Celtic may have taken a short break from training at Lennoxtown, but manager Brendan Rodgers was on club duty this weekend helping the Celtic FC Foundation.
The charity held its annual Gala Dinner in London on Friday night. Bhoys heroes, past and present, came together to show their support and help generate cash for good causes.
Chris Sutton, Martin O’Neill, Roy Aitken, Stiliyan Petrov and Kieran Tierney were all in attendance, alongside the current Celtic boss, who was interviewed by broadcasting legend Bernard Ponsonby.
The Foundation have described the £420,000 net fundraising total as ‘astounding’.
They say the money will support initiatives such as the Paradise Pit Stop, which provides a consistent and reliable space at Celtic Park for people in need to congregate, socialise and receive a free warm meal.
Chris Sutton had a Celtic reunion with Martin O’Neill
Sutton hosted a Q+A session with his former boss, O’Neill, on stage and enjoyed the reunion, no doubt taking a few light-hearted digs from the iconic manager along the way.
O’Neill signed Sutton from Chelsea, and the big forward went on to score 85 goals in all competitions and become a cult hero with the support.
The former striker posted on social media: “A lovely evening for a great cause and a chance to interview my old manager Martin O’Neill. Martin doesn’t miss. Great to reminisce on the best of days in the early 2000s under the great man.”
The Brendan Rodgers and Kieran Tierney meeting
The event had earlier created headlines after the Foundation uploaded a photo of Rodgers and Tierney chatting, sparking cries of ‘bring him home’ from online supporters.
Whether by design or accident, Tierney is again at the forefront of many minds as he considers his long-term playing future.
The left-back’s contract at Arsenal expires in 2026. After injuries and a loan move to Spain, he is very much on the periphery of Mikel Arteta’s plans and is expected to leave London before too long.
With Greg Taylor’s contract expiring and Alex Valle only on loan from Barcelona, Celtic could have a need for a left-back signing next summer.
Rodgers and Tierney enjoyed great success in the manager’s first spell at the club, and until his long-term future is resolved, there will be consistent speculation about a return to Glasgow.
Regardless of all that, it’s just fantastic to see the club use its power for good with this latest event and credit to everyone involved.
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