CRAIG Gordon anticipated his arrival at Celtic would, due to his previous spell with their bitter rivals Hearts and the fact he had been sidelined for over two years with a career-threatening injury, not meet with the universal approval of their supporters.
Yet, it was driven home to the goalkeeper just how much he would have to impress in order to be accepted by fans of the Parkhead club when he was given an earful of abuse before he had actually played in a competitive match.
“I travelled with the team to the first game in Europe away in Iceland,” he recalled of the trip to play KR Reykjavik in the first leg of the Champions League second qualifying round last July.
“I stepped off the bus and I got a bit of stick - for coming up for a corner in a game for Hearts against Celtic many years ago! It was a nice welcome to the club!”
The fact Gordon had gone upfield in an attempt to snatch a late equaliser for Hearts in the penultimate league game of the 2004/05 season at Tynecastle as Celtic were striving to win the Scottish title – and had not done so against their Old Firm rivals Rangers – resulted in all sorts of spurious allegations.
The startled player, though, recovered from his harsh introduction to his new club’s followers and then some. It was an indication of how well the Scotland internationalist acquitted himself last season that, 10 months down the line, the individual who chastised him had changed his tune somewhat.
“The same guy asked for my strip at the end of the season so I must have turned him round a little bit,” he said. “I gave the guy my shirt – I don’t hold a grudge.
"I'm pretty sure most of the Celtic support weren't overly enamoured with my signing in the first place. In a way, that gave me great motivation to go and prove people wrong, prove I could still play at that level.
“To be honest, I used it to my advantage. That is what you have got to do. If you let it bother you then you can go the other way and perform worse. It was extra motivation to go out and prove everyone wrong. As time went on, the fans got behind me and the team and supported me really well.”
Gordon was an important member of Ronny Deila’s side as they won the Premiership for the fourth consecutive season, defeated Dundee United to lift the League Cup and reached the knockout stages of the Europa League. His inspired form resulted in him being recalled by his country and playing for the national team in three friendly internationals.
The 32-year-old, who this week signed a contract extension which will keep him at Celtic until 2018, will feel more involved when the league flag is unfurled before the game against Ross County this afternoon than he did before his made his debut against St. Johnstone in the corresponding fixture last year.
“I was out on the pitch for the last one and didn’t feel as if I should be there having not played any part in the previous season’s achievement,” he said. “So it will be nice to go out this time and know that I had a part to play and contributed towards the winning of it. Hopefully we can put on a good performance to start the league campaign off.”
Gordon is determined to improve upon his form with Celtic last season both domestically and in Europe. Given how well the former Hearts and Sunderland man performed for the Glasgow club on his return to competitive action it would be no surprise if he achieved his aims.
“I have set myself a new, higher set of goals than last season,” he said. “I will start again, try to get better and see where that takes me. I try to play at the highest level I possibly can, and try and help the team to qualify for the Champions League.
“We still have a very difficult second leg to come. Qarabag showed at times at Celtic Park that they are technically a very good side. I think we’re in for a right test when we go across there."
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