Former Celtic winger Craig Bellamy has glistened over the Hoops support as he reflected on his “immense” loan spell back in the 2004/05 campaign.
The Hoops signed Bellamy on loan from Newcastle United in January 2005, and he went on to make a fine impact. The Welshman netted 9 goals in 15 during his time up north before heading back to Newcaslte in the summer [Wiki].
In the end, it would prove to be a period to forget given how we lost the league title on the final day to Motherwell. However, it did end on a bright note for Bellamy as he went back down the road with the Scottish Cup secured.
He’s been discussing his time at Parkhead in an interview with The Central Club, where he couldn’t speak highly enough of the Celtic support as he poked fun at fellow ex-Celt Joe Ledley:
“I done well at Celtic, I had a good period there at Celtic, I found it comfortable. It’s immense. Honestly, it’s like you go to away grounds and they take over. I love Joe Ledley and he had about 4 or 5 years there. But I did more in 6 months than he did in those full 5 years, I tell him that every single time!
“I had a good team there as well though. We won a cup up and lost the league on the last day which was nuts.”
Still plenty of positive memories from Craig Bellamy’s time at Celtic
Yes it was sour how it all ended in terms of the league, but we won’t go into that. There were still plenty of positive memories that Celtic fans are still able to cherish from Bellamy’s time at the club.
Who could ever remember his fantastic bullet of a finish at Ibrox in that crucial Glasgow derby clash? Or his blistering hat-trick at Tannadice? What about the spectacular volleyed winner at home to Aberdeen that gave us a 5-point lead over Rangers at the time?
The only regret is that he didn’t stay for longer. But given how his career panned out after his time at Parkhead, you can understand his decision. Bellamy went on to play for Blackburn, Liverpool, West Ham United, and Manchester City before finally moving to his hometown club in Cardiff City.
There was even speculation that he could’ve rejoined the Hoops back in 2010 after Neil Lennon was given the managerial job permanently [The Guardian]. However, it never came to fruition and Bellamy instead lived his dream of playing with Cardiff.
It’s scary to think the impact Bellamy could’ve made here had he stayed for a longer period. He would’ve almost certainly become a long-term hero and a name still mentioned regularly around Parkhead today. The fact his 2005 loan spell is still occasionally mentioned goes to show what he did that year.
It’s just a shame we never managed to see him back in the green-and-white given the undoubted quality he had.
In other news, Dundee sack James McPake just 4 days before Celtic Park trip
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