MORTON stars took time out from training to honour the fallen by helping with this year's Scottish Poppy Appeal.

Twelve players manned collections in Morrison’s, Tesco and the Oak Mall shopping centre.

Amongst them was club captain Jim McAlister and top scorer Bob McHugh, who helped to raise funds for Scotland’s leading Armed Forces charity.

Ton chief executive David MacKinnon says he was keen for the club to support the charity.

He said: “In the many years I’ve been in football, I’ve always believed that the local football club and its players have a major influence in shaping local community engagement.

“At this time of year when we remember the fallen who gave their lives for our freedom, and the daily struggles those injured in service endure, it’s important that we as a club give as much support as we can.

“If by giving a small portion of our time we are able to engage the Inverclyde community in supporting Poppyscotland, then we are honoured to do so.”

Poppyscotland relies on around 10,000 volunteers across the country and Gordon Michie, head of fundraising, extended his thanks to the collection team, which also included Reece Lyon, Peter Grant, Billy King and Lewis Strapp.

He said: “We are incredibly grateful to the Morton players for volunteering their time in support of the Scottish Poppy Appeal.

"Volunteers are the lifeblood of Poppyscotland and the more collectors we have out on the streets at this time of year, the more money we can raise.

“Having the players collecting for a few hours has given the appeal in Greenock a huge boost, both in terms of the money they have collected but also the added interest it has generated.

"Involvement such as this puts Poppyscotland in a position to help even more members of the Armed Forces community in the year ahead, providing them with the life-changing support so many of them urgently need.

“Together with Greenock Morton we’re showing our service personnel that we are behind them, always.”

The money raised from the Scottish Poppy Appeal and the charity’s year-round funding helps to provide support to members of the Armed Forces Community by providing tailored funding and assistance.

The charity also funds services in advice, employment, housing, mental health, mobility and respite.