Tickets for Thurso firefighters' charity football dinner sell out within 25 minutes
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Organisers of this summer's showpiece fundraising match between Thurso firefighters and a team of ex-Rangers stars say they have been blown away by the level of interest among local supporters.
The occasion is still five months away but tickets for a sportsman's dinner and charity auction taking place after the game sold out within 25 minutes of going on sale at the weekend.
The match is scheduled for the Dammies on Saturday, August 7, Covid-19 restrictions permitting. Funds from the game and the evening function at the Weigh Inn will be used to buy life-saving defibrillators as well as helping local charities.
Firefighters Brian Davidson, David Bain and Karl Drummond from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service put together a nine-strong organising committee to make the arrangements.
Brian said they were taken aback by the demand for the sportsman's dinner. Between 80 and 90 tickets, costing £100 each, went on sale at noon on Saturday – and by 12.25pm they had all been snapped up.
"We could have sold them about three times over," Brian said. "It was phenomenal – it was actually quite mind-blowing.
"I wish we had put three or four phone numbers down because it was just the two of us and the phones were going constantly.
"Even at seven or eight o'clock at night there were still people phoning and asking if there were still tickets available. Obviously we had to tell them no, unfortunately."
Tickets are now on sale for the match itself, with up to 3000 being made available. "Obviously that's if Covid allows," Brian pointed out.
Rangers legends, managed by Stan Gordon, will feature Roy Carroll, Marvin Andrews, Colin Hendry, Bob Malcolm, Alex Rae, Derek Ferguson, Charlie Miller, Nacho Novo, Michael Mols, Andy Little, Gordon Durie and John MacDonald and it is also hoped Marco Negri will be able to travel from Italy.
Ex-Wick Academy manager Alistair Budge will be coaching the fire station team.
Main sponsors are Eric Gunn Driver Training, CS Drilling Services and Autoquip of Wick, along with a full set of individual player sponsors.
Brian added: "People are now looking forward to April and coming out of this lockdown and this is something for them to hope for.
"It's not just for Rangers supporters – it's for the whole community.
"Hopefully we'll get the Celtic legends up next year. Just because it's Rangers legends coming up, we're not discriminating against anybody."
Match tickets are available from Brian Davidson (07415 888236), David Bain (07810120859) or Karl Drummond (07795 844222). They will also be on sale at J Waters paint and wallpaper shop and Superclean of Thurso once restrictions have been lifted. Ticket prices are £7 for adults and £3 for under-12s.
Items in the charity auction include a painting of Karl-Heinz Riedle by local artist Davie Greig which has been signed by the German internationalist who scored twice for Borussia Dortmund in their 1997 Champions League final win against Juventus.
