Belgium giants boost Frank’s Law campaign

T-shirt tribute from Anderlecht – 38 years after Kopel wonder goal

Frank Kopel’s widow Amanda has been left speechless following a “wonderful gesture” from Belgian giants Anderlecht – the club against whom her late husband scored his greatest goal.

His stunning late strike in a 1979 UEFA Cup tie against the Belgian club took the Tangerines into the next round on the away goals rule and is part of United’s European folklore.

United fans nicknamed him the ‘Arrow in Anderlecht’ while Scotland manager Jock Stein chose it as his goal of the season that year. United boss Jim McLean described it as one of the best he’d ever seen in Europe.

Mrs Kopel was reduced to tears when she opened a parcel from Belgium which contained a Frank’s Law T-shirt which had been signed by the current Anderlecht squad.

Mrs Kopel said: “I am really so overwhelmed to receive this, especially as it will be three years on April 16 since Frankie died.

“He was so chuffed and so proud in a humble way when Jock Stein chose it as goal of the season that year and that the United supporters named him the ‘Arrow in Anderlecht’.

“Our friends Graeme Marshall and Rob Morrison were instrumental in getting the T-shirt signed and unbeknown to me had been ‘plotting’ behind my back.”

Mrs Kopel phoned the Belgian club to thank them and they said they would do “whatever they could” to help the Frank’s Law campaign.

The Anderlecht signed T-shirt will now join a collection of signed Frank’s Law T-shirts which will be framed and auctioned to help with research into chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and dementia.

Mrs Kopel said: “Frankie was always so humble about that goal. Whenever anyone asked he would tell them the ball came to his feet from Luggy (Paul Sturrock), he closed his eyes, hit it and the next thing he knew it was on the back of the net.”

Frank’s Law - which is supported by The Courier - would give under-65s with debilitating conditions the same rights to state support as older people.

Frank Kopel died three years ago. Widow Amanda was stunned to receive a signed T-shirt from Anderlecht, top.