X-Man James McAvoy triumphs after being put on the spot

By: Kenny McKay on 08 Sep, 2014 14:58

IT was the day the stars came out for charity in Paradise. Footballing legends joined with a few famous celebrity names for the MAESTRIO charity match.

Paul McStay’s Maestros beat Rio Ferdinand’s All-Stars 3-2, with actor James McAvoy netting a penalty which levelled the score after the All-Stars had taken a 2-0 first-half lead.

Getting the chance to wear the green and white Hoops and score a goal at Celtic Park was a dream come true for the Celtic fan, who also spent over half-an-hour after the game signing autographs and posing for pictures with delighted supporters in the stadium.

Speaking to the official Celtic website, James said: “I was quite bemused after I scored. I turned around and my pal Martin Compston was running at me and then jumped on me.

“I sort of did an impression of someone celebrating a goal as it didn’t feel like it happened. It was nuts! When Lubo got the penalty I turned around and someone said, ‘Do you want to take it, James?’.

“I didn’t get nervous and just kept my head down. The big man Kuszczak said to me, ‘if you dink me, I’ll get you!’

“So I was trying to dink him on purpose but I went a bit too hard but it was good fun, brilliant.”

Fellow actor and Celtic fan, Martin Compston, is now anticipating hearing all about that goal for a long time to come.

“I’m on cloud nine, the lap of honour around the park at the end is something that will live with me for the rest of my life,” he said.

“It was amazing - the whole atmosphere the whole day, just being on the pitch with actual legends.

“I missed a sitter and I can’t get my head around it. You play it in your head so much, you imagine scoring a goal and when Simon Donnelly put me through I had too much time and I panicked.

“I had already scored it in my head and I can’t believe I missed it. James McAvoy scored a penalty so I’ll never hear the end of it.”

http://www.celticfc.net/news/6628