Paddy McCourt was one of the most naturally gifted players to pull on the famous green and white hoops, although his lack of consistency held him back from being a top class footballer…
Signed by Gordon Strachan from hometown side Derry City in the summer of 2008 for £200,000, Paddy would go on to both woe and frustrate the supporters in his five year spell at the club.
Gordon Strachan later said of Paddy “as gifted a footballer as I have ever seen.”
The man dubbed ‘the Derry Pele’ struggled to make an impact in his first couple of years at the club, but playing under two different managers certainly wouldn’t have helped.
Paddy started to find form under new boss Neil Lennon in the 2010/11 campaign, as he made 35 appearances scoring seven goals. Despite this form, he failed to nail down a regular spot due to competition in the wide berths, with the likes of Shaun Maloney, Kris Commons, and the ever green James Forrest also present in the squad.
The Northern Ireland international was known for his ability to score ‘wonder goals’ goals of great quality, and solo efforts the great Diego Armando Maradona would have been proud of.
Goals such as his efforts against Hearts, Falkirk, St Mirren, and two stunning efforts on two different occasions against Inverness Caley Thistle stick out, and are still well remembered by those who witnessed them.
Paddy McCourt however, for all his natural ability, was said to have lacked the hunger, and more importantly the fitness to reach the very top level of the game, which was a shame as he was capable of moments of pure genius.
Along with his manager, and fellow teammate Niall McGinn, Paddy was signalled out for sectarian hatred, after being sent bullets in the post, all because the trio happened to be Roman Catholics from the six counties.
Like his fellow countrymen, Paddy didn’t let the bigots get him down and always did his best for the club on the pitch. All in all Paddy McCourt made 88 appearances for the club, scoring 10 goals and contributing to two league titles successes, two Scottish Cup wins, and one League Cup triumph.
Paddy McCourt might not have have made the most of his god given talent, but he lived the dream, and would later comment: “Not many Celtic supporters get the chance to do what I did, to live the dream. I consider myself fortunate I was able to.”
Many of us were fortunate enough to watch you in the Hoops Paddy.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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