A special friendly football match in aid of Motor Neurone Disease (MND) research will take place next weekend in Stranorlar.
The former high kings of Tyrone soccer, Blane Rovers from Aghyaran, will take on their Donegal rivals from yesteryear, Border Celtic.
The much anticipated match will kick-off at 4pm at the Finn Valley Centre next Saturday, October 23.
The Border Celtic team that played their first ever game in Cappry during the Twin Towns Festival in 1990.
Back row L-R: Robert Alexander, George Michael Sproule, Michael Gallen, Michael Lafferty (RIP), Liam O’ Donnell and Kevin Gallen (manager).
Front row L-r: Brian Harvey, Hugh Byrne, Niall Gallen and Eugene Gallen.
The now defunct Border Celtic was made up of players from Meenreagh, a rural border area south of Killygordon, and they were a match for many a team in their day.
While the Blane Rovers soccer field in Aghyaran is now well grown over, it was once home to one of the best soccer teams in Tyrone.
Indeed, Rovers won the Fermanagh and Western Football League in the 1983-84 season.
The idea for next weekend’s game was inspired by former Rovers striker, Joe Gallen, who is currently battling the crippling MND.
Joe Gallen’s famous No 9 Blane Rovers jersey.
From the townland of Blane, Joe was once one of the most formidable strikers around and also tormented many a defence in the Donegal League while playing for Curragh Athletic.
Joe is also a well-known, and highly respected, businessman and his structural engineering company has been involved in major projects all over Donegal and the north west.
The organisers of next weekend’s event would like to stress that all proceeds will go directly to MND charities on both sides of the border, as well as a number of local charities.
Donations will be accepted on the day.
Tags: