JAMES FORREST celebrates his 29th birthday today safe in the knowledge he is one of an elite band of History Bhoys.
Along with skipper Scott Brown, the Scotland international winger has played in all nine of Celtic’s magnificent title-winning seasons – and now he is looking for number ten.
The current Hoops double-act joined the legendary trio of Billy McNeill, Jimmy Johnstone and Bobby Lennox as Parkhead idols who have achieved the feat in the past during the great days of the Jock Stein era when the club claimed the crown from 1966 to 1974.
Forrest has played his part in the record-equalling sequence and is determined to go one better.
The Birthday Bhoy, who made his debut for the team under the guidance of first-time-around Neil Lennon on May 1 2010 when he scored a goal in a 4-0 win over Motherwell, is quick to pay tribute to the comeback gaffer.
As fate dictated, it was the flying flanker who scored the first goal of Lennon’s return game when he knocked in the opener in the 2-1 victory over Hearts at Tynecastle with Odsonne Edouard slotting in the stoppage-time winner on February 27 last year.
SILVER SMILES…James Forrest with his ninth successive title trophy.
Forrest, speaking to The Celtic View said: “There have been so many memories, Cups, league titles, games in the Champions League, there have been so many highs.
“When you win stuff, once you get a taste of it, you want more.
“What the club has done in the last 10 years has been amazing and it’s great to be part of it.
“Every year with Celtic, there is always pressure right from the start of the season.
“We’re always expected to be challenging for the title and the Cups. For us, this season will not be any different.”
Forrest netted 16 goals and had 22 assists as the Hoops powered towards their eighth consecutive crown before the campaign was halted early due to the coronavirus pandemic. He claimed 17 goals in the previous campaign while setting up 20 strikes for his team-mates.
In total, the entertaining forward has featured in 395 games for the Celts while hitting 88 goals.
He has also picked up an impressive 19 trophies since his breakthrough a decade ago,
And we’re sure there is more to come!
