Ross McCormack reveals he was part of CELTIC pitch invasion months before landing Rangers deal
Boyhood Celtic fan Ross McCormack has reflected on the ultimate irony that occurred when he signed for Rangers.
The Glasgow-born striker came through the ranks at the Ibrox side and went on to make a handful of appearances for the first team before making a proper name for himself at Motherwell and then heading to England where he has successful spells at several clubs. But he had grown up a Celtic fan and hoped to be picked up by them.
McCormack suffered the heartache of being knocked back by his beloved Hoops, told he was too small after a trial. That rejection made it easer to cross the divide and sign for Gers when they approached him afterwards and the 38-year-old would go on to become full-time with the Light Blues at the age of 15.
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But he has now revealed that just months before that he had been part of a Celts pitch invasion when they pipped their rivals to to the title with a final day win over St Johnstone. That summer, he was a full-time Rangers player.
The former Leeds, Cardiff and Scotland man toold Open Goal: “I was a Celtic fan yeah. I had a season ticket. My last game we had the season ticket was St Johnstone at home when Celtic stopped Rangers getting ten-in-a-row. (Henrik) Larsson and (Harald) Brattbakk scored.
“I was on the pitch after that game stealing the grass and putting it in my pocket, during the pitch invasion at Parkhead. I was then 15 when I went full-time (with Rangers).
"When I was eight I went for a trial (with Celtic) up at St Roch's I'm sure, and they told me I was too small. And basically, that means you're s****. They don't want you. So I ended up going to Rangers.
"I think if Rangers had came in first, my dad might've said to wait and see if Celtic came in. But the fact I'd already been knocked back it was like, well, take the next best thing. That was my last game as a season ticket as I went full-time a couple of months later.”