Former Celtic Scott Brown captain had a difficult start to life at the Hoops due to family issues off the park.
He made the move to Gordon Strachan’s side for a record fee between Scottish clubs in 2007 which still stands to this day.
During the final weeks of the season, Strachan opted for a midfield partnership of Barry Robson and Paul Hartley but the man who would become Celtic’s second most successful captain was in danger of having his passion for the game burned out.
Off the park, his sister Fiona had been battling cancer for a year and succumbed to her illness less than 12 months since the then 22-year-old Brown had joined the Hoops which took effect on his career.
During that time, Celtic CEO Peter Lawwell and Gordon Strachan knew exactly what kind of hardship the former Hibs midfielder was facing as club legend Tommy Burns was also battling cancer and passed away one week prior to Fiona.
It was during that time and the aftermath that Brown reflects back on the deep and meaningful bonds established that were behind his driving force as a Celtic legend.
“My form went up and down and that was understandable at the time,” said Brown speaking on the [Off The Record Podcast].
“But, for me, the club was exceptional. Peter Lawwell was brilliant. And there’s not a lot of people that would get phone calls from the CEO just to ask how you are or how the family is doing.
Action Images / Tom Main
“Tommy was going through the exact same. Tommy was exceptional. On the day he passed away he still managed to send my sister flowers. They arrived on the day Tommy died and that shows you what kind of a man he was.
“You look back and it shows you I made the right decision. I came to a huge family club that wants the best for you, not just on the pitch but away from it as well.
“After that 18 months the decision to come to Celtic was a no brainer because of the way they looked after my family and the way they looked after myself, with days off when I needed them. The bond between me and Gordon probably became a lot stronger as well. We still speak now and that shows you what kind of character he is.”
When a journalist from a now defunct Sunday tabloid was discovered to have been snooping around Fiona’s student residence in Dundee he swiftly turned to Lawwell to deal with the situation.
“I spoke to Peter as well. I phoned Peter as soon as I found out there was somebody up there and he dealt with the whole situation.
“He was like, ‘You make sure you stay calm, stay focused. We’ll deal with the situation. Just go and pick your sister up and bring her back down the road,’. You know a club has got your back when something like that happens.”
Support like such from Strachan and Lawwell was enough for him to turn down any potential move south in 2009 after being instructed by then manager Tony Mowbray to find a new club.
“I had the chance to move to England with Tottenham and Newcastle but because of what the club had done for me in my time of need, I will always hold that in huge high regard.
“That’s what means more to me than anything. They looked after me during a hard time so for me to jump ship was never in question.”
It turned out to be the best footballing decision Brown made as he would go on to become a legend at the club as he won a total of 21 trophies during his 14 years at Celtic.
Shut up! You’re crying!