Bartley still so proud of win over champions

MARVIN BARTLEY has told his Livingston team-mates they will always be remembered as historymakers after beating Celtic for the first time in the club’s 25-year existence.

The former Hibs midfielder is delighted to have been named the players’ player of year by the West Lothian outfit but insists credit has to go to the entire squad after they defied the odds to finish fifth in the curtailed Premiership.

And the apex of the memorable campaign was last October’s 2-0 victory over the champions at the Tony Macaroni Arena, the club’s only-ever triumph in 26 clashes with Celtic.

Bartley said: “The highlight for me this season and for everyone associated with Livingston Football Club would be beating Celtic 2-0.

“Nobody gave us a chance, not a single person. But, as a squad and as a club, we all believed that we could do and could upset the big boys. And we went and did that with a 2-0 win.

“No matter what happens in our careers and no matter who goes where this season we will all go down in history at this football club, being part of the first squad to beat Celtic.”

Bartley played in all but two of Livingston’s 38 games this season, starting 35 of them, after joining from Hibs last summer.

The 33-year-old also believes the player of the year award is the perfect response to the detractors who questioned his ability and commitment at the start of the season.

He added: “On a personal level, for me at the start of this season I think I was written off by some, not that that really bothered me because I always say to people, ‘believe in yourself’.

“Winning player of the year, that means the most to me because it does show to people that I have contributed to this football club and I’ve contributed to a football club that has punched above its weight.” it