An 11-year-old boy has won goal of the month in the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL).
Jay Beatty, who has Down’s Syndrome, recorded 97% of the vote in the SPFL’s online competition for January.
Jay netted a penalty on the New Douglas Park pitch during the interval of Celtic’s 2-0 win against Hamilton on January 17 after being invited to the game as a guest of the Lanarkshire club.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=j04gv2rJLY0%3Frel%3D0
The youngster, who comes from Neil Lennon’s home town of Lurgan, Co Armagh, shot to fame when former Celtic star Georgios Samaras picked him out of the crowd during Celtic’s title-winning lap of honour last season after the then Celtic manager gifted him his winners’ medal.
Samaras was the man to give the young supporter his good news when he announced the result via a video link on the SPFL’s Twitter account.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=eFZphq4CC_Y%3Frel%3D0
The Greece striker, who now plays for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, said: “Jay, my friend, me and you are the same now – scoring goals.
“I’m very happy to announce that you won the goal of the month.
“Well done pal, great job. I miss you and I love you.”
Jay’s father, Martin Beatty, thanked the thousands of football fans who voted for his goal.
He said: “Not many of us get to live our dreams and Jay is getting to live all our dreams.
“Thank you to everyone for making this possible – we are so grateful and proud.”
https://youtube.com/watch?v=HFeL77brfM4%3Frel%3D0