Allenwood Celtic set to host legendary anniversary clash
The club are celebrating 35 years in existence in 2026, and the centrepiece of the festivities is the much-anticipated game which pits an Allenwood Celtic AFC Select side against a Premier League Legends XI.
Allenwood are hosting the game on Saturday, May 23rd, with kick-off at 2pm (the event will run from 1pm to 5pm).
Early names announced for the Premier League Legends XI included former Manchester United players, Wes Brown and Keith Gillespie, before another United legend, Brian McClair, was added to the list alongside fellow Celtic icon, Stiliyan Petrov.
Word then came through that the Legends XI would be managed by another former Celtic man, who also enjoyed a spell at Arsenal, Welsh icon John Hartson.
More marquee names have followed, with the confirmation of former Liverpool and Ireland winger, Jason McAteer; Nigerian superstar, Yakubu; and perhaps the most iconic figure of all – another Man United legend – Jaap Stam completing the lineup.
Speaking to The Kildare Nationalist, Allenwood Club Secretary Jennifer Donnally spoke about the atmosphere around the club as the big day draws near.
“There’s a sense of excitement and a bit of a sense of panic as well,” she said.
“The to-do list just keeps getting longer, you know, but we’re getting there - we’re in a good spot.”
Over 700 people have already purchased tickets for the game, with the club expecting several more walk-ups on the day.
Tickets for the match can still be purchased on Eventbrite.ie, and details on tickets for the gala dinner — which will be held that evening in the Keadeen Hotel — can be obtained from any committee member.
“There’s going to be a three-course meal, a band, a DJ, and an auction. We’ve got some memorabilia up for grabs like signed jerseys, framed jerseys, art,” Miss Donnelly said, with collectables on offer from players such as Stam, McClair, Petrov and Brown.
- Jermaine Beckford (Leeds, Everton, Leicester, Bolton, Jamaica).
- Wes Brown (Man Utd, Sunderland, Blackburn, England).
- Andy Couzens (Leeds, Carlisle, Blackpool).
- Keith Gillespie (Man Utd, Newcastle, Blackburn, Northern Ireland).
- John Hartson (Arsenal, West Ham, Wimbledon, Celtic, Wales).
- Brian McClair (Motherwell, Celtic, Man Utd, Scotland).
- Jermaine Pennant (Arsenal, Birmingham, Liverpool, Real Zaragoza, Stoke, Wigan).
- Stiliyan Petrov (CSKA Sofia, Aston Villa, Celtic, Bulgaria).
- Jaap Stam (PSV, Man Utd, Lazio, AC Milan, Ajax, Netherlands).
- Yakubu (Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, Everton, Blackburn, Nigeria).
The hosts have also announced their team(s) for the match. Their squad of current players and former club legends will be split into four teams who will each play a quarter.
Their teams will be captained by David “Sox” Coyne (Club egend at Allenwood Celtic and a top goal scorer at his peak and a current coach of the club’s U9s); Joe O’Rourke (One of the founding members of the club and somebody who has given 35 years of service to the club in a variety of roles); Lisa Moore (One of the best female players in the club’s history, current U17s coach and the Club’s Assistant Secretary); and Darren O’Shea (Returning Allenwood Legend and the man charged with get the Allenwood Celtic team fit for match day).
Joe O’Rourke, Johnny Goudling, Louise Dee, Harry Brereton, Nigel Byrne, Darren O’Shea, Greg Byrne, Kevin McManmon, Francis Coyne, Pat King, Glen Cullen, Ken Hanlon, Will Denagher, Morgan O’Callaghan, Damien Coyne.
Darren Judge, Lisa Moore, Stacy O’Sullivan, Claire Ivers, Jason Wyse, Karen Lyons, Jason Martin, Vlad Paicu, Killian Darling, Brian Connaughton, Liam Brennan, Jamie Stafford, Evan Moore.
Ernie Price, David (Sox) Coyne, JP O’Leary, Jenny Donnelly, Michael Rossiter, Philip Quinn, Dave Moore, Gavin Carpenter, Jamie Wise.
