In pictures: James McAvoy and Celtic legends thrill crowd against star studded Man United team charity match


JS45730953.jpgJames McAvoy interacts with fans after the final whistle.

X-MEN star James McAvoy showed he was First Class in his heroes’ hoops.

The Scots actor scored for Celtic legend Paul McStay’s Maestros in a charity match at Parkhead.

The special match pitched a mix of former Celtic players and famous fans, led by former captain McStay, against a side organised by ex Manchester United skipper Rio Ferdinand.

Unicef, War Child, the Celtic Foundation and the Rio Ferdinand Foundation were among the charities to benefit from the match, which finished 3-2 to Celtic in front of a crowd of around 25,000.

McAvoy was joined by 24 star Ross McCall, Gary Tank Commander’s Greg McHugh and actor Martin Compston in the team.

Ex-Parkhead players Bobby Petta, Frank McAvennie, Harald Brattbakk, John Hartson, Lubomir Moravcik and Stiliyan Petrov also featured.

They beat ex-Manchester United skipper Rio Ferdinand’s All Stars, who boasted One Direction heartthrob Louis Tomlinson among their ranks.

Every time Tomlinson touched the ball during the match in aid of UNICEF and War Child, the stadium erupted in high-pitched screams.

The singer was joined by ex-United player Phil Neville, comedian Jack Whitehall, Rizzle Kicks, actor Ralf Little and former Chelsea star Gianfranco Zola.

McAvoy, who grew up in Glasgow as a Celtic fan, was delighted to score a penalty during the match.

He said: "I'm just glad I stayed on my feet. Sometimes you can get that nervous way but I wasn't nervous at all and just kept my head down. It was brilliant,
absolutely brilliant, what an honour.

"I know first-hand the work of some of the charities, which is maximum impact with minimum money, so it's great to support them and I suppose it doesn't really matter if I play bad at the end of the day when we're raising money, in saying that, I scored a goal at Celtic Park so I'm quite chuffed really."


Read more here: http://www.scotlandnow.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/pictures-james-mcavoy-celtic-legends-4181945