He Shoots, He Scores!
Football has been getting something of a bad press in recent days, but here's a story to bring a smile to your face as Sky News reports live on young Jay Beatty's reaction to winning the Scottish Premiership Goal of the Month competition.
What winning goal of the month means for young Jay Beatty
Posted 4 hours ago by Serina Sandhu in sport - UPVOTE
He shoots, he scores!
An 11-year-old’s penalty, scored during the half time of a game between Celtic and Hamilton Academical, has won the Scottish Premiership Goal of the Month for January.
Straight in the back of the net?
Jay Beatty, who has Down’s Syndrome and is from Lurgan in County Armagh, was a guest of honour for the game on January 17 at the Hamilton’s New Douglas Park. After giving a pre-match team talk to his favourite team, Celtic, Beatty was invited to take a penalty during half-time. His goal was applauded by both team’s supporters.
Making history?
Quite possibly. Of the thousands of votes for goal of the month, the 11-year-old’s goal was favoured for by 97 per cent of voters. His father, Martin, 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.”
Beatty’s goal has been the fifth most watched of all time on the Scottish Professional Football League’s YouTube channel, according to Sky. And although the official score was 2-0 to Celtic, Hamilton announced that it was 3-0 on their Twitter account, supporting the young Celtic fan’s effort.
Can’t get much better than that.
In fact, it did. Beatty’s achievement was announced through a YouTube video from his hero and former Celtic striker Georgios Samaras. “Jay my friend, you and me, we’re the same now, scoring goals. I’m very happy to announce you won the goal of the month,” Samaras said. “Well done pal, great job. I miss you and I love you.” The pair first met each other when Beatty was picked by the footballer to join Celtic’s lap of honour after winning the league.
A positive message.
Before the win was announced, Beatty’s father said that it was raising awareness of Down’s Syndrome. “This type of thing doesn’t happen to children with Down’s Syndrome. They don’t get in the limelight, he is being seen as wee Jay and not a boy with Down’s Syndrome,” he told the BBC.
