The SPFL title clincher away to Dundee United last weekend took the medal tally of James Forrest and Callum McGregor to FIFTY!
It is a remarkable landmark, one that they will be looking to extend later this month at Hampden with a realistic prospect that their final trophy haul will be in or around 60.
Over the last few years the two homegrown players have been nudging up the club’s Roll of Honour, now they have it virtually to themselves as they continue to hoover up the honours and accolades.
Forrest has picked up 26 honours in total consisting of 13 SPL/SPFL titles, plus seven Scottish Cup victories and the League Cup six times, his team-mate and club captain has a total of 24 made up of 10 SPFL/SPL titles, six Scottish Cups and eight League Cup winners medals.
McGregor also has four SFA Youth Cup winners medals, the age limit was changed, incredibly he has never lost a cup final, a record that he’ll take to Hampden in three weeks for the Scottish Cup.
To put those achievements in context Aberdeen won 18 trophies, Hearts have 16 with Hibs on 10. Combining to 44.
There are a lot of similarities in the career paths of the two men, coming through the ranks two years apart just as the Reserve set up was being ditched.
Both were highly rated coming through the Celtic Academy but so are many others, through a variety of circumstances they made their way through to play starring roles in the greatest ever spell of domination that Scottish football has ever known.
When Forrest made his first team debut in April 2010 Celtic had won three trebles, by the end of this month he could be involved in his sixth treble success with five already in his trophy haul.
Born on 7 July 1991 Forrest was always just ahead of McGregor who was born on 14 June 1993, a year ahead of the Fergus McCann takeover that was about to reshape Scottish football.
Just as Forrest was making his first team debut, in April 2010 McGregor was stepping up from the u-17 side to the u-19s.
At the age of 19 Forrest was making an impact in the new look Celtic side created by Neil Lennon but the breakthrough was some way away for his future club captain.
Forrest was collecting his third SPL winners medal in season 2013/14 while McGregor had an up and down season on loan at Notts County but under Ronny Deila his breakthrough was around the corner, starting with a scoring debut away to KR Reykjavic.
With just over 1,000 combined Celtic appearances the two players have amassed 50 trophies, averaging a medal every 20 games!
In July 2010 with Forrest promoted to the first team squad, youth coach Tommy McIntyre told Video Celts:
James Forrest did really well last season with our 19s, by all accounts he was one of the top players with the international team and he scored within ten minutes of making his first team debut.
That gives encouragement to everyone at the Academy and throughout the club. James epitomises what we’re trying to do. They can take that example on board.
This is only the beginning for James, it’s a new chapter for him but he’s taking to it well and his progress is very pleasing for everyone at the club.
A few months earlier a very youthful McGregor scored on his first start for the u-19 side with McIntyre telling Video Celts:
Callum has been doing exceptionally well at u-17 level. He still has to develop, he’s still a young kid and a bit slight.
He’s a clever player, an intelligent player and that will stand him in good stead. He was in today on merit, he’s scored an unbelievable number of goals and is one for the future. He’s played with the 19s before because we believe in him.
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