Nowadays very few footballers, especially at the top level of the game, stay at one club for a lengthy period. With the opportunity for players and agents to make money in transfers, loyalty to a club is rare.
That was not always the case of course. There are many examples in previous years of players staying at a club for all, or virtually all of their careers – Billy McNeill, Willie Miller for example.
Because of this, testimonials are now much less common, certainly in the case of top stars. However, there was a time, when players wages were not as high as now, when the testimonial was seen as almost necessary to assist many players with funds for retirement. Even World Cup Winners.
As a Celtic fan I was privileged to witness Celtic play testimonials for Jackie Charlton, Bobby Charlton and Bobby Moore. Celtic were a very popular choice for games like these as they would field an experienced team of regulars who wanted to win, and of course because they brought a large following to help swell the coffers of the testimonial recipient.
Unlike many testimonials featuring “celebrity” guests these games featured top players and were genuinely contested. All three were great games but for me the best trip overall was in November 1970 – down to London to play West Ham in a benefit for the England World Cup winning captain.
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