GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - DECEMBER 26: Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers (R) and Motherwell's Andy Halliday at full time during a William Hill Premiership match between Celtic and Motherwell at Celtic Park, on December 26, 2024, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Foy/SNS Group via Getty Images)
2024 could hardly have been a worse year for Andy Halliday but on December 26 there was yet another afternoon of misery.
Sent on by Stuart Kettlewell as a 63rd minute substitute against Celtic there would be no quiet getaway for the 2016 Petrofac Cup winner.
Eleven days after Daizen Maeda ruined his Christmas Halliday was on the pitch at Celtic Park, chasing shadows as his side lost 4-0 and unable to get close to raking his studs down Callum McGregor’s ankle, an old party piece, appreciated and enjoyed by his podcasting mate Bobby Madden.
The Motherwell substitute had to endure 30 minutes of misery, back out there on the pitch against Scotland’s Most Successful Club as they returned to winning form following the ‘mini crisis’ of drawing 0-0 at Dundee United.
Just after the final whistle came the moment that Halliday dreaded, in his face, arms around him, smiling away was Brendan Rodgers. The man that has made Halliday’s life a constant nightmare since checking in at Celtic Park in May 2016.
The following day the former Livingston and Bradford midfielder scored in the Scottish Cup Final but he’d rather forget about that day as well.
What a day this fella’s had….
Pumped 4-0 at Celtic Park then up the road to watch yer team collapse against St.Mirren ? pic.twitter.com/WOLaxRKgJM
— Celtic Curio (@Celticcurio) December 26, 2024
Halliday was on the bench in September 2016 when Rodgers got his first taste of the Glasgow Derby, it’s not a fixture that holds many happy memories.
Among the many hammerings, losing four and five goals regularly there was the memorable scenes in April 2018 when Halliday verbally hit out at Graeme Murty at Hampden after the humiliation of being substituted during the first half of a semi-final hammering from Celtic.
Typically, 2024 comes to a close today with a lose-lose situation as his employers play the Tribute Act of the team that he grew up supporting.
The only consolation for the Motherwell midfielder is that he won’t have to face a smiling Brendan Rodgers at the final whistle.
Hi Mr Rodgers, do you think you could ask Broonie for ma shirt that he ripped off ma back.
A nothing story on Andy Haliday who isn’t even a concern to Celtic