St Andrews Boys' Club side to honour legacy of Gerry McHugh

One of the 2010 teams run by St Andrew's Boys Club will honour Gerry McHugh, a former maths teacher at Notre Dame High School, who died in 2020, just a few weeks into the Covid pandemic.

Helen, back row centre, pictured with the team (Image: supplied) St Andrews Boys' Club 2010 Whites were presented with new training gear as they prepare to head into the winter months. 

The kit will honour the legacy of a self-confessed football fanatic who had a particular fondness for Manchester United.

The under-15 squad received the extra kit late last week thanks to the generosity of Mr McHugh's friend, Helen Murray, who works alongside the team's coach, Tommy McDowall.

READ MORE: Tributes pour in for popular teacher who died after contracting Covid (published in April 2020)

And the youth team coach was left blown away by his colleague's act of kindness. 

Explaining to the Tele how the sponsorship deal came about, Tommy revealed the impact Mr McHugh had had on the squad.

"I have coached for best part of 20 years with a few local teams in Inverclyde," he said.

"I started coaching this team around six years ago at nine-a-side.

The training kit will ensure that Mr McHugh's legacy lives on (Image: archive) "Back then the costs of running a football team were manageable. After moving up to eleven-a-side two years ago, we had to work hard in getting sponsorship from anywhere we could.

"We have been lucky with our home kit, as Parker Bros have kindly sponsored us for the last two years, and we have recently been gifted an away set of kits from the Danny Knox Foundation for our age group.

"I am a supervisor in Dingbro Greenock, and Helen also works there as a delivery driver. I was chatting one day about with the cold winter nights coming in, and how I would have to look into getting the kids in the team some warmer tops to keep them warm.

"Helen asked how I would go about getting them for the team, and I just explained that I would try and reach out to local businesses in hope of sponsorship.

READ MORE: Popular teacher remembered at football festival in his memory (first published in June 2023)

"A few days later Helen handed me the money that was needed to get the tops.

"All she wanted in return was to wear them with pride in memory of the late Mr McHugh.

"Helen was a very close friend of Gerry and explained that he was football daft and a big Man United fan, and he would love this. It was a very generous gift.

"Myself, Alex Kerr and Jamie Bradley, who was taught by Mr Hugh in the old Notre Dame High, are very grateful for this kind donation."