A decade ago World Soccer listed the top 50 teenagers that they expected to be making their mark in the game, some did, most never.
The 2007 SFA Youth Cup Final is better forgotten but a year earlier Celtic had a very promising youth side.
Three full internationalists came from it with Ireland, New Zealand and Iceland the unlikely beneficiaries of that Celtic side.
Hearts were beaten in extra-time of the final with the Edinburgh side coached by Stevie Frail with a pacey left-back by the name of Lee Wallace the big prospect for the Jambos.
Injuries are a recurring theme when Celtic youth sides are reviewed with two of the biggest hopes from that side missing crucial years in their career.
For Charlie Grant it was too much as he moved out of the game after a stint at Dundee while his midfield colleague Simon Ferry enjoyed a decent career down south before finding his true vocation in social media.
All but one of the Celtic squad went on to have a decent professional career which is certainly above average.
Five of them, including Ryan Conroy who missed the final, were to play for Scotland against Spain in the final of the UEFA u-19 championships.
Strangely Swindon Town and Ross County enjoyed the benefits of the Class of 2006 more than Celtic.
SCOTT FOX
Never made a first team appearance for Celtic and spent some time out of the game over a contract dispute.
After making over 100 league appearances for Partick Thistle he is on course for that landmark with Ross County.
He was a key player in 2016 as the Dingwall club won the League Cup which included a semi-final win over Celtic.
PAUL CADDIS
Was called in for a spectacular Champions League debut against Barcelona in 2008 but always seemed to be tarred with the ‘too wee’ tag.
After a loan spell with Dundee United Tony Mowbray sold him to Swindon for £300,000 then brought him to Blackburn Rovers in the summer.
In-between times he enjoyed a colourful spell under Paolo di Canio at Swindon and is highly regarded at Birmingham City for a final day goal that saved them from relegation to League One
DEAN RICHARDSON
The one that never quite made it, he left Celtic for Bohemians in 2007 then turned out for teams such as East Stirling, Larkhall Thistle, Peterhead and Pollok.
He was in among a pretty special group of young players and never looked out of his depth.
It appears that his playing days are over but he was a member of a very successful Celtic side and picked up a few trophies and medals along the way.
CHARLIE GRANT
It really was a tragedy that injury halted Charlie from living the dream.
He was a mini-Lennon terror in midfield but could play a bit as well as break down attacking moves from opponents.
He battled against a few injuries but after a spell at Dundee ended when they went into administration he had a stint with East Stirling then decided to opt for life on civvy street.
SCOTT CUTHBERT
Has enjoyed a great career in the English leagues with over 300 appearances for Swindon, Orient and now Luton.
He had a fairly successful loan move to St Mirren in season 2008/09 but that failed to open the door to the Celtic first team.
He left Celtic for Swindon without making a first team appearance but has put together a very worthwhile career.
DARREN O’DEA
Enjoyed the best Celtic career of his youth team-mates but it’s a case of what might have been.
Two outstanding performances against AC Milan should have launched his Celtic career but Steven Pressley was preferred.
He has enjoyed a colourful far travelled career that included a place in Ireland’s 2012 European Championship squad, he’s currently with Dundee.
MICHAEL MCGLINCHEY
A very unusual career path, currently playing in Australia’s A League and preparing for a World Cup play-off against Peru for New Zealand.
There was a lot of attention on him as he made his Celtic debut under Martin O’Neill in a friendly at Wycombe but his sole first team appearance was as a substitute under Gordon Strachan.
He played at Motherwell and Dunfermline but having been born in New Zealand it was in the southern hemisphere that his career kicked off.
SIMON FERRY
The shy and retiring Dundonian with a wicked barnet!
Like his pal Charlie Grant he was robbed of important seasons due to injury, however he did play a few friendlies under Gordon Strachan and was in the Wembley Cup winning side of 2009.
Swindon and Portsmouth fans have fond memories of Si, after a spell at Dundee he dropped down to Peterhead to play for Jim McInally and is also involved in coaching with the Celtic academy.
JIM O’BRIEN
Had scored twice in the 2005 SFA Youth Cup win over St Mirren a year earlier and looked capable of making a big impact.
After one substitute appearance for Celtic he made his mark at Motherwell before going on a nomadic career in England covering Barnsley, Coventry, Scunthorpe and Shrewsbury before joining Ross County earlier this year.
From a tricky winger he has been converted into a very combative central midfielder.
PAUL MCGOWAN
Has had a colourful career off the park but what would you expect from a fan favourite at both St Mirren or Morton.
Gowser was a prolific scorer in that Celtic side but took a step back into an attacking midfield role to achieve success.
He did manage a Europa League goal against Rapid Vienna and Champions League appearance against Villarreal and is now with Darren O’Dea at Dundee.
TEDDY BJARNSSON
Flirted briefly with the Celtic first team and picked up a Scottish Cup winners medal from the bench against Dunfermline.
There was some online outrage when he was sold to IFK Gothenburg in 2009 but his career has bounced around Scandinavia taking in Randers and Aarhus of Denmark.
He was a member of Iceland’s squad at Euro 2016 and will be looking to keep his place for next summer’s World Cup Finals in Russia.
SUBSTITUTES
Diarmuid O’Carroll enjoyed spells at Airdrie, Morecombe and Cliftonville along others and is now heavily involved in coaching.
Mark Millar joined Willie McStay at Ujpest Dozsa and is currently with Forfar after turning out for Falkirk, Dundee United, Queen of the South and Livingston.