cancelled with the volcano problems. Hopefully lifting the trophy at Hampden will make up for that.”

Three years in Glasgow hasn’t diluted Towell’s accent in any way, with his enthusiasm and drive coming through loud and clear whenever he plays. As a schoolboy he had offers to move to England but has no regrets about opting for Glasgow and has felt at home with Celtic since the day that he arrived.

During a week-long stay at Tottenham as a 15-year-old he was looked after by another former Crumlin star, Robbie Keane, but decided that his future lay in Scotland.

He added: “Almost as soon as I arrived at Celtic I found myself playing against AC Milan and Real Madrid in the Villareal Tournament and that was fantastic.

“I’ve been playing every week since I arrived at Celtic and I know from other lads that that doesn’t always happen in England.

“There’s a great structure in place at Celtic with good coaches and others behind the scenes that look after you so well.

“There are others around the club like Lenny and Willie McStay who know how you are doing. It’s like a big family and I’m so happy I made this choice.

“Seeing Robbie Keane around the club is fantastic, he was one of my schoolboy heroes and is very down to earth.

“He was always along at trophy presentations at Crumlin and would sometimes come along to training when he was back home during the close season.

“We had a great side at Crumlin and that has given a lot of us our chance in football.

“Connor Clifford is doing well at Chelsea, Aaron Doran and Gavin Gunning are at Blackburn and there are others making progress.

“I’m pleased with the way that things are developing at Celtic and have never regretted coming here.

“Finishing my time with the youth side by winning a cup final against Rangers at Hampden would be the perfect ending.”

As published in the Evening Herald, Dublin

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