Celtic's one club men

James Forrest has said he'll retire once his time is up at Celtic. So that would make him join a very short list of Celtic's one club men.

So assuming Forrest joins the list, it'll be him on the list with:

Billy McNeill
Paul McStay
Pat Bonner

And that's it, in terms of modern times.

Bobby Lennox was close to being a one club man, having played for Celtic for nearly 20 years, but he played for a club in Houston for a few months before returning to Celtic. Callum McGregor also doesn't count, because he played at Notts County on loan.

Anyone else of any other one club players from earlier in our history?

I thought Jimmy McGrory might be one, but he had a loan spell at Clydebank.

 

Do you count 'Junior' clubs or just senior professional?

 

That's a good question. I know junior clubs were more prominent in Scotland in the past, so I'd say if they went out on loan to a junior club from Celtic then they're not really a one club man.

 

I was thinking signed from junior club then spent their entire career at Celtic, like Jimmy Quinn or Davey Adams

 

I point this out any opportunity but we accepted 3 bids end of Jan for Forrest last season. He said * that.

and him coming in was the biggest catalyst end of season for us winning the league.


That’s different level of loyalty to Celtic. He’s stayed to do whatever he can, he’s went from essential to good dressing room guy to important squad member and during that transition, we clearly made a signal that we don’t care if he was here or not.

And shortly after, we really cared about him still being here. Jamesy is a * legend. And a rare type of man in modern football.

 

He will(is) going down as a legend of the club, is James Forrest.
Being only 3 other names, this is a very select list of players.


As for the criteria, I'd argue for CalMac to be included (if he does remain only at the club til he retires).
A loan spell I feel is harsh to take this away from someone, specially when said loan was for his development at a young age.


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He has the most honours ever for us. He’s a legend. There’s zero doubt for me there.

 

100% agree.

Normally I'd argue about longevity shouldn't be a factor (at least not a sole factor) as you'd end up having to call guys who stuck around for a decade a legend, and we've had plenty who have managed it and don't deserve it.
And in turn, trophy haul shouldn't be a sole factor.
If these two were the criteria for "legend" we will end up calling Nir Bitton or Ralston legends.

But what Forrest has done is a few factors more. He's done the one club thing and he's actually heavily influenced and played massive roles in the success of his time!
100% a legend.

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Longevity is a big factor for me, Van Dijk and Wanyama if they stayed here longer would no doubt have made the legend category. Some legendary performances from both, but too short, that’s a big factor

 

@Peej adding to that, you’re totally right in what you say and that was a needless nitpick

I define it as a sustained level of top performances, affinity to Celtic, big moments and contributions to success not necessarily trophies that but usually is.

Guys like McStay it wasn’t, he was the only bright spot in anything we done that could be deemed successful in a dark period. Longer you do it, it helps.

Then there’s players like Larsson who had 6 seasons playing, with one year he missed the 7 years here. Jamesy has 10 seasons more, and more success, he’s a legend but not Henrik sort of legend. It’s very subjective and for me it’s not definitive any of what I use to judge it, it’s just subjective and not one to another think the word Legend for us is the same as the next guy thinks it is

 

Aye this is the truly interesting part of the debate for me, the subjectiveness of it all.

It simply can't be a one rule fits all, in regards to the criteria, as each players worth to that tag "legend" is almost unique to them.

In a social time where unfortunately (even myself) a lot of debates and subjects are painted black or white, when some (not you or anyone specific just general terms), say "X player deserves to be a legend because of how long he's been here" or "he's got 20+ trophies, of course he's a legend" makes me want to debate it on that sole criteria, because at some stage if we only use that metric, we are gonna end up calling guys like Ralston or Welsh legends
Which is why, as we say, each players merits need to be taken on their own terms. Forrest now is, because of trophies, years here, one man club, the elusive 16 seasons of scoring (even if he doesn't make it this season is fine), the attitude they have for the club, the role they played in the success, everything counts.

It's also why some players with half the trophies or seasons can be classed as legend, because it's on their own merits.

Personally, for me, if we exclude the Lions as being completely written in history on their own terms (immortals even), then im more than happy to say that guys like Forrest, Brown, Larsson, McStay, Burns are all in the same sphere of Legend for me.
Then I'd have a level below for Icons - guys like Lubo, Samaras, Lennon ( a debatable one I'm sure for many about being in the legend bracket), where perhaps their value to the club history is massive, but potentially not written in to lore for 100 years where songs could be still sung for them.

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Harsh to include loans as 'other' teams imho, especially if it's in a player's early days.

Either way, Mon Jamesy! Some company that.

 

Yep, I always felt that the loan is harsh on CalMac as already stated here, he went for the development as a player for our club.

I would get the point if a player was say, unhappy at a club, and wanted a break for a short loan spell but this is not the case with CalMac.

In my eyes, he is still a one club man and will be, provided he retires with us.

Callum McGregor = One man club Celtic Legend.

 

McNeill played for Blantyre Victoria before us. So if its truly one club he doesn't count.

Seems harsh on McGregor as he was still a Celtic player. Ralston would qualify if loans didn't count.

 

Yeah I'd regard them as one club men in senior football in that case.

 

Does seem harsh but he did spent a full season playing for another club in senior football.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_one-club_men_in_association_football

I get that, but none of the players in this list have been on loan to another club for example. And McGregor has objectively played for two clubs.

 

Nah sorry, he played football for two different clubs in his senior career. He's not a one club man. Still a legend though.

 

John McPhail (1941-56) is another one club player.

 

Same with Jimmy McGrory, but that's the challenge, playing their entire senior professional career at Celtic.