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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Joe Donnelly

Ex-Celt recalls best goal driven by redemption and scored in a divisive away kit

Former Celtic player Charlie Mulgrew has named his greatest ever game and goals during his time at the club between 2010 and 2016.

As part of Celtic TV's recurring 'My Greatest Game' feature – which has previously hosted Neil Lennon, Paul Lambert and a number of other ex-Celts – the 38-year-old earmarked Celtic's formidable 6-0 victory over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on April 7, 2012 as his own favourite appearance at the Parkhead side.



Having once trailed rivals Rangers in the race for the Scottish Premiership title by 12 points that season, that emphatic victory in Ayrshire capped off a stunning league-winning comeback, during a game which saw Mulgrew hit the mark twice.

Before discussing the triumph, the left-sided player recalled Celtic's 3-3 draw at Rugby Park towards the end of 2011, when Neil Lennon's men entered the interval 3-0 down. It was Mulgrew's stray pass that led to James Fowler netting Kilmarnock's third.

Celtic bounced back to draw that match 3-3, and so when it was Fowler that Mulgrew managed to wrong-foot before bagging his second and Celtic's third of the afternoon several months later, the occasion was tinged with a hint of redemption.

"There was confidence rushing right through me and I just wanted to get on the ball," Mulgrew told Celtic TV. "Players in the league knew that I was dangerous on my left foot, and I knew that if I went down the outside and faked to cross it, Fowler was going to try to block the cross.

"That allowed me to go inside and a bit of space opened up. We were 2-0 up, so I thought I'd have a go, and I managed to put it in the bottom corner. What a great feeling [and watching it again] brings all of those great memories back. What an amazing time."

That was indeed an afternoon to remember for Celtic, who claimed the first of their nine-in-a-row run of league championship wins that would follow, from that season through to 2020. 

My words not Charlie's, but the yellow and black away strip of the 2011/12 campaign (as seen above) was a Marmite kit among Celtic fans at the time - surely one of the most divisive alternative tops the players have donned in more recent times. 

The Celtic away kit for the 2024/25 trail remains as yet unconfirmed, although it's believed to be a yellow and green Seville-era throwback with a modern twist. Next season's third kit likewise remains under wraps, but these Celtic third kit concepts are worth a gander between times. 

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