GALLANT Morton fans have stepped in to help out their oldest rivals and take them on in a charity football match.

Lifelong Cappielow diehard Robert McCahill has offered the hand of friendship to St Mirren fans to help raise money in aid of Cancer Research.

He has pulled out all the stops to put a team together for a challenge game this weekend, with ex-Ton fans’ favourites Alex Williams, pictured at training with the supporters’ squad at Parklea, and Peter Weatherson taking charge of the side.

So far the Morton team have raised £1,000 for the cause.
Robert, who has taken time out from running his Morton Fans Facebook page to organise the match, said: “I was contacted by St Mirren fan Paul Withers who has a relative with cancer and wanted help to raise money.

“It has really caught people’s attention.

“I think everyone has somebody in their family or a friend who is affected by cancer. We have raised a lot of money so far from our end.

“It really is great to see everyone putting old rivalries to one side to help one another out, I mean we really don’t like St Mirren!

“Everyone is getting involved and I think we should take a good crowd up with us.”

The charity challenge match will take place at Park Mains, Erskine at 3pm on Sunday.

Robert, 42, from Greenock said: “It would be good if we could make it an annual fixture.

“This time it is too close to Paisley so maybe we could bring it down here next year!

“We have all been training hard and Morton have been so supportive.

“Kitman Andy Bryan has given us team strips and Alex Williams has been brilliant.

“We are delighted to have him and Peter Weatherson on board.”

Former Saints manager Danny Lennon will take charge of the Buddies fans on the day and both sides are looking forward to a good match and plenty of banter.

Robert, who has been watching Morton for 38 years, added:

“We have done well to pull this together in two weeks.

“Most of the boys playing in the match are in their 20s. I still play football so I am hoping to last the 90 minutes. 

“I don’t care whether it is 15-14 or 1-0. As long as we win and raise money for a great cause.”

Morton sponsor McGill’s Buses have supplied a coach to transport people to and from Erskine and entry to the match is free.

You can pledge to the appeal fund at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/paul-withers