*Celebration time; Brian Vaugh (centre) is surrounded by
his Celtic team mates after scoring for the club *Celebration time; Brian Vaugh (centre) is surrounded by
his Celtic team mates after scoring for the club
Brian Vaugh hopes that two imminent developments will catapult him into the Celtic limelight, writes Anthony Neeson.
One is the appointment of a new head coach at the club and the other is the U21 club league which starts in Scotland next season. Both, he believes, should raise his profile and he is ready to deliver.
From the age of 14 the Ormeau Road lad has been at Parkhead. After having been spotted by the club playing for Rosario Youth Club in the Down and Connor League he was asked over for a series of trials. At 16 he signed as a professional.
Now three years on, he has just spent his most successful season to date with the Glasgow club playing 25 reserve league games and scoring two goals, as well as playing alongside fellow Belfast Celts, Gerry Crossley and Gerry Lyttle in a formidable midfield. The left sided midfielder also played in a Glasgow Cup game, scoring once. The versatile Vaugh has also played at full-back for Celtic during the course of the season.
Back in Belfast after a long hard season the 19-year-old is expected back at the club on 25 June for pre-season training and hopefully a crack at the first team. With Wim Jansen at the helm last season none of the fringe players at the club got a chance of first team football. Brian hopes that's about to change.
"The season went really well but I'd need to keep at it to impress the new boss," said Brian. "I've been training very hard at the club and I'm under no illusions of what I need to do to make the first team.
"Celtic is a massive club and there is a lot of competition for places but I hope that I impressed the right people last season and go on from there. The first team players at the club are all down to earth and look after the younger players and they set a good example for us to follow."
Wim Jansen's last game in charge of Celtic was in Portugal against Sporting Lisbon, Brian travelled with the players who had just been crowned Scottish champions and was on the bench for that match. If he continues with his present upward curve at the club his days playing in the reserves may be numbered, it's clear the club are impressed with what they've seen to date.
Doug Vaugh, England 20 April 2000 Copies page Home Back to Geneaolgy