Former Celtic winger Paddy Roberts was interviewed in the matchday programme as his new club Birmingham City faced Hull City in the English Championship…
Patrick Roberts
Ryan Giles holds off Patrick Roberts during the Championship match between Birmingham City and Hull City at St Andrew’s on October 18, 2025 in Birmingham. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Roberts was a late signing by Birmingham City boss Chris Davies on deadline day when the Midlands club finally lost patience with Celtic as they tried to finalise a £3m deal for South Korean winger Yang…
Yang sums up our day at Dens Park
Yang sums up our day at Dens Park. Dundee v Celtic. 19 October 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
Paddy spoke about his early career at Fulham, his move to Manchester City and missing out on the chance to work under Pep Guardiola when he arrived at the club due to his being out on loan at Celtic.
And the Birmingham City winger has very fond memories of his time in Glasgow, talking about playing some of the best football of his career working under Brendan Rodgers at Celtic.
Paddy Roberts and Kieran Tierney
Paddy Roberts and Kieran Tierney after the Scottish Cup Final win over Aberdeen at Hampden in May 2017. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
“I had gone out on loan to Celtic in the January just before he came in, but it was an 18-month loan, so I missed the first pre-season that he was there at City,” Paddy Roberts explained in his interview with the official Birmingham City website.
“But I played against City that season in the Champions League, and then from there, I was hoping that when I went back in the summer, I would maybe get a chance. But obviously, with the levels they went to, it was hard to get a look in there. The spending they made and the players they brought in, it was difficult, but I got some good loans out of my time there that helped me develop,” Paddy admitted.
Paddy Roberts celebrates
Paddy Roberts celebrates scoring For Celtic against Hearts at Celtic Park on 29 January 2017. Photo Getty Images
And none more so than his first loan away from Manchester City when he joined Celtic with all the pressures that come with that, something Roberts reckons isn’t really understood south of the border.
“With Celtic, people here maybe never quite understand what comes with that, but there is pressure to win every game. (the)Rangers came back to the top division in my first year there, so you had the derby game, which you have to win, then there is the expectation to win the league and the cups, and to do well in the Champions League.
“It is not a place where you go and if you lose a game, they accept it! You have to win game after game.
That was where I got my first taste of the importance of that and where I learnt that real desire to win every game.
Paddy Roberts scored
Paddy Roberts scores for Celtic.Man City v Celtic, 6 December 2016, Photo Vagelis Georgariou
“That’s a good thing to get at a young age and I think that gets factored into the development of young players a lot more now, getting them out to play under pressure. You need to get all the experience you can from wherever you play, because getting into men’s football early is always beneficial.”
Birmingham City of course are these days managed by Chris Davies, who was assistant manager to Brendan Rodgers at Celtic during Roberts’ 18-month spell at the club and that connection played a significant role in his transfer deadline day decision to leave newly promoted Sunderland for Birmingham.
Michael Nicholson and Chris McKay
Michael Nicholson and Chris McKay. Dundee v Celtic. 19 October 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
Ironically that move appears to have come about due to the Celtic Board failing to agree the transfer of Yang as the window entered its final few hours. There were stories of Michael Nicholson not taking Birmingham’s calls and eventually Chris Davies had enough and moved for his own second option, a player he already knew very well. Paddy Roberts.
Roberts talked about working with the management team of Brendan Rodgers and Chris Davies during his time at Celtic.
Paddy Robers scores
Patrick Roberts scores Celtic’s first goal past Willy Cabellero of Manchester City (L) during the UEFA Champions League Group C match at Etihad Stadium on December 6, 2016. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
“Brendan Rodgers was fantastic. He was known for bringing in young players at Liverpool and then when he came into Celtic, he still looked to do that whenever he could. Chris Davies was there as well. He was starting out in his first assistant role, and he was great to work for. He was really good with me, and I learnt a lot from both of them and the players at Celtic. I really enjoyed my time there, it was some of the best football I’ve played.”
Best of luck to Paddy and the rest of the former Celtic gang down at Birmingham City.
Celtic in the Thirties in Two Volumes – Brilliantly researched and written by Matt Corr. An unmissable addition to any Celtic bookshelf. Click on the image below to order your copies…
Celtic in the Thirties, Vol 1 & 2
Celtic in the Thirties, Vol 1 & 2 by Matt Corr. Published by Celtic Star Books – Click on image to order
Celtic in the Thirties, available from Celtic Star Books. Click on image to order your copies...
Celtic in the Thirties by Celtic Historian Matt Corr is published in two volumes by Celtic Star Books. Click on image to order your copies…
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