Old friends
TURNS out football’s just a game after all, as one generous Old Firm fan overcomes rivalry to raise funds for a sick youngster.
A LIFELONG Celtic fan put allegiance aside and was tattooed with a Rangers badge to support a seriously ill Aussie lad.
Tarbert tiler Angy (Angus) MacFarlane, 54, was amazed at the response, especially from Rangers fans, when he made the bold gesture to support two-year-old Mitchell Johnstone who is battling leukaemia in Australia.
Mitchell is the son of former Dookers’ manager Alex Johnstone (AJ), a staunch Rangers supporter. Six years ago AJ left Tarbert and emigrated to Australia where he found love with Mary. In 2014 Mitchell was born and this year Archie.
Just after Archie arrived, the couple were given the devastating news that Mitchell was ill.
Back at home, sisterin-law Fiona rallied the Johnstone family and arranged a series of fundraising events to pay travel and accommodation costs during Mitchell’s expected eight-month hospital stay.
When Angy MacFarlane heard about the appeal, he did not hesitate and put a notice on Facebook saying he would be inked up - Rangers style - to help. Angy said: ‘I put the notice on Facebook about four weeks ago and donations have flooded in, up to about £2,000 at present.
‘Quite a bit of money has come from Partick bar, the Rosevale.
‘I won’t be going to any summer games now or wearing sleeveless shirts.’
His partner, Jennifer Graham, said: ‘It puts things in perspective. At the end of the day football is just a game and this is a wee boy’s life.’