Stephen Welsh claims he never got to see his dad play as he was always suspended.
Now the boot is on the other foot the old man has been given the red card from watching his boy play for Celtic by the Covid crisis.
Celtic may have endured a season to forget on the park. But for the young centre-half it was his big breakthrough and not since his debut in a 4-1 win at Hamilton just weeks before the pandemic brought world football to a halt has Welsh’s dad seen him play in the flesh.
He missed his 21 appearances last season including a first taste of an Old Firm, a European debut against AC Milan and his first goal against Motherwell in February.
But with fans finally expected to make their comeback Stephen Snr could soon be sitting inside Parkhead as the 21-year-old defender looks to take the next step under new boss Ange Postecoglou.
Welsh said: “Dad is a massive Celtic fan. He’s done everything for me since I was about seven or eight.
“He took me to training every night, having to leave work early, doing all the travelling with me. Over the last 14 years my mum and dad have done everything for me.
“I just want to pay them back and let them watch me play for Celtic which was dad’s dream as well.
“He saw my debut but he has been frustrated the full season having to watch us on TV.
“He says that’s been a nightmare – especially when I scored my first goal. He was obviously happy but he was raging he wasn’t there.
“Dad keeps me grounded. He always tells me to come in and work hard, do the basics and I’ll be okay.
“He never played professional but football has been his life so it’s been a real privilege to play here and be part of it. Dad played junior, he was a midfielder but he was sent off so often I never got to see him play much. Hopefully that’s not rubbed off on me.”
Welsh now wants to nail down a starting slot as the Postecoglou era kicks off for real with a Champions League qualifier against Midtjylland in just seven days. He said: “Every player wants to play in the Champions League games.
“It’s the highest level of club competition against the best players. We’ll go into these games looking to win and with a lot of confidence.
“They are big games early on but Callum McGregor, James Forrest and the other experienced guys are used to that. They’ve played in tough countries against tough teams.”
Welsh is likely to come up against former team-mate and mentor Erik Sviatchenko when the Danes come to town.
He said: “I was training in the Invincible season and Erik was almost a mainstay in that team. He was excellent. I’d watch him in training and then playing at the weekend. We’re a similar height as well – he wasn’t the tallest – so I could see what he did and how he used his body.
“I’m just looking forward to getting these pre-season games under my belt for match fitness then into the Champions League qualifiers and the new season.
“It’s about trying to start again. I’m still young but I need to kick on now. I’ve got a good base level. It’s the start of a new era, the gaffer has come in and been excellent so far.
“I’m really enjoying the gaffer’s training just now. He wants us to attack and play good football. That’s all you want as a Celtic player.”
.jpg?w=600)
