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Keith's footballing son returns to help cancer charity received £7000 boost


By Staff Reporter

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England were denied victory in Keith once again as a trademark header from ex-Scotland captain Colin Hendry capped a superb 5-1 win in the last minute for the Scots in a veterans day clash last week.

Colin Hendry gets a pick-me-up. Photo: John MacLeod (moraylight.com).
Colin Hendry gets a pick-me-up. Photo: John MacLeod (moraylight.com).

Keith’s famous footballing son was back on familiar turf and on form as star in the cross-border charity match at Kynoch Park on Saturday.

The game was organised as a fundraiser for Keith Cancer Link, and smashed its target by making the sum of £7621.51.

Star of the show was local loon Hendry, back in his home town to help the cause and proved he still has much of the ability which made him skipper of his country and Rangers.

The man who captained the last Scotland team to play in a World Cup in France 1998 sealed a fine performance by the Moray-based contingent who represented their home nation by grabbing the last goal of the game.

Another of the Scotland team, goalkeeper and event organiser Willie Dick said: “It was an amazing day, a cracking turnout.

“We were hoping to raise £5000 – so to reach over £7000 is really amazing.”

Organisers asked distilleries in the region to get on board by donating bottles of whisky, with around 40 collected for the evening auction.

Among other items snapped up at the auction were a pair of Hendry’s shorts and memorabilia from Aberdeen, Rangers, Celtic and Champions League finalists Tottenham Hotspur, with the auction alone drumming up more than £3000.

The auction was held after the game at the town’s Plough Inn. The total raised far exceeded the £4600 amassed last year and the £3600 from the opening year in 2017.

That inaugural event celebrated the reunion after 40 years of a Keith Boys’ League team, featuring Hendry who began his playing career at Islavale before going on to star for the likes of Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers, Rangers and Dundee.

‘Braveheart’ Hendry was unable to make it north from his Lancashire base for last year’s match, instead gifting a prize of a hospitality trip for two with him to a Manchester City game.

Providing the opposition for Scotland were the ‘Auld Enemy’ team from over the border, better knows as Catshill FC Veterans, from Bromsgrove in the Midlands.

The England side was led by Gary Macpherson, brother of Keith Grammar School rector Jamus, who was part of the 1977 team celebrating its reunion last year.

Organiser Dick, who also played in the original game, gave his thanks to the support who turned out on the day and donated generously to the cause.

Keith Cancer Link supports people in the area affected by cancer and cancer related illnesses.

The charity assesses and provides a taxi service for people in the Keith community making visits to clinics and hospitals for treatments.


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