Ex-Rangers star Mark Hateley to take part in children's coaching sessions in Thurso
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Ex-Rangers star Mark Hateley will be helping to put budding young footballers through their paces at two coaching sessions in Thurso this summer.
The 60-year-old former England internationalist is taking part in a Rangers Soccer Academy roadshow being hosted by Thurso Football Academy on July 4 and 5.
As well as attending the coaching sessions for children aged from two to 15, Mark will be the guest at a question-and-answer session in the town's Park Hotel on the Monday evening.
Mark had two spells with Rangers in the 1990s. He also played for Monaco, AC Milan and several English clubs and won 32 full international caps for England.
More than 130 youngsters have signed up to the coaching sessions – "a fantastic response", according to Thurso Football Academy's head of coaching Alyn Gunn.
These will be held at the Naver all-weather pitch, from 10-11am for those aged two to four; 11.30am to 1pm for the five to nine age group; and 2.15pm to 3.45pm for 10-15 years.
Only 50 tickets were available for the evening event in the Park Hotel and these sold out within 40 minutes of being announced. Each person attending will receive a copy of Mark's autobiography, Hitting the Mark, published in November 2021.
The event has been sponsored by Robbie Fraser, A&J Mackay Plumbing, J Waters Paint and Wallpaper and S Gunn Joinery.
There will be some Rangers-related memorabilia up for auction as the academy looks to raise funds towards its next event. These will include signed shirts from Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Shota Arveladze, Kris Boyd, Kenny Miller and Steven Davis as well as signed items from Alex McLeish, Ronald de Boer and James Tavernier.
Mark said: “I'm looking forward to coming up to Thurso on July 4 and 5 and having a great two days.”
Although there are no places left for the coaching sessions or the Q&A, anyone wishing to add their name to the waiting should email thursofa@yahoo.com
