BY IAIN COLLIN – Capital City Press
Former Manchester United and Everton manager Davie Moyes is to return to Scotland for a match between former clubs Dunfermline and Celtic to mark the 30th anniversary of the death of legendary manager Jock Stein.
Stein began his incredible dugout career at Dunfermline in 1960 and cemented his place in Scottish football folklore in 1967 by subsequently guiding Celtic to become the first British team to lift the European Cup.
Both clubs have come together to arrange a game between former players on September 6, as well as a dinner, with the net proceeds from the events being split equally between their charities, the Pars Foundation and the Celtic FC Foundation.
The likes of Jackie McNamara, Tosh McKinlay and Simon Donnelly will line up for Celtic, whilst Andrius Skerla, Marco Ruitenbeek and Scott Thomson are amongst the players confirmed on the Fifers’ side.
Match ambassador Jim Leishman has revealed organisers have secured a real coup, with Moyes – who played for both teams and is now manager of Real Sociedad – having accepted an invitation to speak at the dinner and to be boss of the Dunfermline side.
Leishman said: “Davie Moyes has managed at the highest level and in European games. How many guys get the opportunity to manage Manchester United? He has had a great career in management.
“It is great that he is coming back to manage the Dunfermline Legends team against the Celtic Legends team to commemorate Jock Stein. That just shows the esteem and the high regard that Stein was held in.
“We are delighted that he is coming and he will get a great reception from both sets of supporters. Davie is a Scottish guy who has reached the top of his profession and is still there.
“Mr Stein had a passion for Dunfermline as well as Celtic. It is great that the clubs are marking the 30th anniversary of Stein’s death.”
The match takes place at East End Park on September 6 and will be followed by a charity dinner in at The Glen Pavilion in Dunfermline, with further participants for both to be confirmed closer to the events.
