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Angus mechanic engineers kickabout with Matt Le Tissier and Paul Merson

Mechanic Mark Gibson appears alongside football greats Matt Le Tissier and Paul Merson in a web video.
Mechanic Mark Gibson appears alongside football greats Matt Le Tissier and Paul Merson in a web video.

An Angus mechanic proved he was man of the hatch after meeting two of his footballing heroes recently.

Brechin man Mark Gibson, who works at Central Motors in Letham, appears alongside English football greats Matt Le Tissier and Paul Merson in a web video.

The garage is a Unipart Car Care Centre and the firm arranged a series of football and car care challenges with a satellite broadcaster far from the crucibles of Highbury or The Dell.

Sky Sports comedy pair “the hairy strikers” joined Mr Gibson and the ex-footballers to launch a nationwide campaign, which began on Thursday.

Mr Gibson, 44, said: “I grew up following the careers of Matt Le Tissier and Paul Merson, so when I was selected, I jumped at the chance to take part in the campaign.

“I’m around the same age as these guys, so it was a real treat to meet them.”

Contests will reveal who possesses the top-flight footballing skills between Mr Gibson and former Southampton striker Le Tissier, who will be up against ex-Arsenal forward Merson and mechanic Freddy Ash from Somerset.

During one challenge, in which the teams battled out to change a van tyre, Mr Gibson tightened up the wheel nuts before Merson struggled to unscrew the tyre.

Mr Gibson, a keen footballer at weekends, joked: “I demonstrated how to change a tyre, which was an experience in itself as Paul had never changed the spare wheel on a car before and it showed.

“The day was a good laugh and we got to have a kickaround with Matt and Paul I reckon I even taught them some footballing skills myself. Matt kindly signed my overalls and I plan to frame them as a memento to hang up in the garage at work.”

Stuart Sims of Unipart said: “We all had a really fun day filming the new UCCC Sky campaign and hanging out with Matt Le Tissier and Paul Merson.

“A huge thank-you to Mark Gibson and Freddy Ash, who not only showed up the professional footballers with their technical prowess but also demonstrated they know a thing or two about kicking a football.”