A glitzy evening dress worn by Lorraine Kelly will be the star player at an event celebrating an Angus football club’s claim to global fame.
Arbroath FC is marking the 130th anniversary of its world record 36-0 defeat of Bon Accord this year.
Although the scoreline was equalled in June by FC Infonet Tallinn’s defeat of Virtsu Jalgpalliklubi in an Estonian cup tie, it has never been beaten in association football.
The club has decided to celebrate its goal-scoring exploits of yore with a sold-out gala dinner next weekend.
TV personality and columnist Lorraine Kelly has donated one of her red carpet gowns to a trove of high-value items up for auction and raffle on September 11.
The event will take place in a marquee at the club’s Gayfield Park ground and will see 290 attendees bid on items including bottle number 36 of Arbikie Highland Estate’s special range of 36-0 vodka and gin, and one of 36 engraved Caithness Glass bowls.
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John Stirling of Arbikie said: “The idea behind our 36-0 limited edition vodka and gin is we’ve built a distillery just outside Arbroath.
“We knew it was still a world record so we produced 3,600 bottles of award-winning vodka and gin to help support Arbroath Football Club.
“Hopefully, it’ll sell really well and would make a perfect gift for birthdays or Christmas. I’m looking forward to supporting Arbroath in this way.”
Club chairman John Christison thanked Lorraine for her donation, which will be auctioned on the night, and underlined the club’s partnership with the distillery.
“It’s great that a new company has come in to celebrate with us,” he said. “We’re probably one of the oldest companies left in Arbroath so it’s a great tie-up between the old and the new.”
Online bids for the gin bottle begin at 9am today and can be made via email to afc@strathmoreeventservices.co.uk leaving name, address and telephone number with the bid.
The auction will close on September 13.
The gala dinner will be hosted by former Celtic and Scotland player Murdo MacLeod, supported by a number of speakers.
The night will launch the club’s hall of fame with its first inductees.
John Edward “Ned” Doig played junior football as an outside right and was first summoned to play in goals for the reserves due to short numbers in 1885, with the crowd shouting “let Ned Doig play!”.
He played for Blackburn Rovers in 1889, signed for Sunderland AFC the next season and moved to Liverpool FC in the later days of his career.
In a career spanning 25 seasons, Doig played in at least 1,055 games.
Albert Henderson’s reign as club boss between September 1962 and January 1980 made him one of the longest-serving and most popular managers in British football history.
Prior to management he played as a half-back and inside forward with Dundee, appearing in 270 league and cup games over 10 years with 50 goals to his credit.
One of the most memorable results the Lichties achieved under Henderson’s leadership was a 3-2 league win over Rangers at Ibrox.
Tom Cargill holds the club record for appearances, turning out for AFC 445 times between his debut in 1966 and 1981.
After leaving the club he played junior football and starred for Arbroath Vics in their 4-3 win over the town’s senior side, in which George Best joined the Vics for their centenary celebration in 1982.