Family Ties

Kieran Tierney used to travel on the Wishaw Emerald CSC to matches. His parents still go on the same bus to watch their son playing in the Hoops.

- Mark Henderson

KIERAN Tierney has had the same post-match routine since he broke into the Celtic team three years ago. Whether he has been playing against the best players on the planet in the UEFA Champions League or helping his boyhood heroes make history in Scottish football, his first port of call after a game is the family home in North Lanarkshire to see his Mum and Dad, who still travel to the games on the Wishaw Emerald Celtic Supporters’ Club bus.

Just as they did on every step of his journey up through the Celtic Youth Academy, his parents, Gail and Michael, are still there watching on with pride as their son lives the dream. Tierney’s complete commitment in every tackle, lung-bursting run and strike of the ball is for them.

“I am so thankful to my family and friends, and they all come into the same bracket for me as my friends mean so much to me as well,” he told the View in an exclusive interview. “My family have supported me from day one and have always believed in me, even in the spells when I wasn’t playing at youth level. They put their trust in me and they lived their lives around me – if I had a game on, they couldn’t go out.

“Even when I was nine, 10 or 11-years-old, there was no guarantee I would kick a ball for a couple of years, yet they dedicated their lives to giving me the best chance I could to make it. I have played a few games now and being able to say thanks to them and helping them out with things is brilliant for me.

“My family know that everything I do is for them. You love your family to bits and you do everything you can for them. I bought a house for my Mum and Dad. Things like that are what you dream of as a kid, to help your family out, and being able to do that, I know how lucky I am.