JAMES FORREST is now rubbing shoulders with Celtic legends Jimmy Quinn and Patsy Gallacher after extending his goalscoring sequence to FIFTEEN successive seasons.
It’s a remarkable haul for the 32-year-old Scotland international who has spent a great percentage of his career playing on the wing.
But Forrest has proved deadly within striking distance as he has demonstrated over the years, partcularly in three successive League Cup Finals triumphs for the Hoops.
The loyal one-club servant claimed the second and decisive goal 15 minutes from time in the Hoops’ 2-0 triumph over Dundee United at Hampden on March 15 2015. Kris Commons had opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark.
FINAL SAY: NUMBER ONE…there’s no sign of James Forrest, but the ball is in the Dundee United net for Celtic’s clinching goal in the League Cup showdown in March 2015.
FINAL SAY: NUMBER TWO…James Forrest races away in triumph after scoring the second in the 3-0 win over Aberdeen in November 2016.
FINAL SAY: NUMBER THREE…James Forrest strikes again to leave Motherwell devastated with the opener in Celtic’s 2-0 triumph in November 2017.
There was a hiccup in following year, but normal service was resumed on November 27 2016 when Forrest flashed in the second goal in the 4oth minute of the 3-0 victory over Aberdeen in the silverware showdown in the same tournament.
Tom Rogic had opened the scoring in the 16th minute and Moussa Dembele completed the celebrations with a third from the penalty spot to hand Brendan Rodgers his first honour as Parkhead gaffer.
Forrest completed a personal hat-trick at the national stadium on November 26 when he claimed the breakthrough strike in the 2-0 success over Motherwell.
It had been deadlocked 0-0 at the interval, but four minutes after the turnaround the dependable Celt completed a solo run with a curling shot low past keeper Trevor Carson for the goal that put the holders on their way to a fourth trophy in 18 months during Rodgers’ reign.
Nine minutes later, Dembele sealed the success with a neat penalty-kick.
It was another day of cheer for Celtic – and James Forrest.
Here is a list of some of the club’s top scorers in consecutive seasons.
HISTORY BHOY…Celtic’s all-time top goalscorer Jimmy McGrory menaces the rival keeper in his heyday. The burly frontman netted in 16 successive seasons for the Hoops.
18: Jimmy McMenemy.
17: Bobby Lennox.
16: Jimmy McGrory, Paul McStay.
15: Jimmy Quinn, Patsy Gallacher, James Forrest.
14: Roy Aitken.
13: Sandy McMahon.
12: Stevie Chalmers, John Hughes.
