Ten years ago today Celtic opened their Lennoxtown Training Ground in a move that Tommy Burns had been pushing for for over a decade.
Upgrading certain facilities at Barrowfield would have kept the club close to it’s heartland but an out of town complex seemed to be the way forward.
Lennoxtown in winter is a fearsome and often freezing arena, in summer it can sometimes be pleasant but a training complex is only as good as the coaches and players working there.
The remit has always been to produce Champions League players and in that regard it has certainly succeeded. In Celtic’s most recent venture Kieran Tierney, Callum McGregor and James Forrest all played a significant role.
Building up some momentum there are a number of other players knocking on the door with Tony Ralston and Calvin Miller getting ever closer while Mikey Johnston, Jack Aitchison and Ewan Henderson are starting to make inroads.
Elsewhere the Scottish game is littered with former Celtic players, from time to time three or four former hoops players can be found enjoying top flight action with Ross County winning their only senior trophy with a squad stacked with ex Celts such as Scott Fox, Marcus Fraser, Jackson Irvine and Michael Gardyne.
With a network and pathway to the top team established and a hands on manager dedicated to promoting from within the next ten years should really see a generation of Lennoxtown players make their mark in the Celtic first team.
DARNELL FISHER
Strangely the Reading kid escaped the net of the London clubs and headed to Celtic as a 16-year-old straight from school.
He was as hard as nails as a central midfielder but progressed quicker when he moved to right-back.
Neil Lennon gave him his chance in that position and he seemed to be progressing until Saidy Janko was signed from Manchester United.
He’s making his mark now at Preston North End after being introduced to the hard school that is the English Championship with Rotherham United.
KIERAN TIERNEY
Without doubt the star graduate from Lennoxtown and the Celtic Academy.
From the age of 8 the bhoy from Wishaw was working away in the shadow of the stars, now the youngest players at the club are told the Tierney Story.
At the age of 18 he had broken into the first team, replaced a fans favourite in Emilio Izaguirre and nailed down a top team place.
His feet are very much on the ground, he’s in touch with the fans and likes nothing more than putting a scarf on to get behind the team.
JAMES KEATINGS
Was a prolific goalscorer until he suffered the dreaded cruciate ligament tear in an u-19 match at Hamilton.
A year was lost during which the confidence, touch andgoal knack took a dent as other younger players emerged.
He has gone onto enjoy promotion from the Championship with Hamilton, Hearts and Hibs with Dundee United now hoping for another promotion winning campaign.
Alongside Anthony Stokes, Liam Henderson and Dylan McGeouch he added a very Celtic touch to Hibs’ 2016 Scottish Cup success.
CALLUM MCGREGOR
It was a slow burner but after picking up four SFA Youth Cup winners medals and a loan stint at Notts County McGregor’s big chance came under Ronny Deila.
Even scoring regular away goals in Europe didn’t shield McGregor with fans identifying him as the project of an unpopular manager.
He bounced back to prove himself under Brendan Rodgers, worked his way past half a dozen rivals and is now an absolutely essential part of any Celtic side.
JACKSON IRVINE
He certainly wasn’t the wizard of Oz when he arrived from Melbourne but through hard work and appreciating his opportunity he made his mark.
Sometimes played as a defender he found his role in central midfield although that door never really opened at Celtic.
On loan at Kilmarnock he wasn’t a right-back, at Ross County, Burton Albion and Hull City he has been pulling up trees and looking to be in Australia’s World Cup squad, should they qualify.
BAHRUDIN ATAJIC
Looked a very promising striker when he signed from Malmo but had his progress halted by a serious injury in a clash with Rangers (IL) Grant Adam.
He lost his way for a while but bounced back with a great touch and goalscoring knack earning half a dozen top team appearances and a goal away to Motherwell.
A loan spell at Shrewsbury proved disastrous for his progress but he is a regular scorer at Zalgiris Vilnius and catching the attention of clubs in his native Sweden.
STEPHEN O’DONNELL
Joined after leaving Aberdeen and had two seasons as a Celt, the first hampered by injury but the second saw progress on a weekly basis at right-back.
There was no first team openings but he dusted himself down and made more than 100 appearances for Partick Thistle before opting to go south to Luton Town.
After two seasons at Kennilworth Road he is back in Scotland with Kilmarnock and hoping to pick up on the form he displayed at Firhill.
CALVIN MILLER
Has been in the Celtic system for a decade and was always looked on as a striker.
After a spell on the left wing he is really taking off as a left-back although he has the formidable figure of Kieran Tierney blocking his route to the first team.
At Kilmarnock earlier this season he turned in a man-of-the-match performance and will be hoping to get into double figures this season in first team appearances.
JACK AITCHISON
Celtic’s youngest player, youngest scorer and found the net with his first touch in Ronny Deila’s farewell match against Motherwell in May 2016.
The real hard work is underway now with so much expectation on a 17 year old.
As a striker there is no hiding place but he has played in the European Championships three seasons running at u-17 level and is also in his third campaign in the UEFA Youth League
MIKEY JOHNSTON
Made a favourable impression last season when he was given his top team debut ay home to St Johnstone.
He has the tricks of Aiden McGeady and is integrating thiose individual skills into the team work needed to succeed.
It’ll be a tough road to the top at Celtic but Brendan Rodgers will give him every encouragement as he looks to leave a lasting Celtic legacy.