Momentous supporters’ charity match a success
This year’s Jimmy Taylor Memorial Cup football match was a momentous occasion for Campbeltown Loyal Rangers Supporters’ Club (CLRSC) for two reasons.
Not only was it the club’s 10th charity event, but it came the same year as Rangers Football Club’s historic and coveted 55th league title win.
Last year officially marked a decade since the first CLRSC memorial match was held but nothing could be organised in 2020 because of Covid-19 restrictions.
Created in memory of longtime club member Jimmy Taylor, the event now honours all absent members and friends, some of whom died in more recent years.
The teams – the reds and the blues – are made up of members of the supporters’ club, with ex-Rangers players invited to join them.
At this year’s match, held at Campbeltown all-weather pitch last Saturday, the red team was captained by Charlie Miller, while Alex Rae was in charge of the blues.
Among the spectators cheering them on were fellow former Rangers players Ian Durrant and Derek Ferguson who joined them for the occasion but did not play.
The match was kicked off by 81-year-old Dick McFadzean, the oldest member of CLRSC, who was Jimmy Taylor’s brother-in-law.
The memorial match has become hugely popular over the years and is typically well supported by the community, but this year only players and match officials were allowed inside the grounds of the pitch.
Instead, spectators were asked to gather outside the perimeter fence and were reminded to physically distance.
Although further away, their support spurred the red team to victory as Miller’s side won the match 6-2.
Each year, the event raises money for a different charity through a collection bucket and half-time raffle. This year, the proceeds will be donated to Campbeltown and District Juvenile Football Association; the total amount raised is yet to be finalised. On Saturday night, all four ex-Rangers stars attended a social event at Argyll Bowling Club where they held a question and answer session. A CLRSC spokesperson said: ‘The event grows bigger and better each year and the response from the community is always really good. Most of this year’s match and question and answer session was organised by club chairman Billy Gilchrist and we all thank him for all the effort and hard work he puts into these events, particularly this year when things were more challenging. We really appreciate it.’