Charity match plan

A highly-anticipated football fundraiser in Shotts has been rescheduled after falling victim to the coronavirus pandemic.

A team of Rangers legends were due to take on a Shotts select side at Hannah Park last June, with all proceeds being split byWishawbased suicide prevention charity Chris’s House and St Andrew’s Hospice. However, the game had to bepostponedduetolockdown restrictions.

Thegamehasnowbeen rescheduled for Friday, September 17, at 7pm, subject to Covid-19 restrictions.

Event organiser StuartThomson is hopeful it can go ahead with few, if any, restrictions.

He said:“Everything seems to be going well with the vaccine programmesowedecidedtohold it on the Friday night.

“Hopefully fans will be back in football stadiums by that time and Shotts Bon Accord will be playing on a Saturday.

“We are taking a bit of a calculated risk but I’m hopeful the game will be on and there won’t be any restrictions meaning we get a good crowd and raise a lot of money for both charities.

“Thosewhohavebooked pre-match hospitality, which sold out very quickly, and pay to plays, mascots, sponsors, will be contacted much nearer the time to confirm plans and match ticket details will be released in the near future.

“We hadn’t sold a lot of match tickets for the original date but they will still be honoured. Fingers crossed we can have a great night and raise lots of money for these two phenomenal local charities.”

In 2019, a challenge match between the legends and a Shotts select raised thousands of pounds in memory of Stuart’s brother Gordon, who died after a short battle with cancer.

Former Ibrox stars such as Alex Rae, Marvin Andrews, Charlie Miller, Colin Hendry and Nacho Novo laced up their boots, with defender Andrews being taken to hospital following a nasty clash of heads.

An impressive £14,000 was raised on the night for Macmillan Cancer Support.