Piece of Saints history will help children in need
Winning Saints medal to raise cash for charity
He was a favourite with the fans during his time at the club.
Now former St Johnstone midfielder Paul Cherry is raffling off his 1989/90 Division One winners’ medal to help a charity that supports Ukrainian children.
Cherry (57) played a key role in Saints’ rise to the Premier Division but admits his title-winning silverware has been tucked in the top drawer and can be put to better use elsewhere.
Perth fans are now being offered the chance to win the special piece of history, with all proceeds raised from the raffle going to Dnipro Kids Appeal.
“I found the medal in my drawer,” smiled Cherry, who now lives in Spain. “I hadn’t seen it for ages.
“I thought: ‘What is the point in having it there?’
“I have the memories in my head that nobody can ever take away from me.
“The medal is a bit of history. The St Johnstone one was the first championship at McDiarmid Park.
“We had moved into the new stadium and we were then getting sell-out crowds.
“Any St Johnstone supporter from that era - whether a wee boy or older - will always remember that season.
“It was a great, great season. The medal can go to far better use than sitting in my drawer.”
Dnipro Kids is fronted up by Perthbased Stevie Carr, who is continuing to do terrific work with the charity. He recently escorted a large group of Ukrainian orphans out of harm’s way.
Cherry was quick to turn the spotlight on familiar face Stevie.
“Thirty years ago there was a picture of myself and Stevie in the Perthshire Advertiser,” Cherry recalled.
“He was fitting my alarm and there was a feature on it. He said he still has the picture up on his office wall.
“I have big respect for what Stevie and his team has done for these orphaned kids. We can all help in a little way.
“I told him that I was thinking of raffling my St Johnstone medal and sent him a message to say congratulations with all the hard work.”
Last month, former Saints director Stan Harris put up a rare signed Sergei Baltacha top for raffle which raised £4145 for Dnipro Kids. Cherry is hoping his winners’ medal can provide a further boost for the charity.
“I was in contact with Sergei when the conflict started to say my thoughts were with his family,” he said.
“The thing with football supporters is that, no matter your team, they all rally round when someone is in need.
“Football supporters all come together and hopefully some will want a little bit of history with the medals.”
Cherry is also raffling off his Inverness Caledonian Thistle medal for season 1996-97.
For the Saints medal, see https://raffall.com/295759/enterraffle-to-win-sfl-gold-footballmedal-hosted-by-paul-cherry
The medal can go to better use than sitting in my drawer