Historic records keep coming for Celtic legend James Forrest

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The Celtic Star

·22 de diciembre de 2025

Historic records keep coming for Celtic legend James Forrest

The historic records just keep coming for James Forrest…

Celtic Curio

His most recent goal means that he has now scored for the Bhoys in a remarkable 17 successive seasons. This builds on season 24-25 when reached the 500-game mark, and also became the Celts’ most decorated player. So many of Forrest’s goals have played a vital part in Celtic’s recent success, including those that helped win crucial league games or claim a quadruple Treble. And it all goes back to his very first goal, a debut strike as Celtic beat Motherwell 4-0 in 2010.

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Celtic players celebrate the third goal by James Forrest. Celtic v Aberdeen, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 21 December 2025. Photo Mark Runnacles IMAGO/Shutterstock

Scoring in so many successive seasons is a remarkable achievement, and it is a list which naturally features some of the most renowned figures in Celtic history.

At the very head of the list for scoring in consecutive seasons is Jimmy McMenemy. ‘Napoleon’ managed to get his name on the scoresheet from 1902-03 until 1919-20, a phenomenal 18 seasons.

Celtic’s Napoleon Jimmy McMenemy, image by Celtic Curio for Celtic in the Thirties, available at Celticstarbooks.com

McMenemy’s trophy haul at the club was hugely impressive, and he even continued this after leaving, helping Partick Thistle win their only Scottish Cup by beating Rangers. He later became a coach and then assistant manager at Parkhead.

With 17 seasons, James Forrest is now in joint second in the club’s all-time records, alongside Bobby Lennox. Another Ayrshire man, Lennox first found the net for Celtic in 1963-64. His final goal came in 1979-80, despite actually leaving Celtic for a few months in 1978 to go to America.

Bobby Lennox, pictured at Barrowfield in pre-season 1975. Photo: The Celtic Star, digitised in 2023 courtesy of prints supplied by former Celtic Director Tom Grant.

Lennox’s place in Celtic history is assured, given his status as a Lisbon Lion and member of the team through the famous nine-in-a-row run from 1966 to 1974.

Forrest’s goal means he has now moved ahead of two other club legends who sit in joint third place for scoring in successive season (16 each): Jimmy McGrory and Paul McStay.

Jimmy McGrory, image Celtic Curio

McGrory’s Celtic goals – which made him Celtic’s all-time record scorer – came between 1922-23 and 1937-38. He actually spent the 1923-24 season on loan at Clydebank, although at the very end returned to play and score for Celtic in the Charity Cup.

McGrory scored an amazing 550 career goals, in 547 games. Even more impressively, only one of these was a penalty.

After retirement, he went on to manage Kilmarnock and then Celtic from 1945 until 1965, enjoying notable managerial moments such as the 7-1 victory in the 1957 League Cup Final, and winning the 1953 Coronation Cup.

Paul McStay is from the very definition of a Celtic family. His great-uncles Willie and Jimmy played for the club, with Jimmy also managing Celtic. Paul’s brothers Willie and Raymond were also on Celtic’s books too.

Paul McStay scoring at Ibrox in 1988. Photo The Celtic Wiki

He first scored in 1980-81 and then did so every year until 1995-96. McStay is considered to be one of the club’s finest players, who chose to remain in Hoops for his entire career until sadly injury forced his early retirement. Other players near the top of Celtic’s successive scoring records are, unsurprisingly, a Who’s Who of famous club names.

In joint sixth place – having scored across 15 successive seasons – are found the ‘Croy Express’ Jimmy Quinn and Patsy Gallacher.

Jimmy Quinn

Jimmy Quinn’s goalscoring exploits are well-remembered, and he was also the first Celt to score a Scottish Cup Final hat-trick, and one of only two Celtic players to do so. Patsy Gallacher is best remembered for his tricky skills, but he was a prominent goalscorer too.

Patsy Gallacher, Celtic legend. Image by Celtic Curio

Coming up next – on 14 seasons – are Andy McAtee and, perhaps surprisingly, Roy Aitken. The ‘Bear’ was not a renowned scorer but did enough – including a penalty one season – to make joint eighth place on the list. These took place between 1976-77 until he left Celtic during the 1989-90 season.

Andy McAtee, Celtic FC, Photo The Celtic Wiki

Andy McAtee was a Celtic forward hero in the World War One era. From 1910-11 to 1923-24, he consistently found the net for the club, including a goal in the Scottish Cup Final.

Roy Aitken celebrates. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Following these men – on 13 seasons – are early Celtic hero Sandy McMahon and the man voted the club’s ‘Greatest ever player’, Jimmy Johnstone. They are just ahead of Stevie Chalmers, John Hughes and Adam McLean on 12.

Another man on 12 seasons achieved this record in the present season. Celtic captain Callum McGregor has scored more than once and he could feasibly play for the club for years to come, meaning he may well rise even further up the list.

McGregor is now ahead of Bobby Murdoch and Bertie Peacock, who both found the net for the Hoops in 11 successive seasons.

Other players have scored in multiple seasons – but not all in a row. Billy McNeill, Tommy Burns and Scott Brown all managed 13 seasons in total, but Burns and Brown did it ten successive times, whilst McNeill’s record was nine. Still, that’s not bad for a centre half!

21.12.2025 Celtic v Aberdeen, Scottish Premiership. James Forrest scores for Celtic 3-1. Photo Kenny Ramsay IMAGO

Jimmy McMenemy’s record of 18 consecutive seasons is unlikely to ever be beaten. Forrest’s contract expires this season, and so it may be that he has to settle for joint second place in this list. However, he could feasibly yet have the chance to emulate McMenemy.

Whatever happens, all the players named in this feature have more than made their mark in Celtic history. Frankly, in line with most fans’ wishes, it would have been great to have done it even once!

Matthew Marr

Follow Matthew on X @hailhailhistory

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