When he turns up at Dalymount Park on a Friday night in April he’ll be ready for it. Whether it’s dog’s abuse from the stands, coins raining in on him, whatever. It won’t bother Liam Burt.
He knew that joining Shamrock Rovers from fierce Dublin rivals, Bohemians, wouldn’t go down well. The first derby fixture of the new Irish season is already marked down on his calendar. But he’ll handle it. Because, let’s face it, when you’re from Glasgow and you've dared to join Celtic directly from Rangers? There’s NOTHING that’s going to faze you.
Very few players have represented both sides of the Old Firm divide. But to actually sign for one of them after leaving the other? No-one does that. Burt didn’t manage to achieve his dream of playing for Celtic’s first-team. But having already featured at Ibrox as a highly-rated youngster under ex-gaffer Mark Warburton, it was a courageous move.
And it had sickening consequences. As a result of moving to Parkhead in 2019, Burt was abused online and in-person.
Threats were made to harm him physically. His girlfriend, Lauren, was also targeted. And he received vile Internet messages from trolls who wished cancer on his family.
What he went through has made him and those around him stronger. He’s not a promising kid any more. He’s a major signing for Shamrock Rovers, a club who were in the group stages of the Europa Conference League last season.
At 23, he’s ready to ignite his career. And instead of worrying about a return to Bohemians in a few months - he’s relishing it.
Speaking for the first time about leaving Rangers and signing for Celtic, Burt said: “I took a lot of stick and it became a bigger deal than I ever thought it would be.
“I knew I’d get a bit of abuse. That’s just football, especially when you go from Rangers to Celtic. But I didn’t think it would be as bad as it was.
“On Twitter and Instagram, I got a lot of messages from people. When I look back, seeing all that has actually given me a thicker skin now.
“My mum and dad were worried about me. Lauren is actually a Rangers supporter so it wasn’t nice for her either.
“People on Twitter knew that so they tried to give her a bit of stick as well. She ended up arguing with Rangers fans, even though she is one!
“I didn’t expect the level it got to. It was mostly on social media but a couple of times when I was in town, people came up to me.
“It wasn’t that bad in person. But I was in a supermarket one day with Lauren and we walked past someone. I heard something like: ‘That’s Liam Burt, wee b*****d’.
“On social media some of the messages were horrible. Most of the time I wouldn’t reply. But there were a few wishing cancer on my family members.
“That’s a terrible thing to say to anybody. If it’s abuse directed at me, I wouldn’t mind so much.
“But to say something like that, about a disease that affects so many people around the world, it took me back. There was some personal stuff, like getting told I was going to get battered. I didn’t care too much about that. But the other stuff was a bit much.”
So how did it happen? At 16, Burt was regarded by Rangers and Warburton as a future first-team player. He made two appearances off the bench in the Championship in their title winning campaign.
And the following year, he made his top flight debut as a sub against Hearts before Warburton left for Nottingham Forest. But a hip injury curtailed his progress.
By the time, Graeme Murty, Pedro Caixinha and Steven Gerrard had all been in the Ibrox dug-out, Burt’s contract was up. With hindsight, he probably should have joined Hibs.
But he has no regrets about trying to make the grade at Celtic. He said: “I knew it was significant, going directly from Rangers to Celtic.
“But I didn’t think about it too much at the time. I didn’t enjoy the last four or five months at Ibrox. The drive wasn’t really there. I wasn’t enjoying football as much.
“Maybe going to Hibs, who offered me a deal, would have been a better move. But I support Celtic. Even if I wasn’t playing for the first-team, I knew I would enjoy training there every day.
“It was a challenge to try and make it there. I went to Celtic chasing my dream. I felt brave to do it and knew it was a massive task.
“I always knew how tough it would be to break in. I had the likes of Scott Brown to compete with. The team were going for nine-in-a-row. Brendan Rodgers had left and Neil Lennon took over.
“But it was the team I’d supported. And I suppose the abuse that came hurt a bit less because of it.
“It would probably have been worse going from Celtic to Rangers because most of my pals are Celtic fans. I don’t regret doing it. Not making an appearance was disappointing.
“But as a learning curve, it has matured me. I’ve learned not to pay attention to criticism on social media.
“If it’s from people who care and matter, or people I respect, that’s different. Unfortunately, Glasgow can be like that when it comes to Rangers and Celtic.
“It’s a fierce rivalry. People can get caught in that cesspit, on both sides. They can be as good as each other - and as bad as each other at times.”
When it comes to returning to Dalymount Park as a Shamrock Rovers player, it might not be as toxic. But Burt is prepared for the heat coming his way, as he attempts to take his game - and career - to another level.
He said: “Going from Bohs to Rovers didn’t bother me too much after what I went through after leaving Rangers. The fans loved me there and wanted me to stay.
“So to sign for Rovers, I knew I’d get stick again. But moving from Rangers to Celtic definitely made the abuse easier to deal with.
“When I go to Bohemians in April, I’ll feel it. I’ve played in this derby before on the other side so I know the atmosphere.
“There’s been a few incidents, like coins being thrown and stuff like that. But that happens everywhere. I don’t mind the booing and people not liking me.
“That’s football. If you can’t deal with it or don’t thrive in it, you shouldn’t be playing. It makes you a better player and a better person. It certainly has with me.
“This move can really help me kick on and fulfil the potential I showed at Rangers. joining Rovers, I can only go up a level again. I’ve got a drive to achieve things and play European football.
“I want to move forward in my life and career now. I’m not here to amble around. I want to win trophies, cups and play in Europe. If I do that, I’ll get an even bigger name than I had a few years ago."
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