MORTON and Scotland fanatics from a local football supporters’ club are marking a milestone anniversary.

The Albert Hotel Morton Supporters’ Club is 20 years old this month – and members are celebrating the occasion with a sportsman’s dinner, featuring journalist and broadcaster Bill Leckie as speaker.

Invited guests on the night will also include ‘Mr Morton’ Allan McGraw, former club captain Derek Collins and ex-Ton stopper and current goalkeeping coach David Wylie, who are all from the famous side of season 1995-96, when the Albert club started out and their favourites narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League.

The dinner takes place on Saturday 21 March in Gourock’s Gamble Halls.

Club member Cha Halliday said: “The Albert was formed in 1995 by the late Gary Miller, a local boy who thought there was a demand for more supporters travel options.

“He set about with a few others to supply buses to all away games and then started doing the same for all home games.

“Gary then moved on and started the same thing in the Spinnaker Hotel — and the connection with the Spinnaker still runs to this day as we share home buses.

“The club carried on with various people over the years. The last 10 years has been Sean Donnelly and Jim MacVicar who have continued the good work and have also been the brains behind the Gourock Tartan Army.

“We have seen some highs and some lows following both Scotland and Morton, but we wouldn’t change a thing.” Travel club members have also transformed a section of the Albert into ‘the football room’ — a shrine to all things Morton and Scotland.

It is packed with pictures and memorabilia from the last 20 years.

Cha added: “Recently the owners of the hotel — Paul and Patricia Kennedy — allowed us to turn their back lounge into our own shrine. We replaced an old bookcase with a nice modern display unit where we have two shelves of Morton memorabilia and two with souvenirs brought back from Scotland games from around 20 countries visited by the Gourock Tartan Army.

“For many years we have sponsored players and match balls, and once a year like to take in match hospitality. We even arranged for the Golden Lions parachute display team to fly over and drop in with the Second Division Winners’ Championship flag at Cappielow in 2007.

“For the last three years we have sponsored Thomas O’Ware, who has come along to support events and fundraisers we have from time to time. Now we are going to have a dinner dance in the Gamble Halls to mark the 20th birthday.

“We hope to have around 150 people, guest speakers, some players old and new and some surprises along the way.

“Old travel club members are most welcome to come along and join us as well.” For ticket information, contact any committee member or speak to someone behind the bar at the Albert Hotel.