Ross McCormack has revealed he used to regularly attend Celtic games not too long before signing his first professional contract with Rangers.
Former Rangers kid McCormack was speaking on the latest Open Goal podcast at his home in Leeds as he discussed his career from start to finish.
After turning out for Rangers, McCormack went on to have a fantastic career in England and played for massive clubs such as Leeds United and Aston Villa.
He scored goals for fun at Elland Road and also found success at Cardiff City and London club Fulham. His goal was to reach the Premier League at some point in his career but he was never able to achieve this despite the clubs he represented.
But the podcast began right at the start of his footballing journey and just seven minutes in, McCormack admitted the unthinkable, certainly from a Rangers fan point of view.
Ross McCormack was a Celtic fan before Rangers stint
Initially asked if he was a Celtic fan growing up, McCormack replied: “Are we still rolling? Aye I was mate, I was. I had a season ticket.
“My last game we had the season ticket was St Johnstone at home when Celtic stopped Rangers getting 10-in-a-row. (Henrik) Larsson and (Harald) Brattbakk scored. So that was my last game as a season ticket (holder) as I went full-time the next year.
“I was on the pitch after that game stealing the grass and putting it in my pocket, during the pitch invasion at Parkhead. I was then 15 when I went full-time (with Rangers).
“When I was eight, I went for a trial (with Celtic) up at St Roch’s and they told me I was too small. And basically, that means you’re s****. They don’t want you. So I ended up going to Rangers.
“I think if Rangers had came in first, my dad might’ve said to wait and see if Celtic came in. But the fact I’d already been knocked back it was like, well, take the next best thing.”
McCormack went on to make Rangers debut
Going by McCormack’s admission, the ex-Scotland international would have signed for the Rangers academy just before the millennium, but would have to wait four more years before making his first-team debut.
That was against Motherwell, the team he would end up leaving Rangers for in search of regular first-team football, after replacing Mikel Arteta as a substitute. But McCormack admits he had no idea he was about to be subbed on.
He said: “I think they were 4-0 up at home to Motherwell and I thought, ‘he (Alex McLeish) might put a couple of young kids on here. So when they go 4-0 up I’m thinking, ‘c’mon, take a couple of the big hitters off and give them a rest.’
“But you never actually know and I got the call when I was warming up. The assistant manager Andy Watson shouted down but it was that loud that you couldn’t hear him. You assume it’s one of the first-team players.
“I’ve turned round and said, ‘he’s shouting you’. But Andy Watson (waved his finger) and I think I got the last fifteen minutes and came on for Arteta.”
