Smarticus Osadolor with A Celtic State of Mind

Smarticus Osadolor knew that Partick Thistle trained in a park close to his home. He knew that he wanted to play football, so he turned up in Bermuda shorts carrying his football boots and asked if he could join in…

This brazenness led to him at one point being the second most prolific goalscorer in Scottish football behind Leigh Griffiths.

Most of us don’t know the sacrifices of those who are playing at a lower level of professional football. In this interview, the Jimmy Johnstone Academy graduate speaks about moving to America, learning to play left-back by watching YouTube videos, how his determination to get back into the professional game saw him make a few wrong turns and how he had to deal with one of his team-mates who was found guilty of racially abusing one of his friends during a game (an incident we also spoke with Rabin Omar about HERE).

Smarticus is open and honest about his time at such clubs as Annan, Stranraer, Clyde, Elgin and the importance of having the right support in coaching.

In this episode of the award-winning A Celtic State of Mind podcast, Paul John Dykes caught up with Smarticus Osadolor, where they discussed:

Chancing it with Partick Thistle and getting a six-month deal;
Playing with the Jimmy Johnstone Academy;
Moving to America to concentrate on his education;
Returning to Scotland and signing for Annan;
Securing a move to Stranraer, which turned sour;
Dropping out of the senior game, but getting back in;
Racism in Scottish football and how to deal with it.

Listen to SMARTICUS OSADOLOR with A Celtic State of Mind here: