Just another weekend in Dubai with Sean Sweeney

If Carlsberg did weekends they should contact Sean Sweeney.

How would a lads weekend in Dubai, reuniting with an old pal, playing for Celtic, beating Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea, being a team-mate to some of your idols, sharing a pitch with Baresi and di Canio and coming home with a winners medal and memories to bore your best mates with for years to come sound?

Twenty years on from being linked with Celtic as an emerging centre-half at Clydebank Sweeney finally got to realise his dream at the first Emirates 7's event in Dubai.

Four days that will live with him forever.

Those that have played for Celtic are members of a very exclusive and elusive group but although Sweeney's relationship with the club had never developed beyond that of supporter he was welcomed into the huddle from the moment he arrived at Glasgow Airport for the lunchtime flight to Dubai.

"I have to say that I'm really grateful to all the players who welcomed me straight away and who couldn't have done any more for me," Sweeney admitted.

"I've been a mate of Derek (Whyte) since we were teenagers but the other players were fantastic with me. I've met or played against most of them at some stage but it's still a bit daunting to be amongst them knowing that I was to spend a few days as a Celtic player.

"I know Gerry Britton quite well from playing at Livingston at the same time but I was slightly apprehensive about mixing with the players but everyone was really welcoming to me. They made the trip for me.

"The only awkwardness was in my mind, I've got a season-ticket and go with my son every other week, in my mind I was wondering 'is this going to be awkward?' because I really shouldn't be there.

"It should be a former player but all that was quickly put to ease although before the first game I was very nervous, it was a different sort of nerves to when I was playing but it was still nervy playing for Celtic.

"The lads were all very professional, they went about things seriously and weren't there for a jolly, obviously they enjoyed themselves but they take pride in themselves and the club and that was very obvious."

It could have been an outrageous wind up from Whyte to his old mate but when Sweeney got wind of the opportunity he wasn't going to let it pass him by.

"A few players had pulled out of the trip a couple of weeks ago when Derek first mentioned the event to me, Sweeney added. "He asked if I fancied it and if I was fit, I wasn't going to turn that chance down.

"I've not been involved in football for a few years but I play fives regularly, I got my head down and stepped things up so that I would be ready.

"Nothing could really prepare me for the first match though, it was in at the deep end against AC Milan, di Canio and all, and before we knew where we were it was 3-0 to Milan at half-time.

"The Milan dressing room was next to ours, they were buzzing about and were in the same hotel as us.

"Di Canio was a hero for me then I saw him with Barsei walking past I really took notice.

"I tried to blank out the names when I was playing but I couldn't do that with di Canio, he was amazing running riot in every game.

"He's as fit as a fiddle, he's top class and was scoring great goals in every game.

"When I got out on the park I was fine, I got stronger with each game and it was only eight minutes each way, once I got started I really enjoyed it."

In typical Celtic style the team bounced back from losing the opener to Milan to go on to beat Chelsea and Manchester United 3-0 to end day one in good spirits.

Saturday morning kicked-off the knock out stage of the competition with Celtic beating the UAE World Cup 90 side then Liverpool to reach the final and another date with di Canio and Milan again.

"The biggest memory for me was winning the tournament closely followed by standing in the tunnel going out for my first game," Sweeney added.

"The final was beyond belief, I thought we'd end up with a medal or something for our efforts. After losing the first game 3-0 I'd have settled for that but to win the competition was beyond belief. That made the weekend.

"It brought out the kid in me. The support that we had from the Dubai Hoops was great and I've came home with a lifetime of memories.

"I've been emailing friends and sending pictures to lots of folk. It's something that I'll remember for ever and I hope my mates can put up with me talking about it for a while yet!

Coming Soon: Part 2, Almost a Celt under Lou Macari
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Gerry Britton books final date with AC Milan

A golden goal from Gerry Britton booked Celtic's place in the final of the Emirates 7's against AC Milan.

The semi-final against Liverpool had ended goal-less but 20 seconds into the five minute period for a 'golden goal' Britton found the net to put Celtic into the final.

The tournament started with a Celtic-AC Milan match and will finish up with another clash between the two teams.

Speaking during his Showtime Arabia programme Derek Whyte told me: "It's very frustrating to be in the studio while the games are going on but it's great to have made the final.

"Celtic and AC Milan have been the two best side's in the competition and it should make for a great final.

"We've had great backing from the local Dubai Hoops supporters club who have been wearing the colours and who have been out in force.

"They've played a huge part in the event and been great.

"After the win against the Chelsea I took my son Conni over to the supporters and held him up in his Celtic babygrow.

"He was sound asleep, he's only six days old, but it was a great moment and one that my wife Donna and I will remember forever.

"Winning the tournament would be great but the main thing is that the event has been a success.

"The players have all applied themselves well and done the club proud. The final will be a great spectacle but I'll need to concentrate on the Premiership matches before re-joining the boys later tonight for a meal."

Goal hero Tom Boyd takes legends into semi finals

They don't come around too often but a goal from Tom Boyd is always a special occasion.

'Matchwinner' and 'goal hero' have rarely been terms associated with the former club captain but both of them applied this morning as the Celtic Legends beat the 1990 UAE side 1-0 to reach the semi-finals of the Emirates 7's.

Celtic face Liverpool in the semi-finals without Derek Whyte who has to go back to his day job covering Premiership football for the Showtime Arabia Network.

"I've got a great job covering all the Premiership football but I'd love to be playing today," Whyte admitted.

"After losing to Milan we've came on leaps and bounds and found the right formation.

"Andy Walker has been in great form and it's good to have a striker that can tuck away half chances.

"The tournament has been a big success. At our level it's been competitive and there are over 100 teams from around the world competing at different levels.

"Everything has been put together in the space of three months, everyone is happy and I'm sure that it will grow and grow in the years ahead."

In the other semi-final Rangers play favourites AC Milan featuring former Celt Paolo di Canio...
Meanwhile in the professional part of the competition Celtic's u-17 side lost 1-0 to Olympiakos and Feyenoord this morning.
Coach Stevie Frail said: "We played well but lost to Olympiakos and if we had won that game we wold have been in the semi-finals.
"The boys are disappointed but they are the youngest team in the tournament.
"They've been mixing with the Celtic legends and that's been priceless for them.
"The older players still take a lot of pride in their performances and it shows our players the importance of playing for this club.
"We've enjoyed the tournament and watching the other teams, seeing Paolo di Canio has been an education for everyone."

Legends march on after hammering Chelsea and Man Utd

The Celtic Legends are getting into gear for tomorrow's knock-out section of the Emirates 7's after handing out a 3-0 hammering to Chelsea.

Andy Walker, Pierre van Hooijdonk and Darren Jackson were on the scoresheet against the Londoners as Celtic marched into the knock out stages where they face local heros the UAE 1990 World Cup side.

After losing their breakfast time opener to AC Milan the auld hoops have found their form with Derek Whyte looking forward to further success.

"We've got Tom Boyd and Brian O'Neill together at the back and that's working a treat," Whyte explained.

"We were caught out a bit by Milan but that's not to take anything away from the way that they played.

"It's a great tournament and the boys are enjoying themselves. We're going to see Paolo Nutini in concert tonight and he led us onto the park which was great.

"We're having a great time together and looking forward to seeing how far we can go tomorrow."

The Celtic Legends will need to be on their best behaviour against the UAE side after Rangers had Derek Ferguson and Gordon Durie sent off against the UAE for swearing at the local referee.

Meanwhile in the professional part of the tournament the Celtic youth side has lost to Leeds United and AC Milan.

Filip Twardzik scored in the 3-1 defeat from AC Milan with Stevie Frail's side facing Olympiakos tomorrow.

Frail said: "We've been giving away a few years to the teams that we've been up against but we should have still played better.

"It's been a bit disappointing but a good experience. There is no age limit on the players and one of the Leeds players, Andy Robinson, has played over 200 first team matches."
Despite today's results all the teams go forward to tomorrow's knock out stage regardless of their results.
The winners from one group play the fourth side from the other group, with the second placed team playing the third etc.
That format ensures that all teams remain in the competition with today's matches effectively a warm-up for Saturday's knock out games.

Hoops head to Dubai to meet Maldini and Di Canio

Former Celt Derek Whyte is looking forward to welcoming two generations of hoops to Dubai this week.

Whyte has carved out a successful career in broadcasting in Dubai with Showtime Arabia but likes nothing better than to pull on the hoops and meet up with former team-mates.

The Emirates Soccer 7's begin this week and with Whyte involved it's no surprise that the Celtic legends will take part as well as a youth side led by Stevie Frail.

It doesn't take much time to accept an invite out to Dubai with the organisers delighted to bring out Paolo Maldini and Paolo di Canio in the AC Milan Legends side with Emirates sponsoring Milan next season.

Whyte said: "This is a great event socially for the older lads and a great experience for the younger players.

"They'll get the chance to train in great facilities and play against the best young players from different countries.

"Seven aside football is a bit different but it concentrates on the skill side of the game.

"This is a massive event in Dubai and something that a lot of planning goes into. It's great to see Celtic involved and there are plenty of supporters out here looking forward to it."

Whyte played in the Tommy Burns tribute match last May where various generations of former players got together to honour the memor of the former Celtic manager.

The prospect of a get together in Dubai will always be popular with Whyte looking forward to hosting some of his former team-mates.

He added: "These events are great for lads like myself, we've got big Pierre and Regi Blinker coming over from Holland and I'm looking forward to seeing Gerry Britton and the other lads.

"The football is taken seriously and pulling on a Celtic jersey again means a lot to all of us.

"There's a good balance to the competitive and social side in the legends event but you can't take it easy if you are playing against Di Canio at any age".
Emirates 7's event