THE BAIRN WHO WANTS TO FOLLOW IN FATHER’S FOOTSTEPS
PETER GRANT already knows what it feels like to end a barren run without a trophy by celebrating a famous Scottish Cup victory at Hampden. He was carried on to the pitch as a 13-month-old baby by his dad and Celtic legend Peter after a 1-0 win over Airdrieonians in the 1995 Final brought to an end six long, miserable years without silverware for the Parkhead giants. That little babe-in-arms is now a 21-year-old defender with Falkirk and is hoping to end his club’s own harrowing sequence of 58 years without a major trophy in today’s end-of-season showpiece against Inverness Caley Thistle. ‘I was on the park at full-time in 1995 in my mum’s arms,’ said Grant with a smile. ‘I had just turned one, so I don’t really remember it, but I’ve watched the game back on YouTube and you can see how much it meant to that group of Celtic players. ‘If we can do something similar for the Falkirk fans today, it would be a massive achievement. ‘For a club like Falkirk to have a chance of winning silverware is amazing. ‘The last time the club won the Scottish Cup was in 1957 — that’s a long time ago. The Scottish Cup Final is all the whole town is talking about. ‘It’s going to be a great day out for everyone, but we’re not going there just to make up the numbers. We are going to try to win. ‘We believe in ourselves and we want to bring the trophy back to the Falkirk Stadium.’ Grant Senior, a Celtic stalwart who also went on to play for Norwich City, Reading and Bournemouth, famously wept and hugged Tommy Burns after Pierre van Hooijdonk’s goal had settled the 1995 Final. It ended a long spell without trophies for the Parkhead club that now seems astonishing in hindsight. Grant’s son remembers drawing inspiration from that winner’s medal, which he would see on trips to his gran’s house. He also couldn’t go far in the Grants’ own family home without seeing memorabilia from his dad’s successful playing career. How he would love to start his own collection at Hampden today. ‘Some of my dad’s stuff from his career is at my gran’s house,’ he said. ‘But there’s other stuff around the house in England, too, medals and Player-of-the-Year awards in the living room and on the mantelpiece. ‘I’ve always had it in my mind that I want that, too. What my dad did in his career was great and, if I could emulate what he did, then I would be very proud. ‘My dad’s achievements gave me an inner drive but, even if my dad wasn’t a footballer, I would still have had the drive to be the best I can be. But to have that history in your family gives you a terrific insight of what could be. ‘It will be great to have all my family at the Final. My dad has been quite relaxed about the build-up. He has let me get on with the preparations but he’s said he’s there if I need him. ‘It’s good to have someone like that to turn to, but he only tells me things I need to improve on, rather than stuff that I’m good at. ‘That’s just the type of guy he is. Sometimes you think: “Oh, come on Dad!” but I wouldn’t have him any other way. He’s been first-class with me and my brother Raymond, who plays with Norwich. ‘I’m looking forward to the Final. I’m only just turned 21 and I’m in a Scottish Cup Final in my first season with Falkirk. I never thought that would be the case. ‘There’s no better feeling than having success in football and I want to win medals, cups and titles if I possibly can. Falkirk have the quality to do it.’ Dad Peter, now 49, admits he will have ‘a lump in his throat’ when his son plays at Hampden today. ‘That win over Airdrie was the most significant Final I played in, but it would mean just as much to me if young Peter can win at Hampden,’ he said. ‘He’s been through a lot already, having suffered serious cruciate ligament damage when he was younger, which kept him out of action for 15 months. ‘That was a terrible period for him but, looking back now, it has been the making of him. ‘He spent hours and hours in the gym on his own and he’s been very professional to get to where he is now. ‘So I’ll definitely have a lump in my throat. I’ll be a proud dad whatever happens — just like my old Celtic team-mate Charlie Christie — whose son, Ryan, will be playing for Inverness.’