He’s Charlie Mulgrew…

 Broadsword reviews the Chidcare friendly Celt…

He’s Charlie Mulgrew…

Charlie Mulgrew recently made his 200^th appearance for Celtic. I think.

There’s a part of me that is in state of disbelief regarding that statement given that I saw him play against Braga. Now, I know it’s bad form to begin on a negative but that game was something else – I remember fearing that he wouldn’t make it to half time; everything he tried just didn’t come off for him – but, in a strange way, I think this game was of benefit to him. I think this proved that, despite being left-footed, he wasn’t (and still isn’t) the best left back who runs around the Campsies. No, Charlie has shown that centre back or holding in midfield are the best options for him; with an honourable mention going to left mid.

There have been more fluent career pathways. Charlie, as many will remember, was a product of our youth system. Around 2005/2006 it was suggested that he may be the elusive left back we were looking for, especially as Mo Camara was no longer funny by that point. However, there was a problem, well, so the man in the pub told me; Gordon Strachan and Charlie weren’t exchanging Christmas cards. There’s a tale that goes along the lines of Charlie being late for a bus departure. When he stumbled on to the coach (as in the mode of transport) he was fined on the spot – the story then developed into one of the senior players, and former first team coach, taking umbrage with this sanction and paying the fine of behalf of the chronologically confused Charles. I don’t know, nor necessarily think that this is an accurate version of events but it was one of many stories bouncing around at the time which suggested that we would be looking to the transfer market rather than our youth for a left back. Lee Naylor was duly purchased from Wolves and, Charlie was swapped/traded/lobbed in as part of the deal so, before we even had a chance to say hello properly he was away down South to, as I thought at the time, a career of perpetual ambiguity and relative anonymousness. This came on the back of a reasonably productive loan spell at Dundee United where the bold Charles fired in a couple of lovely free kicks which caught the collective attention for a few minutes.

Wolves, in short, just didn’t work for him. An injury at the start of his time there effectively buggered it for him. He was punted out to Southend on loan and that’s pretty much that. In 2 years in England he barely managed 25 games. If we had consigned him to the Dugald McCarrison Hall of Fame beforehand, then he was in danger of being wiped out from all memory known to the Celtic support.

Somehow Wolves managed to get someone to agree a fee for Charlie in the summer of 2008. Swindon Town offered £150,000 for his services and Wolves were more than happy to do business at that price. There was a problem however. Charlie had been an avid viewer of The Office and was naturally suspicious of the Swindon lot. He listened to his heart and declined the chance to represent one of Lou Macari’s former betting dens clubs, I definitely mean clubs. It was then that a former-moustachioed hero from the North, and I mean the North, duly arrived.

Willie Miller, as Director of Football, secured Charlie for Aberdeen for the reported sum of £80,000. I appreciate that Jimmy Calderwood was the manager of Aberdeen at the time but, having listened to him on Radio Scotland the other week I simply refuse to believe that he was entrusted with duties that went beyond scratching his own sack in time with Black Betty by Ramjam.

Charlie was a bit of a hit in the land of the eternal seagull. 2 seasons, around games and about 10 goals scored – including 2 against us in one dramatic 3-2 win where, if memory serves, we won it in the last minute thanks to a brilliant sub appearance from Aiden McGeady. Charlie actually came on as a sub in that game and his 2^nd goal, a free kick, certainly had some of us wondering…

Now for the Stuart Dougal bit. Charlie was sent off for ‘violent conduct’ towards Hun beanstalk Kyle Lafferty. Lafferty had launched into a late challenge, Charlie STOOD up to him, Lafferty threw himself down as if he had been shown Rangers’ tax returns (or lack thereof) for that financial year. Before you could think ‘that big tadger’s at it AGAIN’ Dougal had thrust his crimson Fenian expulsion device into the face of the perplexed Charles. If you ever feel that there’s a bit of anger or astonishment lacking in your life, then have a look at the incident. This was not the first time that Lafferty had performed such an act, which was topped off with a wink at a team mate, and it just so happened in a game during a tight title run in…

Aberdeen had taken a gamble in paying £80,000 for Charlie and this was reflected in the fact that they only offered him a two-year deal. It paid off and it didn’t – his performances on the pitch showed that he was worth the risk, his contract didn’t, and as the two years drew to a close there were some stories abound that he wasn’t going to prolong extend his time in the land of the itchy managerial scrotum (Calderwood was actually long gone by then).

As with all things in this wonderful internet age of rumour and loose connection I know someone who knows someone who knew someone. I had heard that our interim manager at the time was rather keen on enlisting the services of Charlie for the cause. I was not overly enamoured at hearing this and I initially dismissed it, probably because I didn’t really rate him at the time.

Then it was true – he was coming back to Celtic, free of charge. One of his first performances was at home to Braga. I thought he did well to last until half time. Just because he’s left-footed and big doesn’t mean he’s a left back; which I would still say he isn’t. Charlie had the self-belief to speak to Neil Lennon, after a number of omissions, to let him know that he was confident of doing a job. I am glad that he did because once we saw Charlie in the centre of defence, or in central midfield we saw the player that Lennon had been attracted to. He looked a different man when he thumped in a cracking free kick in the Scottish Cup final that season. His versatility makes it tricky to define his position but I think he was best suited to centre back – the last two games have served as a reminder of his competency here. In saying that, for Scotland (even though he nearly ended up playing for the USA, seriously) he’s been best in midfield but that’s a different situation altogether.

Charlie won the Players’ and the Writers’ Player of the Year awards in 2012 – deservedly so. This was the season when we were 3-0 down at Rugby Park where a great deal of chat centred around the manager’s future. Charlie headed in the equaliser that day. A few months later, at the same venue, he scored twice and set up another two in a 6-0 title clinching win; the last two goals were scored after he had been subbed. He also contributed to the long goodbye with the first goal in the 3-0 defeat of Rangers – the same mob who he had been sent off against earlier in the campaign – I still wonder what that delightful cheeky chappie japester funny guy McCoist whispered to him as he went off that day…

Before I conclude I’ll refer to one more team which seemed unlikely given the start of Charlie’s career. Barcelona. He provided two assists in one season against them (Wanyama’s goal being the product of a well-rehearsed training ground move) and probably should have stuck one past them the next. I wouldn’t be so brash as to suggest that he was their equal in the encounters but he caused them problems and I don’t think they particularly enjoyed coming up against him.

So, to round off, it would appear that Charlie is in the twilight of his time at Celtic. There is now news or, from the reliable moles I know, little prospect of Charlie extending his stay beyond this campaign. Should he go in search of that one last big payday down South then he will go with my thanks – not just for his efforts and odd moment of brilliance but also for the example he has provided. Lennoxtown may not necessarily produce the finished articles but Charlie is testament to what can happen if you go away, work hard, learn and believe in yourself. Aye, he can turn slower than snail in Barlinnie going backwards and his right foot is often there for comedy value but he’s been a good servant and he’s a right good Tim. Well done Charlie and good luck.