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Buckie forward Josh Peters aiming to get one over cousin Celtic's Stephen Welsh


By Gavin Musgrove

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Stephen Welsh (left) and Josh Peters with Jacqui (right) and Angela.
Stephen Welsh (left) and Josh Peters with Jacqui (right) and Angela.

Buckie striker Josh Peters has said that playing at Celtic Park in front of his family, a huge crowd and the TV cameras will be a real pinch me moment.

And he said it would be the perfect time to put an end to his run of three games without a goal.

It could also mean the 27-year-old from Aviemore getting one over on his cousin Celtic star Stephen Welsh.

The Hoops defender could well be marking striker Peters in the Highland League side’s money-spinning Scottish Cup fourth round tie this Sunday.

The centre-half limped off during the recent Old Firm clash but is expected to be fit for Brendan Rodger’s team.

Peters has been having to deal with plenty of media attention because of the family tie – his mother Jacqui O'Rourke and Welsh’s mum Angela are sisters.

It will be a proud day for the whole of the family with loyalties divided for just that afternoon.

The footballing cousins with proud grandparents John and Ann.
The footballing cousins with proud grandparents John and Ann.

Jacqui is a huge Celtic fan who often goes to watch her nephew playing for the Scottish champions and cup holders.

Meanwhile, Peters followed his father Gordon in cheering on the team from the other side of Glasgow, as both are staunch Rangers supporters.

“They will both be at the game, and family from both sides will be there as well,” Peters said.

“It will be interesting, watching my dad supporting the Green and White or having the Green and White on. I followed in his footsteps with the football by supporting Rangers.

“Both of them did a great deal for me when I was younger and helped me get to training and we did a lot of travel and made sacrifices so it is down to them as well. It will be a big day for both of them.”

Peters, who used to work for High Life Highland at the Aviemore Community Centre, said the whole Buckie team is buzzing and he has really been enjoying the build-up.

He admits it might never happen in his footballing career again and he is trying to savour every minute.

Buckie forward Josh Peters is hoping that he can silence the Hoops fans. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.
Buckie forward Josh Peters is hoping that he can silence the Hoops fans. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

He told the Strathy: “I don’t really want to let it go – I’m loving the build-up. The likelihood of it ever happening again is slim.”

As for how he is feeling, he said: “It is probably more excitement at the moment but probably on the day it will be a lot different.”

Peters scored 29 goals last season in his first term with Buckie, and is top scorer with 13 this season too. But he knows chances will be at a premium at Celtic Park at the weekend.

“It is unlikely we are going to get a lot of chances but you never know in football – anything can happen.

“I will need to be alert to ensure that if I do get a chance then I am ready. Fingers-crossed. It would be an amazing feeling.

“We know we are going to be up against it for most of the game but we have good players and we need to believe in ourselves.”

Buckie go into the game on the back of a 3-2 away win over Huntly at the weekend.

Peters, who attended Kingussie High School, said: "I think winning on Saturday was important - we could easily have been going to Celtic in not such a good frame of mind if we had not won that game.

I think that shows the mentality of this team as it was a tough game and the pitch was really tricky.

"Huntly are a good physical side but we still managed to get the win at the end."

Buckie Thistle striker John Mcleod shows off The Scottish Gas Scottish Cup at a snow-covered Victoria Park ahead of the big game. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.
Buckie Thistle striker John Mcleod shows off The Scottish Gas Scottish Cup at a snow-covered Victoria Park ahead of the big game. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

Peters was not on the scoresheet and he says Sunday would be the perfect time to end his run without a goal.

"I have not scored in the last three games but I feel that I have made a good contribution to the team. But it would be a dream to score at Celtic Park."

Peters, who started out with Strathspey Thistle as a youngster after being released by Inverness Caley, scored 29 goals last season in his first term with Buckie.

He is top scorer with 13 this year too and he is the Moray side's prime candidate to find the back of the net.

“It would be a miracle to be fair but you never know. We just have to believe that we are a good team and although we are playing a team that’s levels above us there’s no point in going into the game not thinking we will get any chances.

“Of course if I did get a chance and managed to score it would be a great feeling no matter what the score was, just unbelievable.

"And something I could hold on forever.

“A few of the boys will be hoping for the same. We will just look to do the best that we can.

“It would definitely be the first time my mum has cheered a goal against Celtic!"

Buckie Thistle president Garry Farquhar gets his hands on the famous old trophy. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.
Buckie Thistle president Garry Farquhar gets his hands on the famous old trophy. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

Peters revealed that he has already met up with his cousin ahead of the game. "I went down to see him on Tuesday as we were both being interviewed for Celtic TV at Celtic Park so I got a taste of what to expect at the ground and saw the changing rooms.

"I've been before but not that close to the pitch. It is some stadium."

"Fingers crossed that we both play and if so I think we will be directly up against each other.

"It is a Scottish Cup match so we will both being trying our very best for our teams.

"Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses and it is the same for us. We have never played against one another before but have a good idea of one another's game.

"Stephen is a few years younger than me but obviously has more experience playing at a higher level and being a full time footballer his fitness levels will be very good.

"I hope he has a good game – but not too good a game!"

"He's just over six foot tall which is probably not classed as being that tall for a footballer these days but he is one of the best headers of a ball I have seen. That's his best attribute. I am the polar opposite!"

There are three or four die-hard Celtic fans in the team and Peters have said that it is dream come true for them.

Josh Peters and Stephen Welsh hope to come face to face with each other on the pitch at Celtic Park on Sunday.
Josh Peters and Stephen Welsh hope to come face to face with each other on the pitch at Celtic Park on Sunday.

Buckie are expected to be cheered on by between 3,000 and 4,000 fans at the game which will be in front of the Viaplay TV cameras.

But playing in front of his biggest every crown and a TV audience is not giving Peters sleepless nights - not yet anyway.

He said: "Playing live on TV is something that I will probably think about in the lead-up on the day but once the whistle goes for the start of the match I will not have time to think about it.

"Obviously I will be concentrating on what is happening in the game.

"We want to do ourselves proud as well as the fans, board and everyone else connected with the club and the Highland League."

Amongst the Celtic attendance will be a lot of family and extending family.

As well as him parents, there will be sister Natasha and a couple of mates from Aviemore and his uncle Martin and his husband John are travelling to the game from London.

And Peters reflected: "It really will be one of those pinch me moments when I stand on the pitch at Celtic Park in front of them and the huge crowd.

"I've a few years left yet but this is definitely something that I will be able to look back upon."


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