A group of pals are inviting residents to come along and support their charity football match this weekend in memory of their best friend.
Stephen Gallagher, Dominic Collins, Paul Doherty and Finn Docherty are hosting the game, which has a 2pm kick-off, at Brig O’Lea Stadium in Neilston on Sunday, September 15.
They have spent months organising the event, which is being held in honour of Jonathan Morrin who sadly passed away on April 18 at the age of 21.
Stephen told the Barrhead News: “Jonathan was a local boy and he stayed up in Parkhouse. We were all best pals for ten years.
“He was the kindest guy, really funny, no one ever had a bad word to say about him and everyone got on so well with him.
“We spent a lot of time in Barrhead and we would all go to the Arthurlie games.
“He was football daft and a Celtic season ticket holder.
“Not too long after his funeral, we were in the Brig Inn in Barrhead and we were looking for some way to pay tribute to him and thought of organising a game.
“It just sort of grew arms and legs from there. It started off as a wee kick about in the park and then slowly more ideas kept spiralling and we arranged this big 11s match.”
Those playing in the game are mostly Jonathan’s friends from his schooldays at St Ninian’s High in Giffnock.
His older brother Gerry will also be playing, as well as some of Jonathan’s friends’ colleagues from their various workplaces.
The two teams have been named after Jonathan’s two favourite pubs, Malones in Glasgow and the Brig Inn.
The money raised through the match and bake sale will go to East Renfrewshire Foodbank, as well as the £2,260 and counting they have already made through their Just Giving page.
“We managed to get Brig O’Lea and it’s quite a big event now,” added Stephen who lives in Newton Mearns.
“We didn’t expect it to go this far but it’s all going really well and shaping up to be a great day.
“We just want to try and get as many people in the crowd as possible.
“The more there the better as we will raise more money.”
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