The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Gordon hoping to end long wait for second medal
Celtic keeper Craig Gordon is hoping to end his 11-year wait for a second William Hill Scottish Cup winners’ medal this weekend.
The Scotland international was between the sticks for Hearts in the 2006 final at Hampden Park when the Jambos beat Gretna in a penalty shoot-out to take the trophy back to Gorgie.
Gordon thought it would be the first of several Scottish Cup medals but at 34 he has still not added to it, although that long wait could come to an end tomorrow when the treble-chasing Hoops, unbeaten domestically this season, take on Aberdeen at the national stadium.
The ex-Sunderland keeper, who signed for the Parkhead club in 2014 after a long period out with injury, said: “That was a great day for me to win the Scottish Cup with Hearts and to do it again and be part of a treble season would be unbelievable.
“I remember thinking that was just the first of many opportunities that I would have to win cup competitions.
“I probably took it for granted a little bit the first time around, but for everybody, the closer you get to the end of your career the more important these become.
“The older you get, you realise that those don’t come along very often, especially one like this with the chance to go and get a treble.
“Even at a big club like Celtic, I have not managed to win the Scottish Cup.
“This is my third season here and we have not managed to win it since I have been here.”
Gordon is excited about the possibility of joining Celtic’s treblewinning club, which currently includes the teams from of 1967, 1969 and 2001.
He said: “It is a great opportunity to make history, to be one of the best teams that has every played for this club.
“If we can do it we will always be remembered and to be part of that is very special.
“You don’t get many occasions during your career to get something like that on your CV so we are looking forward to it.”
However, Gordon, who has won three league titles and two Betfred Cups since joining Celtic, is wary of the favourites’ tag, even against a side they have beaten five times this season.
He said: “That’s football. You can lose any match to anybody.
“That’s what makes the season we have had so special so far.
“We know we are one game away from being unbeaten the entire domestic season.
“The manager said he didn’t think that would be done again in a lifetime.”