1997-01-22: Celtic 1-2 Bayern Munich, Peter Grant Testimonial

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Review

A recognition of Peter Grant’s service to the club – a player who always identified with the fans

Teams

Celtic:
Kerr (Marshall, 46), MacKay, McKinlay, McNamara (Kelly, 46), Stubbs, Grant, Hay, (Elliot, 85), McStay, Van Hooijdonk, Hannah, McLaughlin.
Non Used Subs: Anthony, McBride
Scorer: MacKay (68)

Bayern Munich: Kahn, Babbel, Helmer, Ziege, Zicker, Strunz, Scholl, Nerlinger, Klinsmann, Rizzitelli (Hamann, 85), Matthaus.
Non Used Subs: Dreher, Kreuzer, Kuffour, Janker, Gerster, Saba, Lakis
Scorer: Klinsman (27, 66)

Referee: J Fleming (Glasgow)
Attendance: 40,032

Articles

Pictures

Klinsmann steals show on Grant's big night

The Scotsman 23/01/1997

Celtic1 Mackay (68)
Bayern Munich 2 Klinsmann (29, 66)
IN the end, it was a nice little earner for Peter Grant and that was the only result that mattered. A crowd who earned the player with 470 Celtic appearances about 300,000 from his testimonial match, got what they had come for and so did the object of their generosity.
The goal that put Bayern Munich on the road to victory had the suspicion of offside about it, but that is like central heating to the Celtic support on a cold night. There was also a spirited comeback, when two goals behind, from a side ravaged by personnel problems and the friendly match belatedly became imbued with a combative spirit. The games which mark the passing of players like Grant into a club's folklore rarely have much to say for themselves by way of an entertaining nature.
Tommy Burns was left with a side devoid of its charismatic contingent from the Continent and deprivation showed as the game drew to a close that was always going to be made memorable by the theatrical nature of the demonstrative Grant's pointed farewell to the fans.
There is a script which is respectfully adhered to on these occasions and both sides were word perfect in their delivery.
Stewart Kerr, for example, was obliged to save from Jurgen Klinsmann after Lothar Matthaus had intercepted a clearance from Malky Mackay and laid the ball in his path.
Celtic, for their part, were cast in the role of game underdogs and almost took a plucky lead when Pierre van Hooijdonk's beautifully measured pass to Chris Hay was intercepted by the onrushing Oliver Kahn.
The game waited for reality to take over from pretence, meanwhile, and there was a quickening of the pace when Mackay blocked another attempt from Klinsmann. The player least appreciated by the Celtic support could not be denied indefinitely, however, and scored after 27 minutes.
Klinsmann deflected Christian Nerlinger's shot past Kerr to make the former Tottenham star even less popular at Celtic Park than he is in Alan Sugar's house.
He repeated the act after 66 minutes with a fine display of the striker's art. Matthaus' cross was met by a sparkling shot along the ground by the arch predator but his goal was swiftly eclipsed by one from Mackay at the other end.
Brian McLaughlin's cross saw the defender side-foot a shot past Kahn.
The Celtic artisan had made his mark in distinguished company. It was a fitting contribution to a night for Grant.

  • Peter Grant Post Match

"My testimonial night will live with me forever. I have never felt so humble in my life.
"I have played 470 games for Celtic, but believe me, if I had pulled on the jersey just once, I would have been a proud man.
"Only about 500 people have ever played for Celtic and about 10 of them went on to win testimonials, so that is also a source of great pride.
"I just want to play here for as long as I can because there has never been a prouder guy to wear the jersey. But I know things can change.
"With Bosman, Celtic can go out and get the pick of the crop all over the world.
"If these players come in and that means that my career has to be over then I will accept that.
"I will take my seat in the stands and I will be delighted to watch and support the players who are on the park."