Long - Service Record

James Forrest has spent 17 years at Celtic since joining the Academy, and he is enjoying life at Paradise as much as he ever has

- Mark Henderson

FAMILIARITY doesn’t breed contempt for James Forrest. Recruited into the Celtic Youth Academy at the age of nine, there is no-one in the dressing room who has been at the club longer than him. But the 26-year-old has never felt stale or considered ending this 17-year association with the Hoops, something he reiterated when he signed a new three-year contract last summer.

Indeed, as he heads into his eighth full season as a first-team player at Celtic, Forrest has never been happier at his own form and the direction the club is going in under Brendan Rodgers. And as he approaches the 250-game landmark for the Scottish treble-winners, he told the View that he is eying further milestones as Celt. “It’s scary to think that, having come through the youth system and playing the amount of games I have for Celtic but I just want to keep going and playing as many matches as I can,” he said in an exclusive interview with the View. “I reached 200 matches early on last season, though you never think about these statistics until someone tells you. It’s great to hear these things, but you just want to keep going and make as many appearances as you can.

“I was always going to stay here so when I got the chance to sign my contract last year and I signed it straight away. I never looked back and I just wanted to play and work hard for the team.

“Last season was probably the best I have felt here. I really enjoyed it and it was one of the best seasons I have had. Hard work in pre-season pushed us on for the full season and it’s been the same again this time around. Everyone has been working hard and hopefully that will set us up well.

“You just want those moments, such as playing in the Champions League and winning cups and trophies. That’s why we are all here. Confidence is going right through the team and hopefully I can kick on again this season.”