A special charity game in memory of a well-known Fife football fan who recently lost his fight with cancer will take place next month.
Organisers of Ally’s Game, being held in honour of Raith Rovers media officer and club stalwart Ally Gourlay, hope the event could become an annual fixture on the calendar, with all proceeds going to Maggie’s Fife cancer care centre a cause very close to the Gourlay family’s hearts and Raith Rovers’ youth development.
Two teams of legends will pull on their boots once more at 2.30pm on Sunday April 10 in a match that is sure to capture the imagination of supporters across Fife and beyond.
And, as Stark’s Park was his home from home, it is fitting that the hallowed turf will play host to a match in Mr Gourlay’s honour
Mr Gourlay, who was Raith’s club historian and chairman of the Raith Rovers Former Players’ Association, passed away last month aged just 53 following a courageous battle against cancer of the oesophagus.
Given just six months to live after his diagnosis in early 2014, he belied doctors’ expectations by enjoying almost two years filled with great memories and moments before his passing.
His sons Jonny and Matthew and daughter Samantha helped launch the event on Tuesday.
“It’s one of these strange things you never imagine your parents dying but see when they do, you always think it’s going to be this closed, family affair,” Jonny told The Courier.
“So many people have been in touch to offer their support and condolences, it’s been wonderful really.
“Raith was his life. It’s amazing to think that in a couple of weeks’ time we’ll be having a tribute match to him.”
A one-off jersey paying tribute to Mr Gourlay has also been designed and produced for the game and will be worn by the squads taking to the Stark’s Park pitch next month.
Each strip will have ‘Gourlay 53’ adorned on the back, while on the front will be the words “talking of the times, the love and the laughing” the words Mr Gourlay embraced in recent years.The event is being organised by the team behind the annual Raith Hall of Fame, in which Mr Gourlay was himself inducted, and Alistair Cameron, one of the group, concluded: “We’ve already started to contact a whole host of players to take part and I know they will do eve
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strip will have ‘Gourlay 53’ adorned on the back, while on the front will be the words “talking of the times, the love and the laughing” the words Mr Gourlay embraced in recent years.The event is being organised by the team behind the annual Raith Hall of Fame, in which Mr Gourlay was himself inducted, and Alistair Cameron, one of the group, concluded: “We’ve already started to contact a whole host of players to take part and I know they will do everything they can to take part on the day.”