A 24-hour football challenge is being held to honour three Dalbeattie Star legends.
Seven former Star players will play around the clock to raise money for Marie Curie and the British Heart Foundation.
And the event – which will see seven-a-side football for 24 hours between June 24 and 25 – will pay tribute to Gary Holden, Jimmy Hannay and Frankie Styles.
The trio passed away between October, 2020, and March, 2021.
Former Star player, captain and manager Ritchie Maxwell, who is one of the seven, said: “We’ve been thinking of doing a fundraiser for Jimmy, Gary and Frankie for a wee while but just due to circumstances up until now we’ve been unable to organise something.
“A couple of weeks ago we got our heads together to think of a unique event and came up with the 24/7s.
“The team will play seven-a-sides for 24 hours against 24 different teams.
“Hopefully we can raise some money for some good causes in memory of the three guys.”
Frankie Styles – known as Mr Dalbeattie Star – died in October, 2020.
He had been involved with the club for 35 years, having helped with its reformation in 1975 and served as chairman, groundsman and kitman.
Gary Holden, 51, was assistant manager when he passed away on Christmas Day, 2020. He had also held a number of roles at Threave Rovers.
Jimmy Hannay, who had played and coached with Star, died in March, 2021, at the age of 43. He was a PE teacher at North West Community Campus.
That’s where the challenge will start at 6pm on Friday, June 24. Joining Ritchie will be Ali Cathro, Darren Kerr, Curtiss Wilson, Paul Cook, Grant Parker and Lewis Sloan, who still plays for Star.
They will play through the night in Dumfries, facing a new team every hour, before heading to Dalbeattie on Saturday to complete the challenge at Star’s Islecroft Stadium.
Spectators are welcome to cheer the team on, with refreshments and entertainment planned for Islecroft. There will also be an auction and a raffle.
Money raised will go to Marie Curie and the British Heart Foundation with a small percentage going to Star’s youth team.
Teams are still being sought to take on the Star select.
Ritchie added: “Some of the slots are filled but we’re looking for other teams to come forward to play against us.
“The later in the 24 hours you leave it, the worse we’re going to be!
“I’m pretty sure the community will get behind us because they were three very popular men – in general and in footballing circles.
Anyone who would like to enter a team or is interested in sponsoring the event, can contact Ritchie at 07500056783 or email rgm4@hotmail.co.uk. And donations can be made online at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/24-7s
