Home   Sport   Article

PICTURES: Keith's most famous football son inspires another Scotland win over England as former Rangers and Blackburn Rovers star Colin Hendry scores in Kynoch Park charity match raising over £13,000 for Keith Cancer Link and Primrose Hospice in Birmingham


By Craig Christie

Easier access to your trusted, local news. Subscribe to a digital package and support local news publishing.



Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!

FORMER Scotland captain Colin Hendry led his country to victory in his home town of Keith in a charity match which raised over £13,000.

Both sets of teams line up for the Gogs Younie testimonial match at Kynoch Park, Keith, which raised over £13,000 for charity. Picture: Becky Saunderson..
Both sets of teams line up for the Gogs Younie testimonial match at Kynoch Park, Keith, which raised over £13,000 for charity. Picture: Becky Saunderson..

The man they call 'Braveheart' after he skippered Scotland at their last World Cup finals in France '98 inspired a 4-2 Scotland win over England in the match between football veterans on both sides of the border.

Colin Hendry on the ball. Picture: Becky Saunderson..
Colin Hendry on the ball. Picture: Becky Saunderson..

Highland League junior stars of yesteryear from across the Moray area represented the winning Scots.

Former Keith man Gary Macpherson returned home to lead the English team made up of his Catskill veterans' team from Bromsgrove in the Midlands.

Former Keith native Gary Macpherson comes in to challenge Scotland player. Picture: Becky Saunderson..
Former Keith native Gary Macpherson comes in to challenge Scotland player. Picture: Becky Saunderson..

Event organiser and Scotland goalkeeper Willie Dick said it would be the final year of the charity event which agreed to evenly split all proceeds between the Keith Cancer Link and Primrose Hospice (Birmingham) charities.

Dick has been involved in the event for 21 years and was aiming to break through the £10,000 barrier for the first time, so he was delighted by the rising total.

Mark Taylor tries to hold off the attentions of Richard Hadley. Picture: Becky Saunderson..
Mark Taylor tries to hold off the attentions of Richard Hadley. Picture: Becky Saunderson..

"At the moment we are past 13 grand," he said. "It was an amazing day, the auction was just unbelievable and everyone enjoyed the occasion."

Graeme Geddes (left) challenges English counterpart Richard Hadley. Picture: Becky Saunderson..
Graeme Geddes (left) challenges English counterpart Richard Hadley. Picture: Becky Saunderson..

The game was also be staged as a testimonial for Gogs Younie, a former Highland League player who kept playing Moray welfare football into his 60s - though the charities received all the cash.

Gogs Younie testimonial match at Kynoch Park, Keith...Picture: Becky Saunderson..
Gogs Younie testimonial match at Kynoch Park, Keith...Picture: Becky Saunderson..

Read more: Hendry to lead Scotland in Keith charity match.

It was fitting that Hendry scored a Scotland goal on home soil but the main tartan hero was striker Ryan Green, who won man of the match after dismantling the England defence with a well-taken hat-trick.

Celebration time for former Scotland captain Colin Hendry after his goal on home Keith soil. Picture: Becky Saunderson..
Celebration time for former Scotland captain Colin Hendry after his goal on home Keith soil. Picture: Becky Saunderson..

Green was a Highland League winner with Forres Mechanics as well as playing for Buckie Thistle, Elgin City and Lossiemouth and was the youngest Scotland player at the pitch at the age of 45.

Scotland hat-trick hero Ryan Green with visiting player Paul Todman. Picture: Becky Saunderson..
Scotland hat-trick hero Ryan Green with visiting player Paul Todman. Picture: Becky Saunderson..

"Big Ryan is a machine and a really nice guy," said Dick. "Technically it was over-50s but you are allowed to have three players between 45 and 50 and he was the only guy we had under 50.

"Colin scored with a shot inside the box and the English boys got a dubious penalty as they always do - you have to give them something!

Alan Grant is about to be on the receiving end of a lunging challenge from Mark McCann. Picture: Becky Saunderson..
Alan Grant is about to be on the receiving end of a lunging challenge from Mark McCann. Picture: Becky Saunderson..

"But everybody enjoyed themselves. The English guys were great, they were all in the Ploo (Plough Inn) with us and they loved the weekend."

Ally Bruce on the ball for Scotland with Phil Burgess pursuing. Picture: Becky Saunderson..
Ally Bruce on the ball for Scotland with Phil Burgess pursuing. Picture: Becky Saunderson..

Between 300 and 400 people attended the match and added to the charity pot, while over £6000 was made from a special auction including items donated by Hendry.

The former Rangers treble-winner donated a signed shirt from the Ibrox club as well as a Scotland jersey and one of the 51 caps he earned for playing for his country - the cap alone raised £1100.

Scotland's Mike Dunbar moves in to dispossess Ash Botwood. Picture: Becky Saunderson..
Scotland's Mike Dunbar moves in to dispossess Ash Botwood. Picture: Becky Saunderson..

A guard of honour was formed for Younie, who played for his hometown Rothes in the Highland League during the 1980s and made a comeback at the age of 55 in a league match at Wick in October, 2015 when the Speysiders were short of players.

Testimonial man Gogs Younie tries to get the ball off Ash Botwood. Picture: Becky Saunderson..
Testimonial man Gogs Younie tries to get the ball off Ash Botwood. Picture: Becky Saunderson..

Keith Football Club gave a helping hand - or two pairs of hands - to the visiting England team who arrived north without a goalkeeper.

The Maroons' under-18 keeper Matthew Cook and under-16 counterpart Finlay Ross played a half each against the Scotland veterans and showed up well.

The Scotland team, including star name Colin Hendry, line up at Kynoch Park. Picture: Becky Saunderson..
The Scotland team, including star name Colin Hendry, line up at Kynoch Park. Picture: Becky Saunderson..

Dick said: "This will make a massive difference to the charities. The football was great but that is just a bonus.

"We set out to make £10,000 and we are definitely at £13,000 now which is just great.

Gogs Younie is applauded off the park in his testimonial match at Kynoch Park. Picture: Becky Saunderson..
Gogs Younie is applauded off the park in his testimonial match at Kynoch Park. Picture: Becky Saunderson..

"It’s the last one, I’m getting too old for it now. My throat is gone and my back is gone!

"I had a really good save in the last five minutes so I’m chuffed with that.

Mark Taylor plays his pass under pressure from Jason Gibson. Picture: Becky Saunderson..
Mark Taylor plays his pass under pressure from Jason Gibson. Picture: Becky Saunderson..

"It would have taken them back to 4-3 and the boy thought he had scored, I don’t know how I got to it but it was good to keep it out.

"It's just been a really good weekend."



Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More