Ross-shire footballers asked to reunite in 50th anniversary of Ross County v Manchester United game
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FOOTBALLERS who played in Ross-shire and across the Highlands since the 1960's are being asked to reunite for a special event to also commemorate when Manchester United played at Ross County.
Former Ross County player Bill Mackenzie is organising an event looking to reunite players who played in the Highlands between the 1960's and the 1990's.
It will also commemorate when Manchester United played Ross County at Victoria Park on August 11, 1973 in an event which saw the opening of the Jail End.
The reunion is being planned to take place on Saturday, November 25 at the Global Energy Stadium in Dingwall when Ross County are due to take on Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership.
Organisers are also planning to invite former Manchester United winger Willie Morgan as a guest speaker who played in the friendly which took place in Dingwall.
Morgan who won 26 caps for Scotland, played for Manchester United between 1968 and 1975 as well as Burnley, Bolton Wanderers and Blackpool.
The reunion is inviting any players who represented Ross County, Caledonian, Inverness Thistle, Brora Rangers or represented any teams which played in the North Caledonian Reserve League and Ross-shire Amateur League.
Guests of honour who will be attending the reunion include Johnny Buchanan, Jim Oliver, Jim Savage and Edwin Skinner.
Mackenzie (70), who was nicknamed Pengy, played at centre half with Ross County between 1974 and 1976. During his career, he also played with Alness, Bonar Bridge, Dingwall Thistle, Muir of Ord and Maryburgh.
He says the reunion will be a great chance for former players from across Ross-shire and Highlands to reunite and speak about old times.
He also says it is a great chance to reminisce when one of the most famous football teams in the world came to Dingwall on what he remembered was fantastic occasion in Dingwall.
He said: "It is coming up to to the 50th anniversary since Ross County played Manchester United on Saturday, August 11 1973.
"It was a special match which was organised to celebrate opening the Jail End at Victoria Park.
"But as well as remembering that match, it is also a chance for footballers from the area who played during the last 60 years to get together again.
"It was always a close football community in Ross-shire and the Highlands, because all the players knew each other and I thought it would be great to get all the players together from that era to meet up again."
For the reunion to take place, Mackenzie is trying to establish if there is enough interest to make it go ahead and would like people to get in touch with him by August 21.
He asks anyone interested in attending to get in touch with him by 07789178370 or email mackenziebill2004@yahoo.co.uk
