It will be no shock to many of our readers about Crystal Palace midfielders Celtic admission as he spoke in the Palace match day programme about his early memories of football.
James McCarthy was once a Celtic target and a product of the Hamilton youth academy in Scotland. However, for whatever reason a move never came to pass.
The player moved down south and has played for a number of clubs since. McCarthy also unfortunate with a string of bad injuries.
Speaking about his football memories as a child he recalled heading to Celtic Park to watch the bhoys on a regular basis.
“Early football for me was always playing as a kid,” McCarthy told Palace’s match day programme.” McCarthy told the match programme as cited by RecordSport.
“I’ve always been a Celtic fan; all my family are Celtic fans.
“From when I was born, I’ve had the Celtic strips. Obviously as a kid, you’re always watching. We’d go and watch the games. My brothers used to take me.
“I went to quite a lot of them (games against Rangers). I was younger, maybe eight or nine.
I’d always be at the game. It’s an amazing atmosphere, an incredible atmosphere and one that you really enjoy.
“You always find you want to play in something like that. We’ve got good fans here (at Palace) and the noise at home is very good.
“It’s important and the fans travel well for away days.”
This is not the first footballer who has come out this week and made it clear where their allegiance lies. Johnny Russell who now plays for Kansas City in the MLS declared his love for Celtic and how he hopes to play for the Scottish Champions before all is said and done.
Russell also coming from Scotland and heading out down south before his move to America.
Both McCarthy and Russell have never won a trophy and are still at the level they left Scotland