Paul McStay's Emotional Return

Paul McStay has made a round-the-world trip to attend Sunday’s benefit match between Raith Rovers and Celtic in aid of Ronnie Coyle.

The former Celtic skipper moved to Australia in the new year but has made a flying return to pay tribute to Coyle whom he played with at Celtic Boys Club and for Scotland Schoolboys.

In 1979 alongside another Celt, John Sludden, McStay and Coyle helped Scotland to a memorable 5-4 win over England at Wembley in a rare live televised match.

Sunday’s match will feature many of the players that were involved in the 1994 Coca-Cola Cup Final which Raith won on penalties.

Coyle missed that match through injury and is currently battling against leukemia. During seven years in Kirkcaldy under Frank Connor and Jimmy Nicoll he made over 300 appearances picking up two First Division championship medals.

Such is Coyle’s popularity that former Manchester United pair Gary Pallister and Dennis Irwin will turn out for Raith with Bernie Slaven fulfilling a dream by turning out for Celtic.

Coyle played alongside Pallister and Slaven during a brief stint on loan at Middlesbrough and shared a flat with Irwin while at Rochdale.

Recalling the tension of the Coca Cola Cup final shoot-out Coyle said: “It was a bittersweet time for me because I’d grown up with Paul.

“I’m sitting there thinking, ‘anybody but him, anybody but him’. They say he was the only one who missed but, actually, it was a damn good save by Scott Thomson.”

Sunday’s match kick off at 3pm, after the match there will be a testimonial dinner at the Hotel in Glenrothes where the specially produced shirts from the match will be auctioned off.

TESTIMONIAL WEBSITE.

Paul George is the Irish hero.

Follow Video Celts on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube

[bet_365 type=’generic’ size=’468′ af_code=’365_050711′]