Calum Gallagher grew up a Celtic fan but playing for Rangers gave him the biggest high he’s ever experienced in football.

The 30-year-old, now plying his trade with Arbroath, spent five years at Ibrox and played a small part in the club’s journey from the Third Division to 55.

He may have only pulled on the light blue jersey a handful of times but it’s a handful of times more than many could ever dream of and Gallagher says he was fortunate to have been afforded the opportunity to turn out in Royal Blue.

He would feature in numerous Old Firm derbies as he progressed through the youth ranks and he admits he was swept up in the ferocity of the fixture - despite his childhood leanings.

He said: “Growing up a Celtic fan, it was interesting seeing the other side, probably most notably for me, it was amazing how quickly you get caught up in the rivalry. I remember playing in Old Firm games and absolutely hating the youth teams of Celtic. You just get caught up in them easily.

“The week before you’d be training towards it, there’d be a real buzz about the place, training always seemed to get amped up, it was more heightened, there was more focus. There was more direction in terms of how we were looking to play. The energy and the excitement can carry over and on the day you see the Celtic boys arrive and your mind wanders.

“You feel it, you feel the heat. You just impose ideas on these guys in different coloured jerseys, ‘Ah, look at them!’ and they’re probably thinking the exact same thing.

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“There’s probably half a dozen in their changing room who are Rangers fans who would probably say the same thing in our direction.

“I went to a Catholic school growing up and I remember one shout from a Celtic boy calling me a 'Proddy Bastard!’ As a man now, it is quite funny to look back at how overwhelming the rivalry can be. It’s really quite gripping and even from someone who grew up a Celtic fan, I surprised myself.

"Even my dad would say the same thing. He would find himself arguing with Celtic fans at the games so it’s funny to look back on it now, but it certainly wasn’t at the time.

“I joined Rangers when I was 16. I got picked up from a Scottish Cup game with my school and I did my first year part-time before getting full-time offers.

“I was told by Jim Sinclair who was in charge of the youth at the time that I wasn’t going to get a deal at the end of the season and because of that, I had feelers out everywhere. I think I actually went and trained with Celtic and they were interested in me. This was just before the Glasgow Cup final we were due to play.

“I started as a sub in the cup final, came on and did really well. Then at the end of the game Jim Sinclair said to me, ‘Listen, I’ve made a mistake, we’d like to offer you a deal.’

“Because I felt so comfortable and I got on with everybody, it was an easy decision to pick Rangers and to stay.

Gallagher todayGallagher today (Image: Ross Parker - SNS Group) “It’s a massive club and it’s the best education you can get in the country so I was just delighted as was everyone in my family as well.

“It was always a case of uncles, my brother and my dad getting a teasing every now and again but it was all good-natured and fun but they couldn’t have been happier and neither could I.

“I found myself getting so swept away with it but now being removed from the Old Firm, I’m not exactly neutral but when I watch the games I can actually watch the football and I don’t watch it through tinted glass.

“I’ve still got a real soft spot for Rangers. They gave me my football education so I really look forward to Old Firm games because I can just enjoy the game.

“Whoever is playing best on the day it’s quite easy to say, ‘Well yeah, they deserved it,’ so it’s ended up quite a nice balance that I’ve got.”