“That is literally the only reason that I play mate,” Joe Hart

It’s fair to say Joe Hart arrived at Celtic with a few misconceptions surrounding him, however since arriving at the club he’s been a superb addition to the first team, has become a fans favourite, and it appears is just a good bloke.

This has been highlighted again when Joe Hart who was contacted on social media by the Dad of a young Goalkeeper, Jack, who had been bullied by other children for apparently being too small to play in goals, set about making a young lad’s day.

A friend of the father took to Twitter to highlight Joe Hart’s incredible video response to the young ‘keeper –

‘my mates wee boy has took up goalkeeping and has been getting bullied by other kids for being to wee,so ma m8 messaged Joe to try n pick him up n get him lifted on an off chance n look at this 👏 top lad @JoeHart_20 credit to yerself and club’

my mates wee boy has took up goalkeeping and has been getting bullied by other kids for being to wee,so ma m8 messaged Joe to try n pick him up n get him lifted on an off chance n look at this 👏 top lad @JoeHart_20 credit to yerself and club @CelticFC #monthegoalies pic.twitter.com/ScPWSdKVln

— stephen O’neill (@stevie075) February 15, 2022

“Keep your head up, keep pushing. Play in goal because you love it, that is literally the only reason that I play mate.

“I know that I am very lucky to be playing in the position that I am but one of the main reasons that I play in goal is because I absolutely love it, I don’t care what anyone else thinks, what anyone says.

“I do it because it makes me smile, you do the same mate and you’ll do great.”

And the young lad’s father responded to Hart’s message saying – “Jack’s been buzzing since Joe sent it, and what a guy Joe is for taking the time to send it. He’s been tremendous since I first got in touch.”

A reassuring message to a wee lad might not take much, but there are not many who would take the time out to do it. Yet Joe Hart did, and although 19 clean sheets in 38 games has endeared Joe Hart enough to the Celtic support, stories like this show Hart in as good a light as any of his goalkeeping performances. And for a wee lad who felt short in stature and no doubt confidence recently, you can be sure a message from Joe Hart has made him feel ten feet tall today.

Niall J