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Trivia
- 2014-09-06: McStays Maestros v Rios All Stars, Friendly
- Loads of fan favourites and some celebrities.
- Teams managed by Paul McStay and Man Utd great Rio Ferdinand.
- Actor James McAvoy donated a whole load of tickets to youngsters.
- Transfer window shut. Not the best or worst transfer window ever but some crazy moments. Six out (loans and sells) and just one purchase in and a bunch of loan deals.
- Celtic fan Stephen Gallacher makes golf tournament cut for European Ryder Cup tournament team.
- Celtic and St Johnstone being fined by UEFA for some fans flying Palestinian flags, as state it's political taking in recent rise in local tension between Palestine and Israel. Pathetic and double standards by the authorities.
- Giudetti finally is allowed to sign for Celtic on loan despite just missing the deadline.
- FORMER Rangers director Imran Ahmad has succeeded in his bid to have £620,000 frozen in the club’s bank account
- On same day world cup qualifiers. Scotland lost 2-1 to new world champions Germany, and McGeady scored twice to help Ireland win 2-1. Poland won 7-0 v Gibraltar.
Review
(Sunny Jim Young)
Great day out
Credit to the lad from 1 Direction for coming back after what happened to him last year
Martin Compston and James McAvoy can be well pleased with their efforts
McAvoy was brilliant at the end with so much time for photos and autographs when he must have been knackered
Thought Ferdinand spoke very well at the end seems like a smart guy
Who was the Celtic No 7 who came near the end?
Teams
McStay’s Maestros (4-4-1-1)
Douglas; McNamara, Boyd, Johnson, McKinlay; Compston, P. McStay, Petrov, McAvoy; Moravcik; Hartson (Vennegoor of Hesselink 19)
Subs: Gould, W. McStay, Grant, Brattbakk, McAvennie, McHugh, McCall, R. McStay, Burchill, J. McStay, Farrell
Rio’s All Stars (4-3-1-2)
Kuszczak; Tomlinson, Ferdinand, P. Neville, R. Little; Barton, Scholes, Morris; Zola; Yorke, Cole
Subs: Whitehall, Cullen, Alexander, Stephens, Freedman, Kanu, Akande
Referee:
Attendance:
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
- Audio Report: Paradise Report
Pictures
Forum
Articles
Charity the winner in Paradise
http://www.celticfc.net/news/6624
By: Mark Henderson on 07 Sep, 2014 16:25
CELTIC supporters once again demonstrated why charity is at the core of the club, turning up in great numbers at Paradise to raise much-needed funds for a number of worthy causes.
Around 25,000 fans showed up at Celtic Park for the return of club legend Paul McStay as his Maestros side took on a team led by former England and Manchester United captain, Rio Ferdinand.
Thanks to their generosity, and those who attended a dinner at the Thistle Hotel in Glasgow on Saturday night, Celtic FC Foundation – the charitable arm of the club – and the Rio Ferdinand Foundation will be able to help several important projects at home and abroad.
In particular, the work of UNICEF and War Child will be aided by the event. The two organisations are providing a ray of hope to those affected in the war-torn region, and those who bought their tickets for today’s game will make a difference.
A host of famous ex-Celts including Stiliyan Petrov, Jackie McNamara, Lubo Moravcik and John Hartson wore the Hoops again for the Maestros, and they were joined by celebrities such as Martin Compston, James McAvoy and Ross McCall.
But the biggest cheer of the afternoon was reserved for the Maestro himself, one of the true all-time Celtic greats, who had journeyed from the other side for the world to be here.
And there was a special moment towards the end of the contest when four members of the McStay family took the field – Paul, Willie, Raymond and Paul's nephew, John.
Lining up for the other side was another stellar cast, headed by several former stars of Manchester United – Paul Scholes, Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole and Phil Neville. Rio could also count on some celebrity support, most notably, One Direction star Louis Tomlinson, whose presence delighted many of the youngsters in attendance.
The players served up ample entertainment on the pitch, producing a five-goal thriller which was edged by the Maestros.
After trailing at the break to goals from Cole and Jordan Stephens of the band, the Rizzle Kicks, the Bhoys fought back in the second half to turn the game around.
Frank McAvennie rolled back the years with a thumping volley, before actor McAvoy levelled from the penalty spot after Moravcik had been fouled in the box.
And it was left to Hartson to roll in the decisive goal 13 minutes from time, the big striker following up after Tomasz Kuszczack was unable to hold Moravcik’s cross. But charity had been the winner.
It was then left to the men who made the occasion happen, Paul McStay and Rio Ferdinand, to thank everyone for coming along before embarking on a lap of honour.
Today’s events proved once more, that the immortal words uttered by Sir Robert Kelly all those years ago, that Celtic is more than a football club, is not an empty phrase.
McStay’s Maestros (4-4-1-1) Douglas; McNamara, Boyd, Johnson, McKinlay; Compston, P. McStay, Petrov, McAvoy; Moravcik; Hartson (Vennegoor of Hesselink 19)
Subs: Gould, W. McStay, Grant, Brattbakk, McAvennie, McHugh, McCall, R. McStay, Burchill, J. McStay, Farrell
Rio’s All Stars (4-3-1-2) Kuszczak; Tomlinson, Ferdinand, P. Neville, R. Little; Barton, Scholes, Morris; Zola; Yorke, Cole
Subs: Whitehall, Cullen, Alexander, Stephens, Freedman, Kanu, Akande
Celtic: ‘Fantastic’ charity return for Paul McStay
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl/celtic-fantastic-charity-return-for-paul-mcstay-1-3534002
Published 07/09/2014 17:27
A MIXTURE of football and showbiz, yesterday’s charity match at Parkhead brought together teams led by two of the true legends of Celtic and Manchester United, Paul McStay and Rio Ferdinand, to raise money for the latter’s Foundation and Celtic’s own charity.
Unicef and War Child will be among the beneficiaries, as will children across Scotland, in London, the Middle East and South Africa, from a match that featured footballing legends of the past and showbiz figures such as Louis Tomlinson of One Direction and actors James McAvoy and Martin Compston.
In the end, McStay’s Maestros beat Rio’s All-Stars 3-2 and McStay said afterwards: “It’s been a fantastic day and it’s all been worthwhile. This is what this club is all about.”
Ferdinand added: “The money will go to helping young kids, giving them a platform for life and to do positive things in the future.”
The stadium was less than half full, unlike the astonishing 60,000 turnout for Stilyan Petrov’s fund-raiser last year. Perhaps the Celtic support is suffering from compassion fatigue, but more likely there’s a lack of disposable income in Glasgow’s East End these days – Celtic still support their local food banks, 126 years after the club was founded to feed the children of Irish immigrants.
McStay, veteran of 677 appearances for Celtic, had flown from his home in Australia for the match, while goalkeeper Jonathan Gould had come even further from his current home in New Zealand.
The most pleasing sight for home fans was that of cancer victims John Hartson and Petrov together in Celtic shirts once again, the latter still not officially in full remission from his leukaemia, while Hartson has fought back from testicular cancer that had spread to his brain.
With many of the participants wearing their shirts outside their shorts – the universal tell-tale sign of advancing years and spreading middles – the sunlit match was always going to be a relaxed affair.
It began that way, the only excitement being the girlish squeals when One Direction’s Tomlinson got involved. He had fun, becoming both team captain and panto villain late on.
Andy Cole had the first real chance after six minutes but ballooned his shot from 12 yards high over Rab Douglas’s bar, while ex-Morton youth player Compston showed an acute football brain at the other end with a delightful chip from 20 yards that Tomasz Kuszcak grasped just under the bar.
Andy Cole gave Rio’s All-Stars the lead after 16 minutes, hitting home after adroit play by Paul Scholes and Dwight Yorke. Scholes looked as if he could still do some team a turn, it should be said, while Ferdinand himself strolled through the match and Gianfranco Zola, no less, showed lots of lovely touches.
Immediately after the goal, maestro McStay was replaced by his old friend Simon Donnelly. He returned to the pitch later for a unique occasion – he and his brothers Willie and Raymond played for the first time in Celtic shirts together at Parkhead.
Soon afterwards, Petrov and Hartson received a standing ovation when they left the field to be replaced by Bobby Petta and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink. In fact every player who left the field got a warm ovation, and rightly so for their commitment to the charitable cause.
Compston got himself into good positions, but a rush of blood to the head caused him to ****** his 20th minute shot wide when scoring looked easier. He went off to be replaced by fellow tail-o’-the-bank actor Ross McCall – it was that kind of showbizzy day.
Vennegoor of Hesselink almost had the ball in the All-Stars’ net after half-an-hour but Kuszczak got down quickly to foil his chance.
Probably the biggest smile of the day was on the face of comedian Jack Whitehall when he came on for
Scholes, at the same time as Moravcik departed for Harald Brattbakk, who will always be welcome in these parts for scoring the goal that won the SPL title in 1998, finally foiling Rangers’ attempt to win ten-in-a-row.
Showbiz took over next, Jordan Stephens of the Rizzle Kicks coming on and scoring with his first touch of the ball in the 39th minute to put the All-Stars further ahead. The half closed with Vennegoor of Hesselink getting the Maestros’ best chance, shooting just wide from fully 25 yards.
Frank McAvennie was among those who came on at half-time, getting a special cheer. He got an even bigger one three minutes into the half when he pulled one back for the Maestros. What a goal it was, too, Mark Burchill’s cross deflecting up and the ball dropping from height onto McAvennie’s right foot for a sweet volley that gave Kuszczak no chance.
Rio Ferdinand took his leave after an hour, as players came and went from the dugout before Tomlinson brought down Moravcik inside the box. A soft penalty, but it was taken hard and high by McAvoy who will only be happier if he wins an Oscar.
Gould then had to use his legs to foil Stephens who was clean through on goal, before Moravick struck after 76 minutes, firing in a deep cross that looked to be sneaking in over Kuszczak’s head, only for the big Pole to knock the ball down to Hartson who made no mistake from four yards.
The final score was of no consequence really. What mattered most was that many children in need will have their lives improved thanks to the efforts of the people who gave their time and money willingly at Parkhead yesterday.
McStay’s Maestros: Rab Douglas; Jackie McNamara, Tom Boyd, Tommy Johnson, Tosh McKinlay; Martin Compston, Paul McStay, Stiliyan Petrov, James McAvoy; Lubo Moravcik; John Hartson. Subs: Jonathan Gould, Willie McStay, Peter Grant, Harald Brattbakk, Simon Donnelly, Frank McAvennie, Greg McHugh, Ross McCall, Raymond McStay, Mark Burchill, John McStay, David Farrell, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, Bobby Petta.
Rio’s All Stars: Tomasz Kuszczak; Louis Tomlinson, Rio Ferdinand, Phil Neville, Ralf Little; Joey Barton, Paul Scholes, Jody Morris; Gianfranco Zola; Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole. Subs: Jack Whitehall, Tom Cullen, Harley Alexander, Jordan Stephens, Dougie Freedman, Ibrahim Kanu, Ade Akande.