Jock Stein Friendship Cup

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}

{{Infobox football tournament

| name = Jock Stein Friendship Cup

| logo =

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| founded = 2006

| abolished = {{start date and years ago|2019}}

| region =

| number of teams = 2

| current champions = Celtic

| most successful club = Celtic (9)

| broadcasters =

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| current =

}}

Jock Stein Friendship Cup was an exhibition football match held in Cliftonhill Stadium, Coatbridge, Scotland.

This competition was started to recognise the contribution of Jock Stein to both contestants, Albion Rovers and Celtic{{cite web|last=McKay|first=Kenny|title=Rovers welcome Celtic for the Jock Stein Friendship Cup|url=http://local.stv.tv/coatbridge/sport/41-rovers-welcome-celtic-for-the-jock-stein-friendship-cup/|work=STV Coatbridge|accessdate=7 August 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009052008/http://local.stv.tv/coatbridge/sport/41-rovers-welcome-celtic-for-the-jock-stein-friendship-cup/ |archivedate=9 October 2011}} Stein began his senior footballing career with Albion Rovers in 1942, and in the 1950s played for several years with Celtic, captaining the side to a league & cup double in 1954.{{cite book|last1=MacPherson|first1=Archie|title=Jock Stein: The Definitive Biography|date=2007|publisher=Highdown|isbn=978-1-905156-37-5|page=69}} He is most famous for his managerial career later on at Celtic.

While the principal aim of the Jock Stein Friendship Cup was to honour Stein's memory, the annual challenge match was also one of several initiatives aimed at raising awareness of Albion Rovers in the club's home town of Coatbridge. The club and the Albion Rovers Supporters Trust engaged with Coatbridge youths and families in various ways; notably through summer coaching sessions and a Christmas Party for local children, and the promotion of awareness-raising initiatives such as the Kick-Out Bigotry campaign.

Celtic usually played its XI team, often composed mainly of reserves or U19 players, and won each of the nine challenge matches, although two finals were drawn at full-time and went to penalty kicks.