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Fullname: Leigh Griffiths
aka: Thumbheid, Sparky, The Tunnock Teacake Kid, Griff
Born: 20 August 1990
Birthplace: Leith, Edinburgh
Signed: 31 January 2014 (from Wolves, est £1m)
Loan: 31 August 2021 (on loan to Dundee for season)
Left: 31 January 2022 (free agent, moved to Falkirk)
Position: Forward, Striker, Centre-forward
Debut: Celtic 1-2 Aberdeen, Scottish Cup 5th Round, 8 February 2014
Squad No.: 29
Internationals: Scotland
International Caps: 22
International Goals: 4
Biog
| “There are still people out there doubting me and saying that I can’t do this and that. But I keep shutting people up.” Leigh Griffiths (Aug 2018) |
He was arriving a young man with a lot of baggage. He was seen as potentially another Derek Riordan problem (both were former Hibs players), and Celtic didn’t need a repeat set of problems as occurred with Riordan.
Leigh Griffiths was young, he’d made some bad mistakes (including a daft racist tweet at one time prior to his time at Celtic) and now here he had to learn and make up for the past, and the shambles that had become Derek Riordan’s career should have been a warning to him. Riordan had actually quipped in a previous interview that:
“I was his hero growing up and I’m flattered.”
His advisers helped him post his first public statements well enough:
“To come to the biggest club in Scotland is the biggest honour you can get.”
As a player he didn’t have an athletic build or was tall, and he was average in build but it was his skill & awareness that were his best attributes. His pace was good albeit exceptional, but his drive was what helped him get the goals. An old school Scottish striker who just knew how to put it into the back of the net. Some Hibs fans have argued that he’s the best finisher they’ve seen at their club, an admittedly lower bar relative to Celtic but still highlighted his quality. He just had this knack for scoring quality goals that belied what you could only see on the surface.
2013-2014
Looking already aged beyond his years on his arrival (no surprise taking in what he had already been through in his personal life to date), his debut was an uncomfortable one as Celtic lost 2-1 in the Cup to a resurgent Aberdeen. It was Celtic’s first defeat for months, but Leigh was not at fault. Subbed on late, he actually put in more effort in that match than most of the rest of the attack that day. Made up with it by scoring in his full Celtic Park debut (but then saw the goal chopped off). He finally scored in his next match v Hearts and he didn’t half celebrate that moment, rubbing it into the Hearts fans (no surprise from the man who was always going to be a Hibbee at heart).
The critics had turned their volume down until it he decided to blow it all up with a characteristic piece of stupidity. Having only been at the club for a short time, after scoring his first goal v Hearts, he ended up creating a fracas whilst back amongst old Hibs mates in a pub conducting a sing song of ‘Rudi Skacel is a refugee’ (aimed at a Hearts player). Crude, offensive and against the tenants of Celtic (and strictly should also be for Hibs too). It was made clear to him in no uncertain terms from the general support that this was unacceptable, although some others were too easily forgiving. He really knew how to shoot himself in the foot.
Many of the Celtic support wanted him papped out, but the problem was that the club was at a bit of a tightened with any cashflow, and in fairness he was more stupid than anything else. He wasn’t advocating anything inflammatory but had to accept responsibility. He slowly did but could have done more quickly to dampen down some emotions. What he ended up in the middle of was some crude boorish football fan behaviour, not some far-right rally or meeting. Just idiotic football fans singing a daft song whose bark didn’t even register (not that anyone of this site in any way condones it).
At heart, he seemed to rather wish to be back at the simplicity of Hibs, which typically showed a lack of ambition and drive (or insecurity) when considering that Hibs had been relegated to the second tier. It was unravelling for him but it was early days. Rumours after the summer 2014 transfer window continued that he was to go down the divisions on loan to Hibs (currently in the second tier). He stayed at Celtic, and with his much talked about hair transplant, it was hoped he was to be a new player & person.
He continued to play in the face of the off-field trouble and finished the season with 7 goals in 13 league matches, which included a wonderful hat-trick against Inverness CT.
Deila Era
2014-2015
Griffiths started the season under new boss Ronny Deila playing right-wing against KR Reykjavik of Iceland, despite the 5-0 aggregate win he did not impress in this role. His first league goal of the season came against former club Dundee, rescuing a 1-1 draw. He would only score 2 Premiership goals in the first half of the campaign (against both Dundee clubs, and we won neither match!), although he did come off the bench to score twice in a 6-0 League Cup win over Partick Thistle.
During the first half of the season overall he played very little, mostly making sub appearances here and there, many believed he was on the way out of the club as he and a few others struggled to adapt to Ronny Deila’s methods.
2015 had arrived and it seemed like a new dawn for Leigh, starting with a goal in the 4-0 win over Motherwell on the 21st of January, he went on a run of 4 goals in 5 games. This including the opening goal in a 2-0 win over Sevco in the League Cup semi-final at Hampden. If any match signalled a turn for the better then it was in this match. First ever meeting between the two, and Leigh Griffiths has the honour of having scored the inaugural goal. His emotions after scoring showed his pride, and his good performance conveyed that he was finally beginning to screw the nut.
In March he scored a crucial equaliser in the Scottish Cup against Dundee United and also scored in the replay, an easy 4-0 win. During a match against Kilmarnock in April he came off the bench to score a sublime hat-trick with the game tied at 1-1 and repeated the feat 3 games later, scoring all 3 in a 3-0 win over Dundee United. His goal against Inverness on the final day of the season brought his tally to 20 and cemented his place as Celtic’s top scorer for the season, a feat none thought possible 6 months previously.
If anything, the ‘Rudi Skacel’ incident may have inadvertently become a blessing for Griffiths. After that farce he kept his head down, heeded the manager’s words and knuckled down to training. Out of all of Deila’s players he was the player who seemed to have progressed the furthest and the results were obvious in his physical conditioning and the results. The Skacel affair gave him a reason to cut many old ties with Hibs and the Neanderthals in their support, and Celtic were to reap the rewards.
As his attitude improved the rewards came with it in goals and medals, but also the quality of his finishing too. It was a delight to see a reformed character succeed and reflected well on the club and the new management in particular. To have sold their initially criticised methods on to Leigh Griffiths with the results there for all to see was a major coup.
He hadn’t lost his cheeky edge. Once when a sub in a match in April 2015, the cameras panned on him to find him sneakily taking out a Tunnocks Teacake and gobbling it out of sight the coaches. All laughed, and he earned a nickname of the Tunnocks Teacake Kid.
Despite his respectable return at domestic level, he was found to be less effective in European competition. He played nine matches combined in Champions League qualifying and the Europa League, with a return of zero goals, although he could be considered unfortunate against Romanian side Astra Giorgiou, after having what seemed a perfectly good goal ruled out. Potential grievances aside it just seemed like European football was just a level too far above Leigh Griffiths at this time, much like other forwards in the side, at 24 he had time on his side to improve however.
2015-16
This was his season. A coming of age.
Manager Ronny Deila was having a poor run, overseeing a Celtic side collapse in Europe, fail in the domestic cups and struggle to get over the line in the league. Yet if there were any positives then one of the very few was Leigh Griffiths who helped rescue Deila’s bacon on many an occasion. If anything then he was carrying the team, something that was not expected from him. It was actually a disappointing season for Celtic in performances, but the first team still won the league and Griffiths was one of the heroes.
Scoring 40 goals was way beyond anyone’s expectations, and the quality and consistency was surprising. He was setting levels of scoring that had not been seen since the days of Larsson.
He had moved on from his earlier foibles and was now developing, and was one of the bulwarks in the side to take Celtic to the league title. He was falling in love with Celtic and the support with him, but he was still a work in progress.
Whilst his manager floundered, Leigh Griffiths grew. His quality of goals was high, his work rate was improving, and he was one of the few who seemed to actually benefit over the longer term from the input from the Deila coaching staff.
Deila also owed Leigh Griffiths much, and will look back on him fondly for his commitment that season. He deservedly swept the boards in Scotland for the domestic player of the year awards.
The cherry on the cake was actually seeing his beloved Hibs side lift the Scottish Cup for the first time in 100 years over Sevco at the season side. You had to feel happy for him, he had matured (relatively) and was developing as a player.
Brendan Rodgers Era
2016-17 season
New manager and new era, and things were to change across the club but for the better in that the first team under Brendan Rodgers was to be revolutionised.
However, 2016-17 season was to be a difficult season for Griffiths as Moussa Dembele was brought in, and soon Dembele was to be the star man for the strikers role and few would have been able to challenge him. Dembele with all due respect was an exceptional player with potential world class quality.
Leigh Griffiths despite some irks from himself, still was a quality player when called on, and played a number of games. Gelled well in the new set-up, and new manager Brendan Rodgers had great faith in him. However, the manager did make it clear that players had to work harder, and many were taking it that he was talking about Leigh Griffiths as much as certain others.
Regardless of this, Leigh Griffiths still had an exceptional record in the season capping it with a superb goal v TheRangers in a 5-1 win away and then scoring two exceptional free kicks against England for Scotland in a 2-2 draw for the World Cup qualifiers.
Rodgers remarked the following which showed some of the development that Leigh Griffiths still had to do :
“Players must be the very best they can be. Diet, nutrition & a full time professional mindset. To be a CL Player you need to do this. Griffiths is part of my plans the next few years. Lot of Scottish players need to recognise self-improvement is what they must do”
It was a golden season as Celtic went undefeated domestically and won the domestic treble, and were in the Champions League group stages. A lot to be proud of, and Leigh Griffiths was a part of all this and scored many goals of value which pushed the side on.
Sadly Scotland manager (and ex Celtic manager) Gordon Strachan was lax on selecting Griffiths, but when given the opportunity Leigh Griffiths took it with both hands. His greatest moment was v England in June 2017. With Scotland one down with ten minutes left, Griffiths scored two exceptional free kicks to give Scotland a 2-1 lead, only for England to frustratingly score an injury time equaliser. The quality of Leigh Griffiths should be remembered, and the pride all the viewing Celtic fans had of him rose tenfold.
2017-18
Not as productive a season for Leigh Griffiths, but in fairness the first team had dipped after the stellar performances in the past season. Leigh Griffiths still scored a number of goals, but it was an underwhelming set of results compared to what he had previously achieved.
A curious experience for Leigh Griffiths came against Linfield in July 2017. On taking a corner he was pelted with coins by their home support and then a half bottle of Buckfast. Next thing the referee booked him for pointing this out to him. All were bemused and the reporting of this went viral. Must have been a first in football like this. Booked for being attacked, and then Uefa charged him for provoking the crowd.
He still managed to score v Sevco away in a 2-0 victory, and on a personal happy note he scored a double early on in the season v Hearts in a 4-1 victory. One key goal was scoring away in the Champions League to help Celtic finally win an away match in the Champions League group stages, 3-0 v Anderlecht. Celtic went on to make history with the back-to-back trebles, and he was all part of this.
His return in goals again was vital, especially as Dembele seemed to have his eyes elsewhere whilst others were not at the top of their game. Leigh Griffiths was always working hard, could be better but his heart was there as was the quality of the goals which any top striker anywhere would be proud of.
The fact is that Leigh Griffiths was home at Celtic. His heart was at Celtic as much as it would always have a place there for Hibs too (admitting he couldn’t celebrate scoring against his boyhood heroes such as when Celtic defeated Hibs 1-0 in Jan 2018 courtesy of his winner).
In season 2018/19, Leigh Griffiths seemed to be in & out the side with injuries, and there were murmurs on his form. He grabbed some goals, including a stunning free kick in a 3-0 win over Hamilton in Nov 2018. However, he was then pulled in Dec 2018 from the first team and given period out to deal with personal ongoing problem, but he was to refute the allegations of any gambling or drug issues as was reported, and that it was personal mental health issues:
“Leigh will be out of football for a little period of time. He’s had ongoing issues for a number of months. He’s reached a point where it’s a struggle for him. We are going to give him all the professional help he needs to get him back in a good place. He’s a great guy but football and life is tough for him right now. We want to help him with that and we’ll let you know when he’s back. I’m very close with him. We have a strong relationship but he’s had number of issues outside of football.” (Brendan Rodgers)
“I just want to make it clear once and for all, I am off work due to my mental health state. NOT GAMBLING, DRUGS, or any other issue that has been written about me since December.The stories, the tweets, the lies that come out people’s mouths is laughable, but I suppose if they’re talking about me, they are leaving someone else alone.The Scotland internationalist added: “I’ll not be silenced, especially by newspapers and idiots who can write tweets and make up stories and it grows arms and legs due to people’s sad and pathetic lives.” (Leigh Griffiths, 2019)
We all wished him the best from this situation, and knew he would return, but whilst away, Brendan Rodgers had left and Neil Lennon had returned as manager, and much was to again change. Leigh Griffiths had to prove himself again to all.
Neil Lennon Era 2nd Stint (2019-21)
“There’s a lot of people who thought I’d never play football again. I just want to shut them up now.” Leigh Griffiths
He returned to the first team with a bang, scoring an incredible free-kick in July 2019 in a European Cup qualifier, and clearly was very emotional after all the trauma of the mental health issues he had to resolve. New manager Neil Lennon was happy and impressed, and it helped seal the match which ended 5-0.
Despite that wonderful moment, he was back in and out the team, and admittedly patience was wearing thin. Celtic were beginning to slide and needed all hands on deck. Leigh Griffiths was to end up playing a mostly peripheral role in the third and fourth treble winning seasons, a disappointing fact.
However, when he grabbed the limelight, it was quite a moment to remember. In retrospect he sealed the record equalling ninth league title in a row with a sublime hat-trick in a 5-0 hammering of St Mirren in March 2020, with Neil Lennon stating on Griffiths that:
“He answered all his critics. People were saying he was finished here but that was never the case with him.”
He was thus looking ready for the next match v TheRangers to put the question of the league title now fully beyond doubt, but the covid lockdown began and all further league matches were to be cancelled.
The real question was if his near perennial absence from the first team was severely testing the First Team. A private party just as the league resumed after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in August 2020 didn’t strictly break rules (more deemed to be a small breach) but caused a lot of commotion with even many sympathetic turning against him. He was given a warning again by Celtic; it really wasn’t the time to push the boat out on anything as teammate Bolingoli was to soon find out.
Lennon blasted Leigh Griffiths for his physical state and kept him out the pre-season matches which didn’t augur well. After Lennon left Celtic, he heavily criticised Griffiths, which was unfairly singling him out alone, and many took it as firing unnecessary shots at others. However, Lennon noted that training sessions were set up for players with many others turning up but claiming that Leigh Griffiths didn’t turn up even once.
Leigh Griffiths ended up making appearances through the 2020/21 season, and performed well and scored a few goals, admittedly in what was to be a disastrous season as Celtic handed over the league title to Sevco without much of a challenge. After nine years of dominance for Celtic, it was all over. Some would pin part of the demise on Leigh Griffiths, but he was not the major problem. If anything he was one of the few players whose on-field performances were little criticised, albeit he never hit any heights either. He only had sporadic appearances but gave his all. The managerial team under Neil Lennon was a shambles and much had to change, and so Leigh Griffiths was in time to once again to have to find his feet under a new coaching staff after Neil Lennon was belatedly cut.
To rub salt into the wounds he was left out of the Scotland squad for Euro 2020 (actually 2021), Scotland’s first qualification since 1998. It was not unexpected but still will have hurt him, with the irony that Scotland from the performances in the Euros were shown up to desperately need a player on-field of the type of Leigh Griffiths.
Short time under Ange Postecoglu…
To the surprise of many in July 2021 he was given a one-year extension (or reprieve?) at Celtic, and really it was now or never for Leigh Griffiths, many viewing definitively this as his very last opportunity at Celtic. The new manager had his hands tied due to lack of squad options and in all other circumstances Griffiths would have been gone…
…and in a situation that many would argue that only Griffiths could find himself in, he ended up in a tawdry online social media storm only a week after the contract extension was signed (the details & discussions of which are left for the tabloid articles & off this site). He even had to be sent home on Ange Postecoglou’s first match day due to investigations over the matter.
Griffiths was cleared of any criminality after police investigations but was quickly relegated to the Celtic B team setup who were playing in the lowland league for the first time. It looked like his career was once again over and this time this first team spell only lasted a week. He was back in the side v West Ham in a friendly in July 2020 being subbed on in the second half, and was even booed by a section of Celtic fans reflecting a range of emotions, albeit others tried to counter the boo-boys in this covid-restricted friendly match. It was an unwelcome situation.
Ange Postecoglou had enough issues to resolve, and having to bat away repeated questions on Leigh Griffiths from tabloid journalists at the press conferences was an unnecessary diversion.
However, to the credit of the club, in acknowledgement of his past personal issues, he wasn’t fired, cut or dumped as was the call from some but he was sent out on loan to Dundee for the season (2021/22), which effectively called time on his tenure at Celtic.
To make matters worse, when on loan at Dundee, Leigh Griffiths kicked a flare into the crowd during Dundee’s cup defeat to St Johnstone. Admittedly he was goaded by sections of the away support who were chanting derogatory remarks following his recent off-field mishaps, but kicking a flare into the away stands is not defendable. It didn’t help when Dundee posted an apology by Leigh Griffiths claiming he was only trying to kick the flare off the field and not meant into the stand (very unconvincing). He was soon charged by the police for this act.
In September 2021, TV Pundit & ex-Rangers player Kris Boyd was barred from Dundee after a disgraceful article which practically condoned terracing abuse against on loan Celtic Leigh Griffiths. This despite Kris Boyd fronting a Mental Health charity it was pathetic and disturbing.
The time at Dundee was not working out, and on his premature return to Celtic in January 2022 after just six months at Dundee, Leigh Griffiths’ contract was terminated at Dundee, and then was allowed to leave Celtic Park on a free when the transfer window closed. It was a disappointing ending.
A cynic could argue that with how unorthodox his career had often been, then it’s no surprise he was to end his time at Celtic with a bang. For critics, Leigh Griffiths was simply proof that a club can give a player numerous chances to turn things around but he would act like a clown (the Italian player Mario Balotelli was another contemporary example). Neil Lennon pathetically singled Griffiths out in his criticism after Neil Lennon was cut from his managerial role, but it backfired on Neil Lennon and didn’t help anyone out in the following months.
Those who sympathised thought Leigh Griffiths was a very talented but personally troubled man who was his own worst enemy. He could offer much if given the chance and support, and in fairness the club did do so repeatedly over the years. He was by no means the most difficult person the club has ever had to deal with. There was no malice in Leigh Griffiths at all, just a certain immaturity.
To many critics, he summed up the biggest problem in the UK at the time when it comes to developing talent. The talent is absolutely there but the surrounding lifestyle and culture in the UK often doesn’t support or reward young men willing to dedicate their lives on and off the pitch to the game. Times were changing with the next generation, as players like Tierney & others were demonstrating.
Leigh Griffiths had now simply run out of ‘last chances’ at the club. After everything at Celtic and the support he’d been given, it was frustrating to see how it was to end. There is a lot to look back on with pride on his time at Celtic on-field, but sadly it will in small part be spoiled by certain avoidable off-field personal errors.
We wished him all the best.
“I think that was probably the lowest point for me. I hold my hands up, I regret what I did. It went to the right people behind the scenes, from Celtic, the authorities, the law, and I have proved that there was no wrong doing. But for me it is still a massive mistake and a massive regret.”
Leigh Griffiths (2022)
Post-Celtic
After leaving Dundee in January 2022 and not being extended on loan, he was made a free agent departing Celtic. The frustrating part is that without the last shenanigans, he could actually have helped play a part on the field with Celtic this season especially as the first team had large numbers of injuries which meant that the wider squad was used heavily.
He moved onto Falkirk in the third tier for the remainder of the 2021/22 season. In truth, as Celtic were to improve exponentially through the season, Griffiths likely would have struggled for any opportunities if he had remained at Celtic, especially with the form that Kyogo and Giakoumakis ended up showing. Sympathisers would add that even those few opportunities would have meant more to him than anything.
He later moved to Australia for spells with Mandurrah City, a semi-professional West State League Division One side based in Western Australia, for spells from 2022 onwards, and became a player coach for Mandurrah City (Perth, Australia) for the 2024 season.
[…]
His playing career may have ended without any fanfare, but he still had a lot to look back on with pride. As he was to put it himself to counter the detractors:
“All of the managers I played under can tell different stories about me but at one time or another they relied on me.”
[….]
Quotes
“If he had a different name – a more Latino name – this guy would be talked about as being worth £15 million, for sure. Luis Suarez played on edge for me at Liverpool and he was alright! What Leigh has shown very quickly in the short time I’ve been here is that he’s another player who has impressed me. I saw the goals he’d scored before, the quality of the finishes, and the technique is top class. But what has impressed me more than anything is his tactical capacity. He presses and doesn’t run without thinking. If he continues that it’ll bring his game up another level.”
Brendan Rodgers (Aug 2016)
“People say it was the best four minutes of their life, which is worrying”
Leigh Griffiths on his two Scotland goals England (2017)
“I love putting the Celtic top on every time and feeling that expectation to win every week.”
Leigh Griffiths (2017)
“I’ll keep battering the doors down to show I am good enough to stay in the Celtic squad.”
Leigh Griffiths (2017)
“First game, they got hammered 5-1. They got hammered 5-1 at the end of the season, so the gulf couldn’t be any bigger.”
Leigh Griffiths on TheRangers owner quotes that the gulf between Celtic & them isn’t big (2017)
“Your club’s deid mate, beat it!”
As Celtic flew out to Norway from Glasgow for a Champions League qualifier, Leigh Griffiths was involved in a spat. A man at Glasgow Airport shouted “paedo” at the striker who responded by retorting the above,a reference to Rangers’ liquidation in 2012 (2017)
“Amazing footballer, looks a bit like an ultra sound!”
Comedian Frankie Boyle in pre-World Cup show ‘Frankie Goes to Russia’ on Leigh Griffiths (June 2018)
“The badge on the front is bigger than the name on the back”
Griffiths (Aug 2018)
“There are still people out there doubting me and saying that I can’t do this and that. But I keep shutting people up.”
Leigh Griffiths (Aug 2018)
“The Celtic striker posted a meme which read: “Never kick me when I’m down because when I get back up… you’re f****d.”
Griffiths on twitter responds to critics following his leave due to mental health concerns (Dec 2018)
“Leigh will be out of football for a little period of time. He’s had ongoing issues for a number of months. He’s reached a point where it’s a struggle for him. We are going to give him all the professional help he needs to get him back in a good place. He’s a great guy but football and life is tough for him right now. We want to help him with that and we’ll let you know when he’s back. I’m very close with him. We have a strong relationship but he’s had number of issues outside of football.”
Brendan Rodgers (2018)
“I just want to make it clear once and for all, I am off work due to my mental health state. NOT GAMBLING, DRUGS, or any other issue that has been written about me since December.The stories, the tweets, the lies that come out people’s mouths is laughable, but I suppose if they’re talking about me, they are leaving someone else alone.The Scotland internationalist added: “I’ll not be silenced, especially by newspapers and idiots who can write tweets and make up stories and it grows arms and legs due to people’s sad and pathetic lives.”
Leigh Griffiths (2019)
“There’s a lot of people who thought I’d never play football again. I just want to shut them up now.”
Leigh Griffiths (2019)
Leigh Griffiths: “It was a special afternoon. It’s great to bring the match ball home and there’s definitely more to come from me. “Am I ready for Ibrox? I was born for Ibrox. I’ve never been beaten there with Celtic.”
Neil Lennon: “He answered all his critics. People were saying he was finished here but that was never the case with him.”
Leigh Griffiths & Neil Lennon after Griffiths scored hat-trick v St Mirren in 5-0 win (2020)
Celtic and Ofcom: FOI reveals Hoops are most complained about club in Britain Celtic are the most complained about football team in Britain, according to a Freedom of Information request. Of Celtic’s 332 complaints, virtually all resulted from the Hoops’ match against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park in January 2020, specifically after Leigh Griffiths’ goal celebrating in which he “shushed” Kris Boyd.
(The Scotsman, 2020)
“All of the managers I played under can tell different stories about me but at one time or another they relied on me.”
Leigh Griffiths (Apr 2022)
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES | LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 2013/14 | 13 | 1 | – | – | 14 |
| Goals | 7 | 0 | – | – | 7 |
| 2014/15 | 24 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 41 |
| Goals | 14 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 20 |
| 2015/16 | 34 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 51 |
| Goals | 31 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 40 |
| 2016/17 | 23 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 35 |
| Goals | 12 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 18 |
| 2017/18 | 25 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 39 |
| Goals | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 13 |
| 2018/19 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 20 |
| Goals | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 2019/20 | 10(11) | 2 | 1 | 3(4) | 16(15) |
| Goals | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 11 |
| Assists | 4 | – | – | – |
4
|
| 2020/21 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 26 |
| Goals | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 2021/22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Goals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 173 | 20 | 14 | 54 | 261 |
| Goals | 90 | 10 | 8 | 15 | 123 |
Honours with Celtic
Scottish League
Scottish Cup
Scottish League Cup
Pictures
KDS
Articles
Spiers on Sport: the strange, divisive case of Leigh Griffiths
Spiers on Sport
Graham Spiers Tuesday 28 January 2014
Celtic’s pursuit of Leigh Griffiths seems to have created that classic convulsion among football fans, wherein the character of the player has sharply divided supporters. Griffiths is a gifted footballer, whose knack for dramatic, exciting goals is not in dispute, but whose other characteristics have left a lot to be desired.
Bringing morality into these debates is always a dodgy exercise, though it can hardly be outlawed. Fans of Celtic or any other club have a perfect right to voice their views on it.
One reason why many Sunderland fans objected to Paulo Di Canio’s doomed arrival last season was because, on moral grounds, some detested his political views. It’s as well they weren’t told to clamp it and leave their pesky principles elsewhere.
In the case of Griffiths, there is much not to like, frankly. The striker has a history of unsavoury behaviour – of gestures, of at least one racist outburst, not to mention a chaotic, contemptibly selfish private life – which people find off-putting.
Then there is the story of Mick McCarthy, the Wolves manager who paid £150,000 to sign Griffiths from Dundee in January 2011, but who immediately found him to be an unpleasant character, and had little time for him.
Griffiths has frequently been referred to as “a ned”, which is often a rash and unfair tag, though much of his activity has brought that upon himself. It seems beyond dispute that, in some areas, he could raise his level of human decency.
The counter-argument is this. Griffiths is still just 23 years old. He is a product, to some extent, of his background. He has plenty of growing up to do and, many attest, has sufficient character about him to do just that.
Last season, in at least one interview he gave following a Hibs match, Griffiths surprised many by talking openly and well, and in a way that belied the reputation that went before him.
Moreover, I can think of some footballers I know and admire today who, when I first met them in their early 20s, seemed little short of yobs. It is quite a testimony to football that it often makes better people of its workforce.
On the park, in my view, there is little to dispute about Griffiths’ ability. His skill and goalscoring have been there for all to see over the past five years.
Last season, during which he scored 28 goals in 42 outings for Hibs, Griffiths’ game was often thrilling. He scores all types of goals, not least the intermittent screamer. He also has that godsend for a centre-forward: he simply cannot stop believing in himself.
Peculiarly, despite being Wolves’ leading scorer at the turn of the year, Griffiths’ manager, Kenny Jackett, has omitted him from five of his last seven starting XIs. This has only proved to be a further, complicating factor in the Griffiths debate.
Jackett has targeted a number of new strikers, including Coventry City’s Leon Clarke. His view of Griffiths appears to be that he is difficult to play in harness with someone, that his instincts are too erratic, too singular for the team collective.
It is an odd view, given the 13 goals that Griffiths had scored by Christmas, and the public hankering by many Wolves fans for Jackett to start playing the striker from the start. But none of this need be Celtic’s concern.
On the basis of last season, there were grounds for Celtic trying to sign Griffiths last summer, but they chose not to. Now, however, Neil Lennon sees a new window of opportunity in getting the player.
Never mind the other aspects: could Griffiths make the step up from the English third tier to play for Celtic, domestically and in Europe? Yes, absolutely.
Gary Hooper went from Scunthorpe United to being a success at Celtic. Scott McDonald did likewise, having been a Southampton reject before finding himself again at Motherwell, and then at Parkhead.
Andrew Robertson is a current case of a player making quite a leap from Queen’s Park to Dundee United, and is utterly thriving.
Football is littered with such examples. In many cases, talent and ability will out, no matter the level required. And in some scenarios – as the “reject” Henrik Larsson showed back in 1997 – the outcome can be astonishing.
Off the park, I’ve been no admirer of Leigh Griffiths up to now. On it, I’ve never doubted his fine ability.
My hunch is that, if he came to Celtic, and started scoring goals, this debate would swiftly cease.
Celtic star Leigh Griffiths reveals his Scotland pals call him ‘Postman Pat’ as he states he SHOULD be fine for Champions League tie against PSG
The forward netted his third goal for his country before limping off late on with a calf knock – to give Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers a major scare
By David Friel Sep 2017LEIGH GRIFFITHS has been labelled ‘Postman Pat’ by his Scotland pals because he always delivers.
And the Celtic striker insists he’ll be ready to produce against PSG in the Champions League – despite being crocked at Hampden.
Griff took his Scotland haul to three goals and three assists in three international games with another terrific display.
The No9 limped off late on with a calf knock – to give Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers a major scare.
But Griff claimed that was just a precaution and revealed he expects to be fit for next week’s Euro clash with PSG.
He said: “I got a wee kick on the back of my calf but it shouldn’t be anything too serious and I should be fine for Hamilton on Friday.
“Whether the manager wants to rest me or not is a different story, but I’ll speak to the physio and then speak to the gaffer.
“You obviously want to be available for Tuesday, so if the gaffer wants me to rest it on Friday night, then I’ll need to do that.
“It was good to get the goal and assist. The boys are calling me Postman Pat in there. I think it’s my big nose!
“It’s just good to be involved for Scotland. If I can score and help make sure the country gets three points, then I’m delighted with that.”
Griff’s emergence as a first pick has coincided with an upturn in Scotland’s fortunes in Group F.
Gordon Strachan’s men have taken 10 points from the last four games and the Celtic star was key against Malta.
Griff delivered the corner for Christophe Berra’s opener and then tapped in from close range to kill the game.
Scotland’s World Cup fate is now in their own hands and the Celtic man admits they have a point to prove against Slovakia next month.
He said: “The boys always had belief. We knew it was going to be difficult but we always had that belief in the squad.
“It was a real sucker punch not getting the three points against England.
“If we had won that game we would be flying.
“But we’ve had four good performances now and we are looking forward to the last few games.
“Slovakia will be hurting after losing at Wembley and they know they are in for a right hard game here.
“They bullied us a bit in the 3-0 game so they won’t be frightened by us.
“Hopefully we can replicate the last few performances though and get the result.
“We have a bt of a point to prove. You always want revenge after a result like that in the first game.
“That won’t be on our minds on the night though. It’s all about getting the points on the board.”
Griff has made the Scotland No9 jersey his own and hailed Rodgers’ influence on his game.
He said: “The improvement is night and day. Especially after working with the manager at club level.
“He’s been at the very top and it only benefits me. You can see the changes to my game.
“I’ve made that lone striker role my own and I am relishing it.
“You need to be disciplined to play that role. It’s the same at Celtic and I can go and express myself.”
Meanwhile, Griff WELCOMED the arrival of PSG loan star Odsonne Edouard as he faces up to more competition at Celtic.
He said: “The gaffer has added good quality. We need that competition for places for the season going forward.
“We’d be struggling otherwise. Moussa Dembele will be back soon and there will be three of us ready to push on and help us through the Champion League campaign.
“It seems to be the case that either myself of Moussa has been injured and the other takes their chance.
“I have the jersey just now and hopefully I can keep it. If not, you’ve see what I’ve done it the past.
“I’ll wait for my chance on the sidelines and when I come I’ll try to snatch it back.”
Celtic’s Leigh Griffiths to take time out from football with ‘ongoing issues’
Remaining Time -0:53
Patrick McPartlin
Published: 14:14 Wednesday 12 December 2018
Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths is to take a step back from football to deal with ongoing issues, Brendan Rodgers has revealed.
The Hoops boss confirmed the Scotland international had “had ongoing issues for a number of months” but would not discuss them, instead saying they were “confidential”.
Rodgers added: “Leigh will be out of football for a little period of time. He’s had issues for a number of months and he’s done amazing to get through and play to the level and score the goals that he has.
“He’s reached a point where it’s a struggle for him. We’re going to give him all the professional help he possibly needs to get himself into a good place again and come back doing what he does best.
“In order to do that, he needs to find a happiness. He’s a father of five children and he’s a great guy, but football and life is tough for him. We want to help him with that so he’ll be out of football for a period of time.”
Revealing that he had a good relationship with the former Wolves and Hibs forward, Rodgers continued: “It’s been ongoing in my time here with Leigh. I’m very close with him and he’s had a number of issues outside the football environment. “Thankfully for him, nowadays the issues that can come across young people in general have a lot of professional support. We’ll seek professional help, there’ll be an assessment of where he’s at and then a plan in place to move forward.
“It’s been a concern over a considerable period of time. There’s bouts of stability, but too regularly it’s not. This is a sport now where there’s so much focus and attention on you.
“It’s no longer a weakness now to talk. The most important thing for managers and coaches is the welfare of players.
“It’s something that’s not easy, especially in this profession. It’s clear that he needs order in his life in order for him to show the great talent that he has. His welfare is something that’s of the upmost importance for us.
“We can help people and that’s something we aim to do with him. He has all the support of the staff and players and supporters to help him get back to a good place. He’s a great guy who just needs some help.
“He’s still very young in his career. What’s most important is we get him right and rebuild his mind and get him to a good place. If you’re happy and have the energy then you can do your very best as a footballer because he’s clearly a talent and a very big talent. “First and foremost, forget football. Think of the young guy as a human being and we’ll take it from there.”
The 28-year-old has played 22 times for the champions this campaign, but has struggled with injury.
Hearts forward Steven Naismith was on hand for the Loaves and Fishes Christmas charity lunch, which he again funded for homeless people in Glasgow. Pic: SNS
Steven Naismith: There’s a good chance I’ll sign…
He made a goalscoring return to action as a second-half substitute in the Ladbrokes Premiership win over Hamilton at the Hope CBD Stadium, but withdrew from the Scotland squad earlier this year for the matches against Israel and Portugal, insisting that he needed to focus on his fitness.
Neil Lennon blasts Leigh Griffiths for returning to Celtic overweight
Lennon on Griffiths: “He’s come back out of condition and overweight. Any physical work we asked him to do, he was coming out of saying he was injured”
Last Updated: 17/07/20 7:31am
Neil Lennon says it is down to Leigh Griffiths is he wants to have a future at Celtic
.Celtic boss Neil Lennon has accused Leigh Griffiths of letting the club down by putting on weight in lockdown and has criticised his social media “nonsense”.
The Scotland international striker was left behind for the trip to France where the Hoops are competing for the Veolia Trophy after failing to impress Lennon with his condition.
Celtic began the tournament with a 1-1 draw with Nice in Lyon on Thursday, with Patryk Klimala scoring his first goal for the club.
But after the match, Lennon made no secret of his displeasure with Griffiths and warned him that his future was on the line at Celtic Park.
“I’m not happy. I think that’s fairly obvious by the fact that we’ve left him behind,” Lennon told reporters.
“He’s come back out of condition and overweight. Any physical work we asked him to do, he was coming out of saying he was injured. That’s going to be the case because he’s out of condition.
“It would have been absolutely pointless bringing him with us. We had an extensive week in Loughborough and he wouldn’t have been fit to play the games here. The ball is firmly in his court in terms of getting in the right condition.
“He needs to stop all the social media nonsense with all these slogans he puts out there.
“The boys here are all top professionals and I have a great staff who are all professional as well. They deserve better and he should know better.
“If he wants to have a future here at the club, it’s down to himself. We’re not prepared to do a lot more for him. Everything’s there for him. He’s let himself down and he’s let us down.”
Griffiths, 29, has been with Celtic since 2014 and has scored 84 goals in 151 league appearances for the Hoops.
Neil Lennon slams Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths for social media ‘nonsense’
Leigh Griffiths was left at home for Celtic’s pre-season trip to France.
ByChris DoyleSports writer
22:55, 16 JUL 2020
Neil Lennon has slammed Leigh Griffith’s social media ‘nonsense’ after he was left at home for their pre-season trip to France.
The striker came back from lockdown overweight and didn’t travel with the rest of the squad to Lyon.
The Parkhead boss was speaking after Celtic’s 1-1 draw with Nice and is furious with the Scotland forward.
Lennon insists Griffiths needs to knuckle down and get rid of any distractions if he is to have a future at the club.
He said: “I’m not happy. I think that’s fairly obvious by the fact that we’ve left him behind.
“He’s come back out of condition and overweight. Any physical work we asked him to do he was coming out of saying he was injured. That’s going to be the case because he’s out of condition.
“It would have been absolutely pointless bringing him with us. We had an extensive week in Loughborough and he wouldn’t have been fit to play the games here.
“The ball is firmly in his court in terms of getting in the right condition.
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“He needs to stop all the social media nonsense with all these slogans he puts out there.
“The boys here are all top professionals and I have a great staff who are all professional as well. They deserve better and he should know better.
“He needs to get his head down and get fit because that’s what we pay him for.
“Did I have words with him? I did, yeah. I told him he wouldn’t be coming on the trip and that we were bitterly disappointed in how he’s come back.
“We’ve done everything we possibly could. He’s had a long lay-off, he came back and he got back into the team. For me he was still a bit short fitness-wise but enough to get through the Scottish games.
“But if he wants to have a future here at the club it’s down to himself.
“We’re not prepared to do a lot more for him. Everything’s there for him. He’s let himself down and he’s let us down.
“You can never say never about chances but he’s got a lot to do to get back around it. It shouldn’t have come to this. He shouldn’t have been out of condition and shouldn’t have been heavier.”
Leigh Griffiths: Celtic striker sent home from training camp over online messages
By Chris McLaughlinBBC Scotland sports news correspondent
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57757971
7 July 20217 July 2021.From the section Celtic
Celtic striker leigh Griffiths
Leigh Griffiths was hoping for a fresh start under new Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou
Striker Leigh Griffiths has been sent home from Celtic’s training base in Newport while allegations of improper online behaviour are investigated.
It is understood the allegations surround claims that the 30-year-old Scotland cap sent private online messages to an underage girl.
Police Scotland says it has been made aware of the allegations and will investigate.
A Celtic spokesman confirmed they have been “made aware of online comments”.
“The club will now look into this matter carefully,” he added. “Leigh has left the club’s training camp as we do this.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson added they “are making enquiries and assessing for criminality”.
Can Griffiths take final Celtic chance?
Griffiths, who joined Celtic from from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2014, this month signed a new one-year contract extension with the Scottish Premiership club.
He had not been a regular starter under Neil Lennon then caretaker manager John Kennedy last season having been criticised by the former for his physical condition on his return after lockdown.
Griffiths was also left out of the Scotland squad for the Euro 2020 finals.
However, a new Celtic contract was announced as his previous one expired on 1 July, with new manager Ange Postecoglou saying he and Griffiths had “positive conversations” about what he expected from the striker in the coming season.
Celtic flew to Wales on Monday for their pre-season training camp at Dragon Park – the country’s national football development centre.
They had already announced that Scotland winger James Forrest was unable to take part because he had been identified as a close contact of a positive Covid-19 case.
The news of Griffiths’ departure comes hours after Celtic defeated Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 in their first pre-season friendly at Dragon Park, with the striker not among the 22 players who took part.
They face another English League One side, Charlton Athletic, there on Saturday before meeting Bristol City at the Championship club’s training centre on 14 July.
Leigh Griffiths in final Celtic dig at Neil Lennon as he expects choice words if they ever meet again
Griffiths has joined Dundee on-loan and says he wants to draw a line under the tit for tat since the end of last season – but aimed one last barb at his old boss.
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Leigh Griffiths has accused Neil Lennon of slating him because he wants to make himself relevant.
And the Celtic striker, who has just joined Dundee on a season-long loan, admits if he ever meets the Northern Irishman in the street, he will have a few things to get off his chest.
The pair have been at loggerheads for months with Griffiths left aggrieved and feeling he had been given a raw deal under Lennon before the Celtic boss resigned in February.
The manager then hit back in June with a withering attack on Griffiths, accusing him of returning to the club after lockdown unfit and a stone overweight.
The front man did not want to respond directly to those allegations but he believes with Lennon currently out of a job, he is just trying to stay in the public eye.
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The 31-year-old said: “I don’t really want to keep talking about him because he is going to come back and he is going to have his bit to say.
“I don’t want to go tit for tat. I have said my piece, he has said his.
“I just want to leave it there. If I ever see him in the street, then we will probably have a couple of words to say to each other.
“But I am not going to keep battering him in the press because I don’t want it to be all about what Neil Lennon says to keep him in the loop kind of thing. He is out of a job now and he is trying to keep himself relevant.
“For me it is all about my time here at Dundee and making sure I am playing well, scoring goals and helping the team hit that top six.”
Griffiths is also determined to repay the faith shown in him by Dundee boss James McPake, who was his skipper when they previously played together at Livingston and Hibs.
Griffiths said: “James has known me my full career. That’s probably the biggest pull for me to come here.
“He knows what I can do on the training pitch. He has faced me umpteen times in training and games.
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“I nearly always score against him so that’s probably why he wants me in his team!
“It is an exciting time for the club, the fans and I am looking forward to getting going.”
Leigh Griffiths: Former Celtic and Scotland striker opens up on fall from grace
By Jonathan SutherlandBBC Scotland
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63421617
Former Celtic and Scotland striker Leigh Griffiths admits his career as a professional footballer could be over, although he retains hope a manager will “pick up the phone”.
The 32-year-old has been without a club for five months and is currently training with Livingston.
Griffiths has also opened up to BBC Scotland on the “massive mistake” which saw him “dismissed” from Celtic.
“The longer it goes on I think, ‘Is football for me anymore?’,” he said.
“I’ve been without a club for five months now and, although Davie [Martindale, Livingston manager] has said I can come in and train with them, he has said there is no deal on the table.
“I’m still not seeing managers pick up the phone, which means do they want me at their club or is it time to call it a day? That is something I’m still considering at the minute.
“As a free agent you’ve not got a budget, you’ve not got a price-tag on your head, everything is still negotiable.”
Griffiths admits his career has been something of a “fall from grace” over the last few years.
In the summer of 2017, he was the toast of the Tartan Army as his spectacular free-kicks fired Scotland into a late and dramatic 2-1 lead over England and sent Hampden into rapture. There were goals, trophies and medals aplenty with Celtic as well.
But in the last couple of years there were question marks over his fitness – which sparked a well-publicised falling out with then Celtic manager Neil Lennon – and his career went into decline.
Griffiths, who won seven league titles, three Scottish Cups and four League Cups at Parkhead, is remorseful and in no doubt about his lowest point.
Reports emerged last summer that Celtic and the police were investigating claims he had sent inappropriate online messages to two schoolgirls.
After a full assessment police decided there had been no criminality, but Griffiths admits it was a mistake which led to him leaving Celtic.
“I think that was probably the lowest point for me. I hold my hands up, I regret what I did,” he said.
“It went to the right people behind the scenes, from Celtic, the authorities, the law, and I have proved that there was no wrong doing. But for me it is still a massive mistake and a massive regret.”
After a couple of underwhelming spells at Dundee and Falkirk, the offers in Scotland dried up. It led to an unusual and brief spell with Australian lower league side Mandurah FC.
On a pitch that looked little more than a public park there was evidence of his wonderful ability as Griffiths scored a typically Leigh Griffiths goal.
But there was also an altercation with a fan which went viral. Despite being on the other side of the planet from Scotland, Griffiths claims the abuse he got from the fan was of a sectarian nature.
Nevertheless, he insists he would still be keen on a return down under, saying that “it was the most peaceful three weeks I’ve had in football”.
“Even yesterday, I got abuse when I was training at Livingston. People just standing at the top of the hill wanting to stand and abuse me,” he added.
“I can’t do anything. I can’t go out to the shops. That’s the narrative, that’s the stigma you have when you’re playing with one side of the Old Firm.
“Don’t get me wrong, there are plus sides as well. Celtic fans still come up to me and say they miss me, which is always nice to hear. There’s always that flip of the coin.”
He added: “I’ve got an 11-year old son who keeps asking me when I’m going to be back playing football again, and it’s a difficult one to answer. I just say I’m training as hard as I can and hopefully a club comes calling soon.”
You can watch the full interview with Leigh Griffiths on Sunday Sportscene at 19:15 BST on the BBC Scotland channel and iPlayer.
GRIFF AT 34: WHEN THE CHEERS FADE
1
By CQN Magazine on 20th August 2024 Latest News
LEIGH GRIFFITHS celebrates his 34th birthday today in Australia.
This time three years ago, the one-time prolific hitman was still a Celtic player.
However, following an unsuccessful loan stint at Dundee and a brief spell at third-tier Falkirk during the wretched 2020/21 campaign, he is now player/coach at Mandurah City.
The somersault in the former Scotland international striker’s fortunes has been as extraordinary as it has been painful for a player who claimed over a century of goals for the Hoops.
HAPPIER TIMES…Leigh Griffiths races away in triumph after scoring against the Ibrox side in Celtic’s 2-0 League Cup semi-final win in 2015. Kris Commons and Anthony Stokes are about to join in the celebrations.
Ange Postecoglou handed him a 12-month extension on July 1 2021 to offer the frontman the opportunity to prove to the incoming manager he still had what it took to perform at the highest level at Parkhead.
Griffiths, who cost £1.2million when Neil Lennon signed him from Wolves in January 2014, scored precisely 123 goals for the Hoops and won 14 honours in his time at the club.
However, the frontman, who claimed 40 strikes in one season during Ronny Deila’s reign, didn’t play a competitive minute for Postecoglou.
He agreed a season-long temporary switch to Dens Park on August 31, the last day of the transfer deadline, but was returned to Parkhead early after scoring only three goals in 17 appearances for the doomed Taysiders.
Griffiths had his contract scrapped by the champions at the turn of that year and joined Falkirk in a short-term deal, but, after netting just two goals, was back on the look-out for a club when they failed to achieve a place in the Championship play-off.
DOWN AND OUT…Leigh Griffiths in a moment of misery.
The forward, who scored four goals in 22 appearances for his country, played a couple of games for Mandurah City in the West State League Division 1 before returning to Scotland to search for a club. He trained at ex-team Livingston, but it wasn’t long before he realised his once-deadly penalty box prowess was no longer in demand.
In October 2022, Griffiths opened up on the “massive mistake and massive regret” that brought an end to his Hoops career.
At that stage, he was considering calling it a day after being without a club for five months.
Reports had emerged in the summer of 2021 that the club and police authorities were investigating claims the player had sent inappropriate online messages to two schoolgirls.
After a full assessment, it was decided by the investigators there had been no criminality, but Griffiths acknowledged it was the error that led to him being shown the door at the Glasgow giants.
FRUSTRATION…Leigh Griffiths shows his emotion as he misses an opportunity.
In a candid interview, as reported in CQN, the fallen idol admitted: “I think that was probably the lowest point for me. I hold my hands up, I regret what I did.
“It went to the right people behind the scenes, from Celtic, the authorities, the law, and I have proved that there was no wrongdoing. But, for me, it is still a massive mistake and a massive regret.
“The longer it goes on I think: ‘Is football for me anymore?’.
“I’ve been without a club for five months now and, although Davie [Martindale, Livingston manager] has said I can come in and train with them, he has said there is no deal on the table.
“I’m still not seeing managers pick up the phone, which means do they want me at their club or is it time to call it a day? That is something I’m still considering at the minute.
“As a free agent, you’ve not got a budget, you’ve not got a price-tag on your head, everything is still negotiable.”
END GAME…it’s all over for Leigh Griffiths as Ange Postecoglou offers a pat on the head after the striker’s final appearance in the green and white hoops against West Ham in a pre-season friendly in July 2021.
Griffiths’ last appearance at Celtic Park came on July 24 2021 when he had a 45-minute cameo in the friendly against West Ham in which he received a mixed reception by the Covid-reduced crowd.
Last season, he scored seven goals in 12 outings for his Aussie club. The capacity at their trim Securitas Stadium is 2,000.
It’s a far cry from European evenings under the lights in the east end of Glasgow with Parkhead rocking and 60,000 vociferous fans urging their favourites to glory among football’s elite.
The Leigh Griffiths story should have had a vastly different ending.