Cambuslang Rangers and East Kilbride Thistle to remember Alan Paterson with memorial match

East Kilbride Thistle and Cambuslang Rangers will come together to remember their former player and manager, Alan Paterson, with a memorial match next month.

Paterson, who played for and managed both clubs, tragically passed away in September at the age of just 44.

The father of two’s sudden death shocked the community and tributes from across the amateur game and the West of Scotland Football League flooded in for the Royal Mail postal worker.

Now a team of Thistle and Camby legends will face each other at the Showpark on Saturday, June 10, kick-off 2pm, for the Alan Paterson Memorial Cup, where funds raised will go towards grassroots football.

Jags legend John Brogan will take the home team, while former Thistle gaffer and current Cambuslang Rangers co-boss Billy Campbell will manage the visitors.

Ryan Kelly, David Roome, Martin Fellowes Snr, Alan McRae, Paul Bain and Alan’s former assistant at EK Thistle, Billy Dolan, are among those set to join the Jags’ squad.

For Cambuslang, Billy Holmes, Derek Watson, Gary McGregor, Stewart Maxwell, Paul Burns and Paul Brown are among the ex-Camby men to take part.

Ex-Jags boss and striker Steven McClung, who is helping organise the match, said: “Alan was such a popular figure and a big character within football and out of it as well.

“The proceeds will be going to grassroots football, which was something Alan was very passionate about. He was helping out with his kids’ football teams around the time he died.

“He loved to help out young boys in the game.

“It’s still hard to believe that he’s gone and it will be an emotional day.

“But it will be a good day to catch up with everyone who knew him and talk about the good times we had with Alan.

“It would be great to see as many people as possible at the Showpark come out to remember him.”

There will be activities for kids to get involved with on the day, with face painting and a bouncy castle to keep wee ones entertained.

The main event will see Jags and Camby legends battle it out on Alan’s old stomping ground at the Showpark.

And Billy Campbell said: “I have known Alan since he was very young so it will be an emotional day.

“I made contact with Andy Cunningham, who actually signed Alan for Cambuslang, and between us we have pulled together a squad of players who played alongside Alan. We are looking at having over 20 players involved on our side.

“It is still a very emotional time for Alan’s family, but they are all comfortable that the game is going ahead and everyone involved in the day had a relationship with Alan, so they all want to show their respect for him.

“There’s a lot of work going on in the background to bring this together and so many people have put in their time to get this game on.”

Entry to the game on June 10 will be by donation.

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