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The tournament is named after Frans Otten, President of Phillips and major sponsors of PSV.
At the end of the 1988 – 1989 season Celtic sent a youth team to the Otten Cup international Youth tournament organised by PSV Eindhoven. The matches all took place on a weekend at the end of May at the sports fields at Tegenbosch on the outskirts of Eindhoven.
The form of the tournament was with teams of 11-a-side playing 2 x 25 minute halfs and starting with 2 groups of 4 teams. Cekltic sent the Youth team over of Mark McLean, Francis Gardiner, Mark McNally, Brian O’Neil, Sean McBride, Declan Roche, Steve Dornan, Steve Fulton, Gerry Britton, Mark Donaghy, Kenny Campbell all 16 – 17 years old with over-age players David Elliot and Stuart Balmer and two players from Celtic Boys Club U16’s Billy Dolan and Russell McKeevor. The players were accompanied by Reserve team coach Bobby Lennox, Youth Development Officer Benny Rooney and Celtic Director Tom Grant
Celtic were grouped with Sparta Rotterdam, PSV and Sparta Prague.
The first game was against Sparta Rotterdam:-
Celtic 2 – 0 Sparta Rotterdam
Celtic: McLean, Gardiner, Elliot, McNally, Balmer, O’Neil, McBride, Roche, Dornan, Fulton, Britton.
Though physically strong the Dutch side posed little threat to McKLean in the Celtic goal and the left-sided pairig of Fulton and Elliot controlled the game. Just 5 minutes from the end Sean McBride slipped his marker, hit the byline and his cutback was met perfectly on the penalty spot by Declan Roche. In the last minute Gerry Britton headed home another McBride cross.
An hour later a large crowd gathered to watch them take on the favouriteds PSV Eindhoven
Celtic 1 – 1 PSV Eindhoven
Celtic: McLean, Gardiner, Elliot, McNally, Balmer, O’Neil, McBride, Roche, Dornan, Fulton, Britton ; Sub: Donaghy for Britton
PSV had won their opening game against Rapid Vienna 3-2. Steve Dornan put Celtic into a first ahalf lead but the hot weather took its toll and they conceded an equaliser in the second period. This meant going into the last game needing something decent out of the result.
Celtic 3 – 0 Rapid Vienna
Celtic: McLean, Campbell, Gardiner, McNally, Balmer, O’Neil, McBride, Roche, Dornan, Elliot, Fulton,; Subs: Dolan for McBride, Britton for Dornan.
Rapid found themselves outclassed and having lost both their previous games set about a series of hefty challenges, the history between the two teams clearly not being forgotten. Celtic stuck to the task with Dornan scoring on 44, Dolan on 48 and Elliot on 49 with a 25 yarder.
The next day Celtic faces Sparta Prague in the first semi final with Ajax meeting Sparta Rotterdam in the other.
Semi Final.
Celtic 2 – 0 Sparta Prague
Celtic: McLean, Gardiner, Campbell, McNally, Balmer, O’Neil, McBride, Roche, Britton, Elliot, Fulton; Subs: Dolan for Fulton, McKeevor for O’Neil
The game started slowly with Celtic probing the Czechs defense. Plenty of robust tackles were going in. Two minutes from half time Stuart Balmer scored directly from a free kick to give the Bhoys the lead. They continued to set the pace after the interval but it took till seven minutes from time to add to the score. A foul on Elliot allowed Fulton to swing the ball into the penalty area and Balmer stuck it home from 6 yards out..
Ajax won their semi on penalties after a 1 – 1 draw.. The play off games saw Sparta Prague, Sparta Rotterdam, PSV, Feyenoord, Liverpool and Rapid take places 3 – 8.
Final
Celtic 0 – 3 Ajax
Celtic: McLean, Gardiner, Campbell, McNally, Balmer, O’Neil, McBride, Roche, Britton, Elliot, Fulton; Subs: Dolan for O’Neil, Donaghy for McBride.
Celtic never were in contention in the first alfwith Ajax going ahead to a header just before the interval. A half time talking to brought them out better equipped in the second half but they were always chasing the game and Ajax were able to sit back and absorb the pressurebefore hitting on the break to take a second and scoring a third just before the end.
In the end the Celts were well beaten by a thoroughly well organised Ajax side.