I’M HOME AT LAST
Ton star Doyle: I joined Hoops at 15, was a ball boy on Euro nights, laid out kit and did the laundry but this weekend will be first time I’ve ever played a match at Celtic Park
MICHAEL DOYLE carried the Celtic flags on Champions League nights.
He learned his trade at the club alongside the likes of James Forrest and entered the first-team dressing room regularly to lay out the kit.
Doyle though was never able to complete the journey and run out for a top-team game at Celtic Park.
Now as a Morton player the moment will finally come in Saturday’s Scottish Cup quarter-final. Doyle will savour the experience and little wonder.
Having worked through his formative years at Parkhead he was one of the many who didn’t make it and carved a career out elsewhere at Stirling, Alloa and St Johnstone.
Doyle now returns to his first footballing home with Ton and can’t wait for his big moment.
He said: “I was at Hamilton and within a year Celtic paid compensation for me. Tommy Burns was in charge of the youth set-up at that time.
“We got a phone call asking us to go to Celtic Park and I went up with my mum and dad. He gave us a tour of the stadium and my dad still talks about it now.
“I remember the first day I went in and Gordon Strachan, who was the manager then, was sitting on the couch. Tommy introduced me to him.
“I joined Celtic at 15 and it was a dream because the first match I went to was at Parkhead when the likes of Henrik Larsson was playing. I always remember how big the stadium looked when you’re such a small boy.
“I spent two years at Celtic and just before the end of my time I spoke to Tommy and he told me not to worry about my future.
“But he then took ill and Chris McCart came in. I wasn’t in his plans so I had to move on.
“When I got home I went for a walk to clear my head. It was the first time I’d been released by a club so I didn’t know what to do. I decided to knuckle down and was determined to carve out a career in full-time football and thankfully I’ve done that.
“I haven’t been back through the front door since I left Celtic so it will be strange going in.
“I used to put the kit out for the first team and do the laundry run. It will be a different experience being in the away dressing room because I used to clean it but now I’ll be getting changed there.
“I also got to be a ball boy on Champions League nights and walked out with the flag before the game and stood behind the goal. Sometimes we sat behind the away dugout so it was incredible to be so close to players like Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry, Ronaldinho, Cristiano Ronaldo and Dimitar Berbatov.
“My dad told me Celtic Park is the only stadium where I haven’t played a competitive senior game in Scotland.
“I was at Celtic for a couple of years when I was younger and played some youth and reserve matches but this would be something special.
“When I was at Alloa and we were in League Two I came up through all the leagues so this is the only one I’ve not played a competitive match in.
“My dad comes to watch me at all my away games so that’s why he is probably aware Celtic Park is the only one I haven’t played at.
“It’s an exciting place to be, especially when it’s full, and I’d love the chance to play there.”
Doyle bears no grudges about
CRAIG SWAN I used to clean the away dressing room at Celtic Park but now I will be getting changed there
MICHAEL DOYLE
his exit. Instead he prefers to recall his time with the Hoops fondly. The Cappielow star wants to do his old club some damage on Saturday but at the same time he’s delighted to see some of the boys who were in the system with him flourishing.
He said: “I knew James Forrest well during my time at Celtic.
“I used to kick about with him and Declan Gallagher who is now at Livingston.
“My dad used to give Jamesy a lift to the train station so he could get back to Prestwick after evening games or training.
“You drift away from players as you get older but he was by far the best player I played with in my youth days and he’s flying this season.
“We used to have races in training and I was always up against Jamesy. It will be good to see if I’m still as quick as him!
“He was a lot quicker than me over 10 yards but I was definitely faster over a longer distance. It’s funny but James was actually faster with the ball than without.
“That’s quite a special quality to have and he’s not one for stepovers or anything, he’s direct and his pace is scary at times.
“I used to call him Jinky because he could get past people so well. My dad still says out of everyone he watched James was the one who stood out.
“He wasn’t a flashy player. He knuckled down and you can’t grudge guys like that success.
“Callum McGregor was a year below us but came away on trips with us so I remember him. Kieran Tierney was a bit younger again.
“It’s a great example to young players to know you don’t have to be flashy. We’ll get a wee catch-up before the game hopefully and then try to stop him play.”