Jučer je odigrana oproštajna utakmica Alana Shearera, velike legende engleskog nogometa 

Testimonial:
An emotion-Al farewell

Alan Shearer XI  3  Celtic  2

St. James' Park was United on Thursday night, providing one more marvellous memory of the Shearer era as the curtain finally came down.

The number nine led his side onto the field to be greeted with a wall of noise and a display of cards held aloft by three sides of the stadium, before kicking off the game then departing to yet another ovation. 

There were no goals in the opening half, the home side coming closest through some individual brilliance from Charles N'Zogbia, who saw his shot diverted onto the crossbar by Hoops 'keeper David Marshall.

It took until the 70th minute for the scoring to begin, Albert Luque volleying home a deep centre from Peter Ramage - MattyPattison having been denied by Marshall some moments earlier.

Celtic then levelled from the penalty spot ten minutes later as Ramage bundled over Maloney - the same player getting up to beat Harper.

And when John Hartson headed the visitors into the lead with just seven minutes to go it looked as if Strachan's men hadn't read the script properly.

However in added time, Les Ferdinand's low centre across the six yard box was turned past his own 'keeper by Adam Virgo.

And almost from the kick-off Ferdinand laid one more goal on for his former striking partner, falling in the box under a hint of a challenge from two Celtic players.

Local official Mark Clattenburg pointed to the spot and you-know-who returned to the field to knock to the ball into the Gallowgate net and end the game in appropriate fashion.

Al then returned to be presented with a number of special awards on a hastily- erected podium, before taking the microphone from Ant and Dec to thank the crowd for their support over the last decade.

He then embarked on a final lap of honour round the ground with his family, pausing frequently to collect scarves and shake hands, before disappearing from view for the final time as a firework display began.

What a man, what a night. 

Whoever had the idea of giving out free "proper" black and white scarves as fans entered the ground should be applauded, as they provided a great prop on the night.

The support built and built during the game to an absolute crescendo in the minutes before Luque's goal, the sight of tens of thousands of those scarves being whirled around being nothing short of incredible.

And while the night was in honour of Al, this was a celebration of all things black and white - the generous applause afforded returning old boys Watson, Lee and Speed eclipsed by the awesome roar that greeted the sight of Sir Les.

How we would greet the capture of silverware is open to question, but it's difficult to believe it could be much more memorable than the amazing fervour and emotion demonstrated by our support tonight. 

The love shown wasn't just for Al tonight, it was for the club. To borrow a phrase from our visitors, it remains a grand old team to play for.... 

AS starting XI: Given, Carr, Babayaro, Boumsong, Bramble, Watson, Clark, Emre, N'Zogbia, Ameobi, Shearer.

Subs:
Chopra for Shearer (10 secs)
Faye for Watson (31)
Speed for Clark (34)
Harper for Given (46)
Pattison for Emre (46)
Ramage for N'Zogbia (46)
Elliott for Babayaro (46)
Luque for Ameobi (46)
Taylor for Bramble (46)
Lee for Faye (68)
Ferdinand for Carr (70)
Shearer for Chopra (93)

Crowd: 52,275

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