Morton legend Joe Harper hopes to be celebrating at Cappielow this weekend after the eagerly-anticipated clash against Falkirk

Harper will be in the stand to cheer on his hometown club on Saturday when the Bairns visit for the first time since McKinnon's controversial shock departure after just three months in charge.

The former striker will make a rare appearance locally as the guest of honour at the annual Greenock Police Club sportsman's dinner on Friday night and deliberately picked the date so he could watch Morton in action the next day.

Harper, who is known simply as 'king' of Pittodrie for his goalscoring exploits with Aberdeen, also scored many a goal at Cappielow and hopes to have his arms aloft again in celebration this weekend.

Joe told the Tele: "I asked for a Friday night when Morton would be at home on the Saturday. "I always look forward to coming home as I have so many fantastic memories of those days.

"Everybody in Aberdeen knows that Morton is my team. "They're my first love.

"My mum and dad passed away just a couple of years ago so I don't get down to the town as much as I used to although, when I do, I still like to nip into Cappielow and catch up with Andy Bryan."

His appearance at the Police Club on Friday is ironic given it was the 'boys in blue' who gave Harper one of his funniest memories growing up in Greenock.

He said: "I always supported Morton as a boy and had a way of sneaking into the games at the Wee Dublin End. "It's funny because I got caught one time by the railway police as they were just wearing suits and asked me if there was a way into the ground. "Me, not being the brightest spark, said 'aye, 'mon this way mister' - and that's when I got nabbed and fined half a crown. "Two weeks later, I signed for the club."

Harper went on to play at the highest level in Scotland and England and for his country at the 1978 World Cup in Argentina.

He was part of the famous Morton side that took on Chelsea in the club's only participation in European football 50 years ago in the 1968 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.

Harper said: "We gave them a helluva fright. "They'd beaten us 5-0 in London but, at one point, we were 3-1 up at Cappielow and had them worried."

Morton ended up losing 4-3 that night and a year later, Harper signed for Aberdeen and went on to become the club's all-time leading goalscorer.

The ex-striker, who turned 70 in January this year, will recall some of his fondest memories from his illustrious career on Friday night alongside Dunfermline great Jim Leishman and Greenock's own Gerry McDade, who will compere the event.

But Harper, who also played for Everton and Hibernian, credits his time at Cappielow for his success.

He said: "I could not have had a better apprenticeship."

The dinner starts at 7pm and some tickets, priced £30 including a three-course dinner and complimentary drink, are still available from the club on 720749 or 07972 593032, email greenockpoliceclub@gmail.com or visit the Greenock Police Club Facebook page.