One Celtic Da is happier than any other this morning. Mr Christie of Inverness.
Thirty years ago Charlie was banging his head against a brick wall, trying to find a way into Billy McNeill’s Centenary Double winning side.
Andy Walker and Frank McAvennie were the main men, Mark McGhee was keeping them on their toes with Joe Miller stuck on the wing wishing he could get a chance at centre forward.
Christie was banging in goals in the reserve side, the star of the show alongside Stevie Murray. Breaking into the side were Davie Elliott, Stevie Fulton, Gerry Creaney, Gerry Britain and Alex Mathie.
After two seasons of trying Charlie Christie gave up, homesickness was a factor with offers from other Scottish clubs turned down as he signed for Inverness Caley with the promise of a job as commercial manager.
A generation later one Christie is making his mark at Celtic, in just over a fortnight he’ll be hoping to line up against Aberdeen in the final of the Betfred Cup.
More importantly after three frustrating seasons Ryan is finally a real part of the Celtic squad, confirmed by a new contract signed yesterday.
“My dad was freaking out when I signed the contract,” the new hoops favourite told The Sun. “He’s only just stopped doing laps of the living room!
“He was very happy. He is a proud dad and he is a big Celtic fan, too.
“It’s quite strange the way our careers have followed the same path but I probably don’t know enough about my dad’s Celtic career.
“I think he was a bit homesick and it was a very good Celtic squad.
“He couldn’t work his way into the team and he got a bit frustrated with it all. But he went back up north and had a great career.
“It makes him proud to see me doing well at Celtic.
“I’m so fortunate to have someone in my close family who knows the game and its pitfalls. I’m incredibly fortunate to have my dad by my side. He even helped me with this contract.
“He’s the first one I call after every game, good, bad or indifferent. He will always tell it to me straight, which sometimes can be bad.
“There have been difficult times. At the start of the season, when I wasn’t playing and couldn’t find my way into the team, he still thought my chance would come.
“He kept telling me to stick it out and make sure I was ready when that chance came.”
After Celtic Charlie went on to have a good career back in the highlands, switching from Caley to Caley Thistle when they joined the SFL and playing a part in a couple of cup ties Celtic supporters would rather forget.