Morrison bowing out after clash against Rangers legends
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CLACH captain Gordon Morrison aims to bow out of the Highland League club in style this Sunday as he lines up against many of Rangers’ nine-in-a-row heroes.
The 36-year-old, best known in his time at Lilywhites as a striker, has revealed that it is time to call it quits after the testimonial against many of the Ibrox club’s legends, with Fernando Ricksen taking charge of the Light Blues.
Sunday’s 2pm showdown takes place the day after Mark Warburton’s ’Gers face Hibs in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden.
Dutchman Ricksen has been battling Motor Neurone Disease and charity MND Scotland, which provides support and information for those with the condition, will be getting a share of the money raised to assist Ricksen with medical costs in his battle, at the request of Morrison.
The big weekend kicks off tonight (Friday) at the Kingsmills Hotel in Inverness as Ricksen, along with ex-Rangers stars Andy Goram, Jorg Albertz, Marco Negri, Colin Hendry and Nacho Novo, will be on hand for the sportsman’s dinner, which will be hosted by former Clach player, manager, director and long-time supporter Jim Oliver.
Pulling on the white colours of Clach along with Morrison will be current players David McGurk, Blair Lawrie, Struan Scott-Woodhouse and Neil MacDonald and legends Colin Mitchell, Dave Matheson, Davie “Daisy” Ross, Shaun Kerr and Davie Brennan, with former Celtic and Caley Thistle player Charlie Christie also understood to be signed up.
As well as Goram, Albertz, Negri, Novo and Hendry, the Rangers side, as we went to press, was set to feature Alex Rae, Derek Ferguson, Jose Quitongo, Dave MacPherson and John MacDonald.
Firefighter Morrison, who admits that he’s already missing playing just weeks after the Highland League season ended, expects to experience plenty of emotions over the weekend.
The skipper, who will travel with some of the players from both teams to Hampden for the final on Saturday, said in some ways it will be sad, but it looks like being a weekend to remember.
“The response has been great and we’ve even had to turn down Rangers legends, including Barry Ferguson and Lorenzo Amoruso, because every position is filled and we have four auction winners who will get their chance to play for them too,” he said.
“It’s really a day which I want to be very family-orientated. That’s what this club is all about. The Clach under-13s will be providing a guard of honour, while the youth development players will be involved too.”
Morrison, a Highland League and Cup double winner in 2003-04, explained why he has taken the decision to hang up his boots as the club looks to reshape and improve on last season’s 14th-placed finish.
“I want to give the youths a chance. I don’t want to take a contract when I’m not getting any younger. I look back at what we’ve gone through, from being in administration to coming back and winning the league and cup. I’ve been top scorer in the Highland League and player of the year, so I look back fondly at the highlights,” he said.
“Hopefully, the club can get a new chairman and the manager can strengthen to make the club go back on the up. I don’t want to go to another club and play against Clach, I would find it too hard and I am not too keen to play amateur football. I will be involved if I’m asked, but my work is largely Aberdeen-based right now, so it’s a case of wait and see.”
*** Tickets for the match have been selling well from the Inverness Trophy Centre and the Innes Bar and can also be snapped up from Grant Street Park between 9.30-12.30pm on Saturday. For more information about the tickets, which cost £10, email info@gmtestimonial.co.uk
