'The Story Of' is a web series dedicated to small but special tales from Celtic’s illustrious history. Here, Aiden McGeady reflects on Tommy Burns' influence on he and James Forrest's Celtic paths.

AIDEN McGeady marked his debut in Celtic’s senior side with a goal. A product of the club’s coveted youth academy, the then 18-year-old announced his arrival with a first half strike in a 1-1 draw with Hearts at Tynecastle on April 25. 2004.

Just over six years later, James Forrest would walk a similar path when, also aged 18, the winger made his first senior side appearance and also hit the target on May 1, 2010. That afternoon – during a 4-1 win over Motherwell at Paradise – Forrest replaced McGeady as a second half substitute.

Getting your name on the scoresheet isn’t a pre-requisite for developing stars making their break at senior level at Celtic, but it does speak to a deep-seated hunger and desire that’s specially cultivated behind the scenes at the club’s Lennoxtown Training Facility, and Barrowfield before it.

Not only did McGeady and James both blaze similar trails through the club’s junior ranks, they were both heavily inspired by Tommy Burns in their formative years.

“When James replaced me that afternoon, I spoke to him in the dressing room and said congratulations – as you do when any young player makes their debut,” said McGeady, speaking in James Forrest’s Celtic biography, Homegrown Hero. “That’s a big moment for them, and I remember that same experience fondly myself six years earlier. For him to come on and score, that’s even better.

“If we’re looking at Celtic Academy boys, I managed to score on my debut, James, of course, did the same, and Callum McGregor did the same a few years after that again. Every player that comes through the Celtic Academy wants to be a first-team player, it’s as simple as that, and scoring goals is a good way to help force that.”

The Story of… Tommy’s key role in James and Aiden's Celtic paths