Celtic Park was bathed in sunshine as the legends from the title winning team from 1998 from Celtic Football Club and the Motherwell Scottish Cup Winning side of 1991, players from yester year came back to Paradise to honour a young man who played for both great teams but who sadly passed away on December 29th 2007.

The players and the fans who turned out for Phil for his tribute match, showed exactly what he meant to everybody. Celtic Park was bursting at the seams as fans came to play tribute to Phil and to see their old heroes just one more time.

One man in particular was the main attraction for the Celtic faithful, the legend that is Henrik Larsson.Henrik took time out from his preparations for Euro 2008 with Sweden to come and play in Phil’s match, such was his affection for the man and he or any of the other legends who turned up would not disappoint.

Not that the score mattered but the teams did put on a show for the fans and the goals that were scored would have had Phil’s approval, especially the Motherwell goal from his nephew, David Clarkson.

For the record the score was Celtic legends 5 Motherwell legends 1Goal scorers for Celtic Weighorst 10, Larsson 24, Brattbakk 30, 36, Jackson 91 David Clarkson as I said scored for Motherwell. Phil would have approved as Celtic and Motherwell fans sat side by side sharing memories and watching their idols go through the motions just one more time for Phil.

Fans and family watched on as songs and banners were sung and unveiled all around the stadium and one moment left you with a lump in the throat and a tear in the eye as a banner with both Phil and Tommy Burns was unfurled by the Celtic fans to great applause.

Phil’s family and friends will know just how much he was loved by fans of Celtic, Motherwell and Sheffield Wednesday and I just hope that is of some comfort to them as they come to terms with their loss. Phil may be gone but at Celtic Football Club and Motherwell Football Club, he will never be forgotten.

Sean Graham

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