James Forrest

I love Jamesy but frankly I'd rather give Vata more game time now. Forrest being fit can still offer us something as a squad player, but this is yet another lengthy injury he's suffered. In my opinion his last long term injury before this is a big reason as to why he struggled to get back in the side as a regular and it'll likely be even harder for him once he recovers this time around.

 

Great to see him back training again

 

Felt like he gave it away everytime he touched it when he came on..

Should be nowhere near the bench next season..

 

Lost all his pace hasn’t he…wouldn’t go by anyone

 

The James Forrest Testimonial Committee is delighted to officially announce a fantastic match between Celtic FC and Athletic Club from Bilbao, in honour of a player who has been associated with Celtic for more than 20 years, with the game also forming part of Athletic Club's 125th Anniversary celebrations.

James joined Celtic’s Youth Academy in 2002 and then in 2009 joined the club’s first-team squad. During his time with Celtic he has played a huge role in delivering phenomenal success to the club, lifting 11 league titles, five Scottish cups and five League cups.

He was named the Scottish PFA and Scottish Writers’ Player of the Year in 2019, also receiving both prestigious awards in 2012 as a young player. He was also named the country’s top international young player in 2012 by the Scottish Football Writers’ Association.

James has scored over 100 goals for Celtic, scoring in 14 successive seasons, and only Billy McNeill, Bobby Lennox and Scott Brown have won more medals than James for Celtic Football Club.

CELTIC V ATHLETIC CLUB | TUE, AUG 1 2023
The testimonial match will take place on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, with a 7:30pm kick-off, with James deciding that a significant proportion of funds raised will go two charities, Kilbryde Hospice and Celtic FC Foundation, the charitable arm of Celtic Football Club.

Based in East Kilbride, the Kilbryde Hospice provides palliative care and support to patients and families of patients with life limiting illnesses and Celtic FC Foundation carries out a range of work supporting those in need across society, both domestically and globally.

Celtic has a wonderful connection with Athletic Club, who are currently sitting in seventh position in Spain’s La Liga. Celtic met with the club in a friendly in the Basque city of Bilbao in 2011, and in 2019 Athletic Club kindly awarded their One Club Man Award to Celtic Great Billy McNeill - the award being established with the aim of honouring players whose career with one team represents the values of commitment, loyalty, responsibility, sportsmanship and respect, which embody their identity as a club.

In an emotional ceremony, Lisbon Lion and Celtic great, John Clark travelled to Bilbao to accept the award on behalf of Billy’s family.

Now this great relationship will continue as we recognise the contribution to Celtic by another man who has served his only club with such distinction, and the match is also part of Athletic Club's 125th Anniversary which they are proudly celebrating this year.





Stevie Kilcoyne, Chairman of James’ Testimonial Committee said: “We are delighted to announce this match in tribute to someone who has given so much to Celtic.

“James has been connected to the club for more than 20 years as a young and senior player and has contributed massively to the success of the Celtic first team.

‘He has a phenomenal list of honours to his name and is someone who really has devoted his whole footballing life to a club that he loves. We hope that a great crowd will some to Celtic Park to honour such an important player.’

“It is great too that charity will be benefiting from this match, with Kilbryde Hospice and Celtic FC Foundation being supported to carry on their great work.

“We would sincerely like to thank Celtic Football Club for granting James this testimonial match and, of course, we are very grateful to Athletic Club for agreeing to travel to Glasgow to take part in this celebration of one of the club’s most successful players and greatest servants.”



Celtic manager, Ange Postecoglou said: “James has been a hugely important figure to Celtic across so many years, contributing massively to such a sustained period of success for the club and he is really deserving of this great honour.

“Although he has achieved so much he is someone who remains so humble and unassuming, continuing to quietly get on with his job and striving every day to do all he can to bring more and more success to our supporters.

“I am sure this match will be a great occasion for James and the club. It will be our first match back at Celtic Park after the summer break and we hope as many supporters as possible will be able to attend.

“We look forward to welcoming Athletic Club to Glasgow and we are sure they will provide a great test for us, but above all we look forward to a special night, honouring someone who has given us all so much.”

Celtic Chief Executive, Michael Nicholson said: “We were really pleased to grant James this testimonial match, and we wish him and the Committee all the very best for the game, which we are sure will be a wonderful occasion.

“James has committed himself to Celtic and has delivered success after success to our supporters and our club, for which we are all grateful. James could not be more deserving of this honour and I am sure the match will be a great celebration of his Celtic career.”

 

Hugely deserves it for his past contributions

 

He is just back from injury and playing for the first time in months.

 

And?

He still gave it away almost everytime and shouldn't be anywhere near game time next season..

 

That's been the fans excuse for him for that last 3/4 years though. It gets to a point where you can't defend the indefensible. When he comes on he offers next to nothing, I don't even think he touched the ball offensively or defensively last night, as a sub he was shocking. His legs went a few years back, he's now a passenger in a bygone style of play. Good player in his day but they're long gone. Sometimes you need to know when a players peaked, when to sell and when to keep, he should have been sold after Rodgers left, would have made a decent rake from him, now he's just cashing pay cheques.

 

He deserves his testimonial, he's done fantastic for the club with some important goals and winning a ton of trophies.

 

Well deserved testimonial but he needs moved on in the summer. He’s never going to get the consistent game time to find his form and would free up wages for a good signing.

 

Realistically who's going to take him off our hands, wrong side of 30 and recent long term injuries, 2 years left on his deal on probably decent money, unless he's so desperate to keep playing he's willing to take a drop in wages to go elsewhere. Think he'll be here for the duration of his contract.

 

When do tickets go on sale?

 

There would be plenty teams that would take the risk on him for £500k-1M. He definitely doesn’t want the move though, another 2 years on 25k per week and not uprooting his family.

 

Wonder if the testimonial could be a kind of pay off. Play that match then announce he's retiring or being made a free agent.

 

This was my first thought when I read about this. Boy has been a great servant and deserves the recognition, then hopefully moves on to a new chapter.

 

Happy he gets his testimonial. He should be able to see out the final two years of his contract with us if he so wishes. That, should ultimately be up to him.

 

Good

Felt sorry for him last night, as clearly hasn't got the legs he once had, and the team went down to 10 men right after the sub.

 

Always had a soft spot for the wee guy. Hope he gets a good turn out for his testimonial