MEMBERS of Lodge Firth of Clyde Gourock No 626 have given £500 to help young footballers in the town.

The money will assist with travel costs for players from the 2nd Gourock Boys’ Brigade Company compete in five-a-side tournaments in England and Northern Ireland.

Company captain Alan Aitken MBE said: “In recent seasons our Boys’ Brigade company has been reasonably successful competing in both the under-14 and under-18 national BB five-a-side tournaments.

“Indeed both squads have managed to win the British title on three occasions over the past few years.

“This year, our senior lads head to Belfast on 25 April to compete for their British senior title and our junior squad are off to Derby to defend their British junior title — and hoping for an incredible four-in-a-row if successful.

“This level of success comes at a price travelling to these venues. The most generous donation of £500 from the Master and brethren of Lodge Gourock 626 will assist greatly in subsidising the cost for the boys of both squads. We are indebted to Lodge 626 for their most generous donation.” The cheque presentation was attended by the Provincial Grand Master of Renfrewshire West, Bro James Livingstone, who congratulated the lodge for the donation which followed other recent contributions to Gourock Youth Athletic Club, Gourock Coal and Benevolent Fund and Alzheimer Scotland.

The accompanying photograph shows, from left, Worshipful Senior Warden Nicholas Stetz, Warrant Officer Iain Purdue, PGM James Livingstone, Right Worshipful Master Andrew Pigott, Warrant Officer George Turner and Worshipful Junior Warden David Stevenson. Company captain Alan Aitken was unable to attend the ceremony.

In the past 12 months, lodges within the Province of Renfrewshire West have donated well in excess of £20,000 to a wide range of needy causes, including a sizeable contribution to the Grand Lodge of Scotland’s designated charity, Prostate Cancer Scotland.