Callum McGregor is my lifelong Celtic idol but I'm living Buckie Thistle dream and PRAYING I get crack at him
Marcus Goodall says ALL of his Buckie teammates want Callum McGregor's shirt but he's sure to be at the front of the queue.
He grew up wanting to be Callum McGregor. But at Celtic Park on Sunday, Marcus Goodall would love to BEAT him.
The Buckie Thistle midfielder idolised the Hoops skipper as a kid. And as a young pro at Ross County, he dreamt of emulating McGregor for Celtic and Scotland. In the David v Goliath Scottish Cup fourth round clash, Goodall will go toe-to-toe with his hero. And when the final whistle goes, there’s only one shirt he wants to get his hands on.
The 21-year-old can’t wait to test himself against the guy he rates as the best player in the country. Although, he says McGregor might struggle if he was plying his trade in the Highland League like him. Ahead of the momentous tie at Parkhead, Goodall told Record Sport: “I’m a Celtic fan through my dad, Martin. You’re just born into it, aren’t you? And I’ve certainly had no complaints in the last few years.
“He’s from Buckie and his old man didn’t even like football. So my dad and his brother picked their teams as kids. My uncle chose Aberdeen and my dad chose Celtic. He liked the kit and guys like Paul McStay. That’s what got me into it.
“I’ve been to loads of Celtic games. This season, I got down for the Atletico Madrid game in the Champions League. And I managed eight or nine home games last year, as well as getting to the Scottish Cup Final win at Hampden.
“I’m just praying Callum plays on Sunday, he’s the guy I want to go up against. For me, he’s the best midfielder in the country, if not the best player. As well as Matt O’Riley in the middle of the park. To test myself against those two - I couldn’t ask for much more than that.
“I’m more of a number eight for Buckie but I have played a few times as a number six. My lack of size isn’t ideal for that position. But Callum is proof you don’t have to be big to play in there.
“I think his ability might have something to do with it as well, right enough! He makes it look easy - although I’d like to see him in the Highland League!
“Sometimes up here, the game can pass you by when it’s going from back to front. I’ll try and get Callum’s shirt on Sunday but I’ll need to ask him early on.
“I hope he’s got about 18 or them because everyone in the Buckie team wants it! He’s the one for me because I’ve idolised him for so long. I remember when he broke through at Celtic, I wanted to be him when I was at Ross County, in terms of his style of play.”
Incredibly, Goodall is the only player in the Buckie Thistle squad who actually hails from the town. The club has rekindled his love for the game after he contemplated quitting following his County exit. And being a local boy, Goodall feels the pressure of family and friends every time he pulls on a Buckie shirt. He said: “There are a couple of guys from 20 minutes away but in terms of players from Buckie, it’s just me.
“The rest of the team is made up of boys from Inverness and Aberdeen. I know everyone in Buckie but that’s one of the best things about playing for the club.
“I’m out there in front of my family and pals. I’m representing my town, not just the club. So I’m not going to give anything less than 100 percent in every game.
“I’m probably more competitive than anyone because I see and know people in Buckie, away from football. It will be amazing to see 2,000 Buckie fans at Celtic Park. It’s special and something I genuinely thought would never happen.
“The way the town has reacted to the draw is incredible. There’s an old-style Scottish Cup fever about it. I’ve never seen anything like this happen up here before.”
Goodall has been suffering from Osteitis Pubis but injury was never going to rule him out of the game against Brendan Rodgers’ Premiership champions. While some of the Buckie players will stay in Glasgow tonight, he’ll head back up north to be at college tomorrow where he’s studying Sport and Fitness. But he plans to savour every second of the Parkhead experience, believing that miracles DO happen.
Goodall said: “This will be the best day of my career. The only thing that would top it would be to win the Highland League with Buckie. It’s something that everyone is going to remember for the rest of their lives.
“Thankfully, the injury has been OK recently. I’ve been building it up and the last month is the best it’s been. But Celtic Park is a big pitch. There aren’t many harder places to run about in! But I’d play with no legs just to be out there.
“For me to be on that stage on Sunday, it’s a chance to show what I can do. A lot of boys in our team have aspirations to play at a higher level and they can do it. The odds are stacked against us but a miracle might happen.”