I got a hero’s welcome in Cork after goal v Gers.. I don’t think I’ll ever need to buy a pint again
SAYS CELTS ACE ADAM IDAH
ADAM IDAH only popped in for a quiet pint in his Cork local – but he ended up being mobbed by Celtic fans with orders for a double.
The on-loan Norwich striker didn’t need any telling about the Parkhead club having grown up among Hoops fans back in Ireland.
But even so, a flying visit home while on international duty took him aback and gave him a reminder as to what is at stake in the next few weeks.
Idah got a hero’s welcome when taken by a mate to the Ferry Arms, home of the Cork No.1 Celtic Supporters Club, close to his childhood home.
The 23-year-old is a Republic of Ireland international but he reckons he would have slipped in almost unnoticed if it wasn’t for the fact he was starring with Celtic.
And Idah knows if he can maintain his form and fire Celts to a couple of pieces of silverware in the coming weeks, he won’t need to put his hand in his pocket in a lot of pubs any time soon.
The frontman – who made it seven goals in 10 appearances with a goal in the weekend win over St Mirren – said: “I popped into a couple of pubs back home in Cork. I didn’t expect all that, to be honest. I was shocked when I walked in!
“It was great seeing everyone. They sent me some footage of the place from the other weekend watching the Rangers game and the place looked amazing. It’s not far from where
I grew up. My mate took me down and we met some fans and the owners. It was top class.
“I don’t think I would have got that reception if I wasn’t at Celtic. They’d just think I was just another local lad.
“Coming here you are treated like a hero wherever you go. It’s fantastic. I don’t know if I’ll need to buy a pint again – I hope not!
“The fans are so good. Every single person I’ve met has been top class. You can be driving through the city and people are cheering you on.
“It’s great for us players to have that fan base behind us. It really motivates you to fight for them.”
Idah didn’t need any lessons on the size of Celts before he arrived on loan from Norwich in January.
But the sheer scale has still taken him by shock and he admitted his life has been turned upside down.
He said: “I knew the club was huge when I came up. I know everyone says it but you don’t actually realise how big it is until you are here.
“For example, I got sent a video of the goal from a pub in
Australia. It was mobbed and it was going crazy.
“You realise people are watching this all over the world. It’s amazing how big this club is.
“It has taken me a bit by surprise. I was saying to my mum recently, I didn’t actually realise just how many Celtic tops I was seeing when I was back home.
“They have always been there but maybe I just wasn’t noticing as much. It’s still a bit of a shock to me.
“It’s been weird. There are so many fans back home that will
come up to me. Even lads I used to kick a ball with when I was young and are still friends are asking me for photos.
“I’m thinking, ‘What is going on?’ It’s crazy. My life has gone a bit strange.
“No matter where I go I think I’m going to bump into Celtic fans somewhere.
“Hopefully I can just keep repaying their support.”
Idah is going the right way about it. The big frontman has an impressive strike rate with seven goals in just six starts, including crucial efforts in tight wins against Hibs and
Motherwell as well as in the 3-3 draw at Ibrox nine days ago.
He was at it again with a lively sub appearance against St Mirren, where he was like a man on a mission to get on the scoresheet before eventually rounding off the 3-0 win.
Idah’s arrival was relatively low key at a time when Hoops fans were calling for more reinforcements.
But he has more than won over the masses and there is now demand from the stands to make his move permanent in the summer. Celtic will need to negotiate with Norwich, with his displays in Scotland likely to have an impact on his potential fee.
Idah has admitted he’s not thinking about his future right now anyway as his focus is on the present.
Former Celtic and Republic of Ireland hero Packie Bonner has certainly been won over.
Bonner said: “I’ve been impressed with him. “He’s actually surprised me a little bit because I watched him as a young man trying to break into an Irish team at international level.
“I thought he came in a bit too early to be honest. But he’s got experience, he built it up, but the move to Celtic, he’s getting opportunities and that’s the difference here.
“He’s shown that given the opportunity and the chances he will take them and it’s been a good move in his career.”