Highland derby now real deal for ex-Parkhead pals Joe and Marcus
THEY’VE fought it out in epic battles on the football field on countless occasions.
World Cups, European nights, cup finals and league showdowns peppered their young careers at Celtic.
But for Joe Chalmers and great boyhood pal Marcus Fraser all of those head-to-head contests came in the virtual world on PlayStation.
The pair were inseparable growing up within Celtic’s youth academy and would call around one another’s houses.
But today the players – both now 24 – will line up on opposing sides in the real world for the first time in their careers in the Highland derby.
Caley Thistle midfielder Chalmers and County captain Fraser climbed the Parkhead ranks at the same time, playing alongside Callum McGregor, Tony Watt and future Liverpool and Scotland defender Andrew Robertson.
Since leaving the east end of Glasgow in 2015, events kept them apart competitively after Chalmers joined Motherwell then Caley Thistle and Fraser came to County.
Chalmers said: “It is funny how Marcus and I both find ourselves up here playing in the Highlands.
“We were nine when we took our first steps together at Celtic. We came up through the year groups together and have been best pals pretty much since day one.
“Four or five of us palled about together but me and Marcus were always really close. Our families have grown close too. We were always around each other’s houses.
“We’ve had some good games at FIFA over the years. Marcus wasn’t bad but could have a right temper on him when he lost! We’ve always looked forward to facing each other but it just hasn’t happened.”
Fraser is also relishing the chance to