James Forrest has been winning at Hampden for almost a decade.
On Saturday he played his part in Celtic’s Betfred Cup semi-final win over Hibs as he chases his 18th senior medal.
Back in April 2010 the kid from Ayrshire was getting his first taste of the National Stadium, lining up for Stevie Frail’s Celtic side in the final of the SFA Youth Cup.
Filip Twardzik and Sean Fitzharris scored the goals that mattered as Celtic added the cup to the league title with Forrest doing enough for Neil Lennon to give him his first team debut a few days later against Motherwell.
The winger has emerged as the biggest star of that side with his team-mates on the night going on to have vastly differing careers.
At the most recent international break Declan Gallagher and Stephen O’Donnell were reunited with Forrest who has been racking up the medals while their careers have taken in outposts from Stranraer and Clyde through to Luton and Partick Thistle.
“I still remember my first cup win at Hampden, it’s coming up for ten years ago when the 19s beat Rangers in the Youth Cup Final,” Forrest told Video Celts. “I never take playing at Hampden for granted, it’s always good coming here for the big games.
“We had a good youth team at the time, Declan Gallagher was in the side for that Youth Cup win and it was good to catch up with him in the last Scotland squad. He’s done really well to get into the squad. He’s worked hard to develop his game, getting into the Scotland set up and it’s the same with Stephen O’Donnell.”
Forrest back row to the right of captain Matty Hughes, Callum McGregor to the right of Stevie Frail
The dressing room at Hampden was vastly different with Callum McGregor the only player to have survived the journey alongside Forrest.
Those two Academy graduates have recently signed new contracts demonstrating that the more success they enjoy the more they crave.
There aren’t too many survivors from the side that won the 2016 Betfred Cup Final win over Aberdeen but led by Scott Brown there are a couple of players that have been involved throughout the current trophy gathering run.
“It’s good that we have a core of players that have been here for a few years, I think that helps,” Forrest added. “But it’s also good to have a freshness with new players coming in, they’ve not been involved in finals before but everyone is really enjoying it.
“Mo Elyounoussi is an example, he has done really well since he came in, he’s scoring goals and assisting. We’ve got a lot of competition for places, that brings out the best in all of the forward players. Elyounoussi deserves credit for coming in, getting the goals and setting high standards, he’s enjoying playing in a team that is always looking to get forward and attacking.”
Celtic’s 2010 SFA Youth Cup winning side:
CELTIC: Daniele Giordano; Richy Towell, Matty Hughes, Declan Gallagher (Stephen O’Donnell 89), Jordan Lowdon; Callum Bagshaw, Grant Gallagher, Darren McCauley (Sean Fitzharris 56); James Keatings, Greig Spence (Filip Twardzik 68), James Forrest. SUBS Andy Kennedy, Callum McGregor
