Pat’s Patter Tireless charity work of true football greats

With all the glamour and money involved in football these days, it’s easy to understand why so many people are cynical and, in many cases, critical of football players.

But my experience of footballers past and present is very different.

Willie Henderson, who was Caldecruix born and bred, was a player of such calibre that he played for a Best of the World select on many occasions.

Nowadays wee Willie is in the Champions League when it comes to raising money for charity.

Through the Michelle Henderson Cervical Cancer Trust, Willie has been captain of a squad that has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds to support those suffering from this silent killer.

And it is proof that the wee man can still play a blinder. He is an inspiration to many.

For more information on the charity please visit http:// michellehendersoncervical cancertrust.co.uk.

Recently I took part in a fundraising event to support sufferers of motor neurone disease.

The event was organised by former Dutch international and Rangers legend Fernando Ricksen and I was humbled by his efforts to raise money and awareness about this terrible disease, which afflicts him so visibly.

On the park Fernando was famed for his combative style and aggression.

And off the park he is tackling MND with the same ferocity. He is a true inspiration.

For further details on his charity please visit http:// fernandoricksenfoundation. org.

There are countless modern-day players, many of them household names, who contribute so much off the park to their local community and charities.

The next time you hear a pundit or a cynic give our beautiful game and its players a hard time just remember all the good work being done by our footballing heroes.

Never forgotten Willie Henderson with daughter Michelle, who died of cervical cancer

Fighter Pat with former Rangers star Fernando Ricksen