Double winning skipper Matty Hughes will soak up every moment of today’s youth team presentation as he leaves Celtic Park as a player for the last time.
Hughes signed for Celtic in July 2008 from Rochdale and leaves to further his career on the back of two double winning season’s at u-19 level.
The lack of a reserve or colts team has created a huge gap in the development of young players with Hughes’ availability sparking interest from clubs on both sides of the border.
“I’ll go somewhere else and hopefully try to repeat the success I’ve enjoyed here,” he said philosophically after enjoying Wednesday’s Hampden triumph over Rangers.
“I’m looking on it as a positive, there has been no shortage of offers. I’ve already looked at options, things are already in place but I’ve enjoyed my time here and will always remember that.
“There’s a lot of passion in every Celtic game, every team wants to beat you in every match. It’s a big pressure but we’ve dealt with it and the game at Hampden summed the squad up.
“In the last month of the season we were away at six different grounds and won every match before winning again at Hampden. It’s been huge for us.”
Last season alongside Declan Gallagher and this term besides Lewis Toshney Hughes has been a huge influence on the youth team.
In an era where the armband is of token importance at many club’s Hughes has been a natural leader.
As well as encouraging and constantly organising he’s never ducked a challenge and was always putting himself in the firing line.
At the start of April in a match best forgotten away to Hamilton at Linlithgow Hughes’ influence was at it’s greatest.
After losing James Keatings to injury Celtic had twice gone ahead in the second half only for Hamilton to equalise on both occasions.
Spot the ball as Matty’s header creeps over the line!
With an away day to Murray Park looming three days later Hughes rose to head home the winning goal from a corner with eight minutes left to play with Celtic finally taking the title by two points from Hearts.
“To leave here having won two doubles is a great achievement, I can’t put into words how good it feels,” he added. “But it wasn’t about me, it was for everyone at the club.
“I know that other things will now happen and obviously it’s disappointing that it’s not at Celtic. I’ve enjoyed my stay here, had a great time but my future is elsewhere.
“It’ll be a nice farwell at the Dundee United match, I’ll be moving on in my career but I’m looking forward to getting out in front of the supporters with the rest of the lads.”
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