25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Rod Stewart in poignant Davie Cooper tribute as he recalls special day with Celtic and Rangers legends Burns and Smith
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SIR ROD STEWART was taken back in time 30 years to an emotional day in Scottish football with the help of a Scottish Junior club this month.
The Celtic-daft rocker, 80, crossed the Old Firm divide back in 1995 when he took part in a charity game in honour of late Rangers great Davie Cooper.
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Rod Stewart proudly displaying a programme with a special tribute
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He was taken back in time to an emotional day in 1995
Ibrox legend Cooper tragically passed away in March of that year aged just 39 and on June 1, Celtic and Rangers icons united to pay tribute to the former Clydebank, Motherwell and Gers winger.
A charity game was held in his honour at Newlandsfield Park which saw the likes of Walter Smith, Tommy Burns and Jimmy Johnstone all turn out for Davie Cooper's Appeal Select.
It was an emotional day for all as Old Firm heroes put their rivalries to one side to remember the iconic wide-man.
But it was the Maggie May singer who was the headline act as he captained the L.A. Exiles and played 35 minutes before he suffered an injury and was forced off before half-time.
The Los Angeles based team was an amateur team which Stewart owned and was made up of English expatriates plus a few celebrities, including Billy Duffy of the Cult.
They played in a senior football league in Palos Verdes, California.
Around 6,500 fans turned up to Newlandsfield in the Southside to watch Stewart take on Burns and Smith and Co in 1995.
It was an occasion that is still fondly remembered to this day as Pollok FC - the club that hosted the showdown - paid tribute to the emotional day in one of their recent match-day programmes.
Pollok hosted Benburb FC in the West of Scotland Premier Division on April 12 and the club printed a rarely-seen picture of Stewart alongside Old Firm greats Burns and Smith, who were holding the league and Scottish Cup trophy.
The picture was taken either before the charity game or post-match.
Rod Stewart steals show as he does duet with Carragher and dances at Celtic v Bayern
And Stewart now has a piece of memorabilia to remember the iconic day as Pollok revealed last night that some fans managed to get a hold of the singer and sent him a copy of the programme.
The rocker posed for a picture while holding the prized copy, which he signed with the message, "thank you Pollok".
The club then shared the snap and responded with a message to the icon as well.
Their caption read: "One of our matchday programmes found its way to @rodstewart, and we hope he enjoyed revisiting his visit to Newlandsfield in 1995!
"Thanks for supporting the Southside's local team!"
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