STANDING TALL WITH STAN
Parkhead puts on a spectacle for Petrov
IT WAS hard to recall an occasion when the words of t he ol d anthem carried such poignancy. Surrounded by kith, kin and 60,000 Celtic supporters, Stiliyan Petrov was given a timely reminder that — as far as his ongoing battle with acute leukaemia is concerned — he never will walk alone.
This was an occasion that reminded you of football’s undiminished ability to shine light into dark places.
In raw terms, the amiable Bulgarian’s own cancer charity, together with the Trussell Trust — an organisation which provides foodbanks across the country — will have found their coffers swelled considerably as a result of the phenomenal crowd that gathered in Glasgow’s east end yesterday.
Trying to gauge the boost in moral support, Petrov and other leukaemia suffers would have gained from the occasion is an altogether tougher task, however.
The 34yearold had spoken prior to the match of the fear that he would be unable to keep his emotions in check as he returned to the club that made him.
He just about survived the bear hugs from former teammates, friends and showbiz personalities as the teams lined up before the game, but the acid test was yet to come.
When the clock struck 19 minutes, proceedings paused for a minute and Celtic Park stood as one to acclaim the man who had worn the shirt with such distinction between 1999 and 2006. The man in the middle could do nothing but raise a hand in appreciation and wipe a tear from his eye.
They had turned out for him in their droves — not just the men, women and children who parted with their hardearned cash — but the players, both past and present, who gave willingly of their time and the sprinkling of celebrities who joined them.
Martin O’ Neill fittingly took charge of the Celtic XI and accurately pre dicted prematch that some of the Seville side had seen better days. He might have lost none of his wit, but surely the Northern Irishman would have been at a loss as to how to deliver one of his legendary teamtalks without upsetting the delicate sensitivities of One Direction singer Louis Tomlinson in a corner of the dressing room. Still, if the former Parkhead manager needed any help, he could al ways call upon actor Stephen Graham — aka Al Capone in the hit TV series Boardwalk Empire. It was one of those days.
Kenny Dalglish, the man who helped sign Petrov from CSKA Sofia in 1999, was the man in the Stiliyan XI dugout. What a stellar cast they had — Shay Given, Robert Pires, Jamie Redknapp, Gareth Barry and Paul Lambert among others.
Chelsea skipper John Terry — a close friend of Petrov’s through attending captains’ meetings in the Barclays Premier League — formed a formidable partnership with
“We have shown world how special this place is”
Carlos Cuellar at the heart of the Stiliyan XI defence, the former Rangers man being generously applauded throughout.
It was never going to be anything other than a gentle Sunday stroll for a good cause, but there were some delightful football moments all the same.
If Neil Lennon (pictured left with Petrov) doesn’t quite get from A to B as quickly as he once did, the Celtic manager has lost none of his ability to keep hold of the ball in tight corners.
Lubo Moravcik’s ability with both feet is still something to behold, so too the telepathic understanding between Chris Sutton and Henrik Larsson.
The best player on the park though — by a considerable distance — was Petrov’s compatriot Dimitar
Berbatov. At 32, the Fulham striker is still very much at the peak of his powers and my word did he show that here — even playing in second gear.
He swept the yellowshirted visitors ahead while the latecomers were still taking their seats and, after watching Bobo Balde career into Pires in his inimitable style, sensibly opted to stay well away from the giant Guinean from that point on.
There might have been civil unrest had Larsson not hit the net, and the peerless Swede adhered to the script by equalising with a penalty after Terry had upended Bobby Petta.
Martin Petrov restored the Petrov XI’s advantage by sliding in to convert Berbatov’s cross. Terry hit the upright f rom within his own half before Berbatov completed his hattrick either side of the break to make it 41.
Larsson’s attempt at reducing the arrears was foiled by Given, but another exCeltic striker of some renown — Pierre van Hooijdonk — hammered home the rebound for 42.
Prior to that, the capacity crowd was t r eated to t he si ght of Scouse comedian John Bishop having a penalty saved by Rab Douglas, before Westlife’s Nicky Byrne had his rebound chalked off.
The celebrities were having an impact — one way or the other. Actor Warren Brown turned Larsson’s cross home for 43, but Byrne wrapped up the scoring from close range with a minute left.
There were elements of comic genius throughout — especially as the worlds of sport and entertainment collided. That happened all too literally for Tomlinson — a man whose first touch suggested he’d better stick in at the singing.
The One Direction man, whose every touch was accompanied by Beatlemanialike screams from the stands, found himself on the wrong end of a dull one from Agbonlahor.
To the great horror of those who had paid for the privilege of seeing him in the flesh, the singer not only hobbled off, but promptly vomited on the touchline. What would Simon Cowell have to say?
Petrov, who made way midway through the first half, remerged for the closing minutes to finish the game for the Celtic XI and to take a lap of honour at the end, accompanied by his wife and two sons.
Then he took the microphone and spoke from the heart: ‘Thank you for everything you have done for me and my family throughout my career.
‘Today we have shown the world how special this place is. Thank you for standing by me.’