News

What has Andy Burnham previously said about Celtic after he is appointed Prime Minister

Add as preferred source on Google

There is a new Prime Minister in town.

On Monday, Andy Burnham was officially unveiled as the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom following the resignation of Keir Starmer.

For Celtic supporters who don’t know, there is a connection between the new man at the top of UK politics and the champions of Scotland.

Burnham, who grew up in Merseyside, is a boyhood Everton fan, but he is also a supporter of Celtic, as he shared in a recent interview with FourFourTwo.

What do you make of Martin O’Neill’s constant defence of the Celtic board? 🤔🍀

Share us your thoughts, Celtic fans 👇🍀

Andy Burnham says his upbringing meant that he supported Everton and Celtic

Celtic fans sing ‘You Will Never Walk Alone’, and it’s a song that also has deep connections with Liverpool.

That’s the only sticking point for Burnham, given his Everton roots, and how he ‘struggles’ with that part of supporting the Hoops.

Other than that, Burnham made it clear that his ‘upbringing’ meant that he was always going to support Everton and Celtic.

“I’m a lone campaigner for Everton and Celtic being the true and original partnership,” Burnham told FourFourTwo in June.

“My upbringing was, ‘This is the clubs you support’. When I see this cult and love-in with the other lot (Liverpool) and ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’, I struggle with that.

“There’s a photo of Pat Van Den Hauwe (ex-Everton, Spurs and Wales defender) with a Celtic ski hat- that was my hat; I gave it to him as he went to collect the cup. I used to have the split Everton and Celtic ski hat, and I had a full Celtic hat as well.

“For me, it was always Everton and Celtic, and links going back with players like Bobby Collins. John Collins also played for both clubs.

“There were at least as many Rangers/Liverpool supporter hats as Celtic/Liverpool. I remember going to a friendly at Celtic Park with Everton, that was a great day.”

Celtic v Kilmarnock
Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Notable players who have represented Celtic and Everton

Burnham mentioned John Collins, who played for both Celtic and Everton in his career.

Collins was well-loved in Glasgow, including winning the Scottish Cup, as 67 Hail Hail put forward the notable names to have represented both clubs.

You have some high-quality players on this list, as well as some who fell flat on their faces during their stints at Parkhead.

From the no-nonsense and loud Thomas Gravesen to the injury-prone James McCarthy.