A retired Scottish football referee is to auction off his most treasured possession from a 20-year career in the game in a show of appreciation for NHS Fife staff working on the frontline of the coronavirus crisis.
Football fanatics will have the chance to bid for a blood splattered shirt worn by Rangers legend Terry Butcher, which was given to Bert Hopkins on his last game as an official, more than 30 years ago.
Bert, a Class 1 referee who took charge of many a top flight match involving the biggest clubs in Scottish football in his career, was linesman for the last match of the 1987-88 season between Falkirk and Rangers.
As a memento and show off appreciation on his retirement, then-Rangers manager Graeme Souness presented the shirt of his most trusted defender to Bert even though it was soaked in blood following an injury sustained by Butcher during the match.
“Health and safety rules wouldn’t allow it to happen today but despite the blood, Graeme Souness came into the referee’s changing room after hearing it was my final match and gave me Terry’s shirt,” Bert explained.
“Terry had sustained an injury but in typical fashion he played on and by the end of the game the Rangers away top which was white was covered in blood.
“I even joked with Souness at the time that he could have washed it.
“I took it home and my mum insisted on washing it but there is still some staining from the blood that can be found on the number six on the back.”
Despite Rangers thrashing Falkirk 5-0 in what was the final match of the season, they could only finish third behind champions Celtic and runners up Hearts.
The incident of Butcher’s bloodied Rangers shirt also came a year before the now infamous match in which the defender sustained a similar injury whilst captaining England versus Sweden.
Images of Butcher drenched in the blood soaked England shirt after losing a pint of blood have become iconic but Bert joked his strip is the original.
Bert, from Markinch, hopes to get the shirt’s original owner to sign it before he puts it up for auction.
“I’d love for Terry to sign the jersey, after all it is for a good cause,” said Bert.
“Seeing and reading about all the incredible work the hospital staff and frontline workers are dong to keep people safe is inspiring and I just thought it was time to pass the shirt on and hopefully raise some money to show my appreciation.”
Anyone interested in bidding for the shirt can do so by emailing details to nhenderson@dctmedia.co.uk which will then be passed on to Bert.
