ALAN Stubbs has signed up for the Henrik’s Heroes v Lubo’s Legends match on May 28 and is delighted at the prospect of returning to Celtic Park and meeting up with team mates who became close friends.

The former Celt who scored six goals in 114 games between 1996 and 2001 said: “We were very lucky because we were blessed with fantastic players. I had the privilege of playing in a very talented team.

“Henrik was a fantastic player but he was a great member of the squad as well because he involved himself in everything we did as a team.

“We had a great camaraderie. We did a lot of things together and that shone through. We had a team full of ability but we had a real bond.”

Stubbs also paid tribute to the strength of character in the dressing room. He said: “We had a lot of winners. Henrik was certainly one of them. We had a lot of players who wanted the best and drove each other on to be the best.”

As a centre-half with the Hoops, Stubbs, who won two titles, a Scottish Cup and three league cups also enjoyed watching Lubo perform in front of him.

He said: “Lubo was a maverick. He was a fantastically gifted footballer who didn’t say too much off the park but he talked with his feet and brain on it. He had unbelievable quality and technically was one of the best I have played with. His touch was exquisite.”

Stubbs expects to be playing in front of a huge crowd with tickets for the match selling fast. He said: “Celtic Park is up there with any atmosphere in the world. You just have to listen to top-class players who come to Celtic Park. It is something that you never forget. It really is a special occasion.

 “As a Celtic player you can feel how much the fans love the club. You are proud to put that shirt on and walk down the tunnel.”

“The warmth in the welcome at Celtic Park is something I have never experienced anywhere else. This is a family.”

And the Lisbon Lions are very much a part of that family. The former Celt is delighted that the 1967 European Cup triumph will be saluted at the charity match.

“They will never be forgotten,” he said. “I know John Clark well and he has a really dry sense of humour and he would tell the tales of Lisbon. They are lovely people, very humble.”

He is certain, too, of the role of the Foundation in the club.

“It is in the club’s DNA,” he said. “Celtic always like to give. Just look at the number of people that have been helped by Celtic FC Foundation. It is a fantastic cause and it is a privilege to be asked to play in it.”

He added: “Every player will say the same. We all know we are helping people in need, it is the Celtic way.”

Henrik’s Heroes v Lubo’s Legends will take place at Celtic Park on Sunday, May 28, 2017, with a 2pm KO.

Tickets are on general sale, on a first come first served basis – maximum of 10 per person – priced at £12 for adults and £6 for concessions*.

Tickets are available to purchase online at www.celticfc.net, by calling 0871 226 1888** or by visiting the Celtic Ticket Office. Rail Seating does not apply to this match.

Premium tickets (£30) and corporate packages (£135) are also available by calling 0871 226 1888** (Option 4) or emailing [email protected] 

Net proceeds of the game will be devoted to Celtic FC Foundation, a charity aiming to uphold and promote the founding principles of our football club. The four priorities are to improve health, promote equality, encourage learning and tackle poverty and the Foundation have a strong track record of delivering successful community-based projects.

Some of the funds will be used to extend existing projects such as the award-winning ‘Ability Counts’ – a project aimed at children and young people who live with Down’s Syndrome or Autism. We will also assist with Community Care for Dementia through a series of initiatives. Finally, we have partnered with Mary’s Meals to create The 67 Kitchens campaign which will see Celtic fans support the building of 67 school kitchens for children in the developing world and send emergency food aid to South Sudan and Syria. 

* Concessions 65+/Under-16s.

** Calls cost 13p per minute, plus your phone company’s access charge. Booking fees apply online and via our sales line.