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The Guardian
17-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
James Forrest's fairytale finish provides fitting finale to Celtic's triumphant season
James Forrest gave Celtic fans the finale they craved as he equalised in stoppage time against St Mirren to extend his run of scoring for the club to 16 consecutive seasons. Forrest left it until the league season was 38 games old to get off the mark on a day when he was chosen to deliver the Premiership trophy to his teammates before Callum McGregor lifted it for the fourth year running. St Mirren were leading through Jonah Ayunga's goal – and at one stage heading for Europe – until Alistair Johnston set up fellow substitute Forrest, who slotted inside the near post to make it 1-1. Forrest had injected some much-needed urgency and creativity into the Celtic team after being introduced in the 55th minute after the home fans raised banners in his honour and sang his name. The winger then went on to collect the 26th winners' medal of his Celtic career, one more than previous record holder Bobby Lennox. St Mirren fans were left proud of their team for their display and for going through the post-split fixtures unbeaten, but also disappointed after being pipped to fifth place. Dundee United clinched that European place after leapfrogging Aberdeen into fourth place in the William Hill Premiership with a stunning 2-1 comeback win. Danish attacker Jeppe Okkels scored his first goal for the Dons since signing on loan from Preston in January after 15 minutes with the visitors controlling the game. United gradually came back into it and in the 56th minute defender Declan Gallagher levelled with a header from a Glenn Middleton corner. Striker Sam Dalby put United ahead with a penalty in the 62nd minute and when the dust settled on the final day of top-six fixtures – and there was an unseemly pitch invasion by home fans at the final whistle – Jim Goodwin's men, back in the top flight this season, finished fourth which brings a potential Europe League qualifying place. Aberdeen are able to swipe it back if they win the Scottish Cup against Celtic next week, albeit the champions failing at the last hurdle of another domestic treble is a long-odds prospect. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Rangers were left to lament a contentious first-half moment as they ended a largely dispiriting campaign with a 2-2 draw away to Hibernian. Second-placed Gers went ahead early on through top scorer Cyriel Dessers and felt they should have doubled their lead in the 15th minute when Nico Raskin looked to have forced the ball over the line. However, play was waved on and Hibs went straight up the park to equalise through Kieron Bowie. Raskin did restore the visitors' lead early in the second half but Martin Boyle hit back with his 99th goal for the third-placed Hibees to maintain their six-month unbeaten run on home soil. The draw meant interim manager Barry Ferguson – expected to make way for a new manager this summer – has overseen just six wins from his 15 matches in charge since succeeding Philippe Clement in February.
The National
03-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
Forrest addresses Celtic streak and makes penalty admission
The veteran attacker has made 28 appearances this term and registered five assists, but has failed to bag up to this point. Forrest could sense that all of a Celtic persuasion were urging him to find the back of the net last weekend at Tannadice as time evaporates on the season. Read more: He said [Official Celtic FC podcast]: "I could even feel it was coming from the players on the park as well. "With the scoreline and the way it was going, I could definitely feel that everyone was egging me on to try and score. "Hopefully, going into the end of the season, I can try and do that [score]. "I think a few folk have joked when we get a penalty for me to hit it, but I'd hope to score in normal time." Forrest became the most decorated player in Celtic's history with last Saturday's title triumph, overtaking Lisbon Lion and fellow Ayrshire-native, Bobby Lennox, in the process. "After the game, I felt a bit emotional," he said. "Normally, I can hide that quite well, but I think everything - we won the league and everyone was talking about that - it got to me a bit. "It's a great achievement, and it shows how successful the club has been since I've been here. "When you start to get a bit older, you're not so sure whether you're going to be in or out of the squad and you don't know whether you're going to be here, so I'm just cherishing every day that I'm here. "It's a team game. It is a nice achievement, it's great to have. But it's about the players, the staff and my family." An academy graduate himself, Forrest went down to train with Celtic's youngsters team during the most recent international break. He said: "In the international break, I trained with the B team. It's boys that are 16 and 17 you're training with, but I think that's maybe good for them that I was training with them, and it's good for me to see the players coming through and what we've got here." The 33-year-old is in contention for selection as Celtic travel to face Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday.
The Herald Scotland
03-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Forrest addresses Celtic streak and makes penalty admission
Forrest could sense that all of a Celtic persuasion were urging him to find the back of the net last weekend at Tannadice as time evaporates on the season. Read more: He said [Official Celtic FC podcast]: "I could even feel it was coming from the players on the park as well. "With the scoreline and the way it was going, I could definitely feel that everyone was egging me on to try and score. "Hopefully, going into the end of the season, I can try and do that [score]. "I think a few folk have joked when we get a penalty for me to hit it, but I'd hope to score in normal time." Forrest became the most decorated player in Celtic's history with last Saturday's title triumph, overtaking Lisbon Lion and fellow Ayrshire-native, Bobby Lennox, in the process. "After the game, I felt a bit emotional," he said. "Normally, I can hide that quite well, but I think everything - we won the league and everyone was talking about that - it got to me a bit. "It's a great achievement, and it shows how successful the club has been since I've been here. "When you start to get a bit older, you're not so sure whether you're going to be in or out of the squad and you don't know whether you're going to be here, so I'm just cherishing every day that I'm here. "It's a team game. It is a nice achievement, it's great to have. But it's about the players, the staff and my family." An academy graduate himself, Forrest went down to train with Celtic's youngsters team during the most recent international break. He said: "In the international break, I trained with the B team. It's boys that are 16 and 17 you're training with, but I think that's maybe good for them that I was training with them, and it's good for me to see the players coming through and what we've got here." The 33-year-old is in contention for selection as Celtic travel to face Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday.
STV News
27-04-2025
- Sport
- STV News
Celtic's most decorated players as James Forrest now stands alone at top
Celtic clinched their 55th league title with a 5-0 win over Dundee United at Tannadice on Saturday. The triumph was veteran winger James Forrest's 26th major trophy with the Hoops in a glittering career at Parkhead. Since marking his debut with a goal as a fresh-faced teenager away back in 2009 he has played through a golden-era of success for the club. The 33-year-old came off the bench to help Brendan Rodgers' side wrap up their latest championship in what was his 13th league title. That puts him one ahead of legendary Lisbon Lion forward Bobby Lennox to stand alone as the most decorated in the clubs long history. Here, we look at the Hoops legends with the most trophy wins with the Parkhead club. SNS Group Forrest has now won 26 major honours at the Hoops. The winger has now won 13 league titles since making his Celtic debut in May 2010. Forrest can win his eighth Scottish Cup next month and also has six League Cup winners' medals to his name after being involved in a nine-in-a-row and quadruple treble run. His Parkhead career looked in doubt last January when a move away from the club was mooted, but he stayed around and got himself back in the team to play a big part in last season's title win. The 33-year-old could have had even more medals to his name if it wasn't for a series of injuries that meant he missed out on three final victories. SNS Group Lennox won 25 medals at Celtic and is also the club's second top scorer of all time. Forrest surpassed a fellow Ayrshire-born nine-in-a-row winning forward with this season's league title. Legendary Lisbon Lion Bobby Lennox was one of the team who brought the European Cup to Britain for the first time. He won the big one in 1967, 11 league titles, eight Scottish Cups and five League Cup winners' medals. After a brief spell in the United States, Lennox, now 81, returned to Celtic and won a league and cup double in 1980 in his final full season. He is also sandwiched between Jimmy McGrory and Henrik Larsson as the club's second top goal scorer. SNS Group At two years younger, McGregor could surpass Forrest in the coming years. Celtic captain Callum McGregor is not far behind long-term teammate Forrest. The 31-year-old, who has two years on the winger, is a good bet to surpass his medal haul in the coming years. The midfielder epitomises the winning mentality that has been instilled in the team during one of the club's golden periods. SNS Group The legendary captain has a statue outside Celtic Park. The Lisbon Lions captain endured some difficult years for Celtic after joining in 1957 before the arrival of Jock Stein saw them quickly become Scotland's dominant club and the best in Europe in 1967. He captained Celtic to another European Cup three after Lisbon in 1970 and hung up his boots in 1975, a year after leading Celtic to nine consecutive titles. McNeill, who has a statue outside Celtic Park, also won seven Scottish Cups and six League Cups. The late Scotland defender was not finished with the silverware though – he won eight more major trophies with Celtic during two spells as manager. SNS Group Brown captained Celtic to nine-in-a-row and a quadruple treble. McGregor's predecessor as captain drove Celtic forward for years after joining from Hibernian in 2007. Scott Brown joined from Hibernian for £4.5m and captained the Hoops to nine-in-a-row and a historic quadruple treble before departing for Aberdeen in 2021. In all, he won 10 titles and six winners' medals in both domestic cup competitions. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Glasgow Times
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
James Forrest to meet Celtic legend after making history
The 33-year-old's Scottish Premiership title win on Sunday took his trophy haul to 26, overtaking Bobby Lennox's 25. This includes 13 league championships, seven Scottish Cups, and six Scottish League Cups. Forrest, who hails from Ayrshire, will meet with Lennox this week. He said: "I've met Bobby Lennox a few times at games and stuff, and I am planning to go and see him this week as well. Read more: "People say that I have gone beyond him. "At this club, it is not about one player or two players, it is so many players, it is the fans, the staff you don't see behind the scenes and all of that as well; there are so many people you can credit. "I have met his family, and they are all so humble, and I think that stands you in good stead for players coming through." Forrest is still hoping to score a goal this season to make it 16 in a row in which he has netted for Celtic. With five games left, he will be optimistic about his chances. His next opportunity will come at the Glasgow derby next weekend, as his team travels to Ibrox. Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers said: "It's so important [to win next weekend]. "Rangers were very good in the first half when we played them at Celtic Park. "We were too slow. "The comfort in the game was not good. "In the second half, we were much better. "Celtic vs Rangers, no matter what it is, Rangers Celtic, it means everything. "So we need to go and perform next week again. "But we can get those messages through during the week."
