“Praying to God,” Shay Given on his 17 year-old Old Firm dread | OneFootball

At just 17 years-old, Shay Given was ‘praying to God’ he would not be called off the bench for Celtic in a high-stakes Derby clash against Rangers…

Shay Given and Stephen McManus, with the English and Scottish League Cups at Celtic Park on 12 June 2025 ahead of the Celtic v Newcastle Utd friendly on 19 July 2025. Photo The Celtic Star.

Speaking to The Celtic Star and other fan media outlets alongside former Hoops captain Stephen McManus on Thursday morning, the Irish shot-stopper recalled how he found himself on the bench for Celtic during a showdown with their Glasgow rivals in the 1990s.

Although he progressed through Celtic’s academy system, Given never featured for the club’s first team in a competitive match.

On Thursday, he was questioned about whether he harbors any feelings of what might have been from his days with the current Scottish champions: “Yeah, there is,” said Given. “I was on the bench once for an Old Firm game when I was 17, praying to God that Packie Bonner wasn’t going to get injured because I was going to have to come off the bench at 17. I would have been a nervous wreck, if I’m being brutally honest.

Shay Given and Stephen McManus, with the English and Scottish League Cups at Celtic Park on 12 June 2025 ahead of the Celtic v Newcastle Utd friendly on 19 July 2025. Photo The Celtic Star.

“But even just driving up the road there past Barrowfield, I remember we had to change here at the stadium, and I had to run down the road as an apprentice and train. The first team boys were driving past, blowing the horn and stuff. It’s just all the memories come flooding back.”

Given continued: “But yeah, some great memories. The club’s changed so much since I was here at 16 until 18. Even the stadium, look around the stadium now, it’s just phenomenal.”

The Junge

“I was here when the old jungle was there across from the dugout. The way the club has moved forward and moved on, it’s a phenomenal club now. It’s a totally different animal, as such, but it’s great to see how the club has progressed.

“But yeah, it always brings back a special feeling coming back here, definitely.”

Watch the Celtic Fan Media Conference below…

Celtic v Newcastle Utd

Shay Given joined Stephen McManus at Celtic Park yesterday to promote the pre-season friendly between Celtic and Newcastle United at Celtic Park on Saturday 19 July. The away allocation has completely sold out so there will be a huge presence at Celtic Park from the North East of England.

Celtic supporters can purchase their tickets now via a general sale from the official Celtic FC website – ORDER HERE.

Conor Spence

Celtic in the Thirties, Volumes One & Two by Matt Corr – out now on Celtic Star Books.

SUMMER SALE NOW ON AT CELTICSTARBOOKS.COM – Order today and we’ll post immediately!

Summer Sale Now On – Click on image to order. Please note that postage is only charged on one book.

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