A former member and keen supporter of Mintlaw FC will be honoured with a memorial bench in the town.
The town’s football club raised more than £1,900 through a 24-hour sponsored relay run and is using part of that to honour Philip Eddie following his death last year.
It is donating the £1,600 raised through online donations to Grampian Autistic Society, and a further £300 in cash donations is being spent on a memorial bench near the club’s grounds in the Pleasure Park.
Mr Eddie, 41, died while working in The Garret Bar and Lounge in Mintlaw in March 2019.
The former Pitfour School and Mintlaw Academy pupil was a keen footballer in his early years, playing for Mintlaw Boys’ Club, Mintlaw FC and Mintlaw United.
So when Mintlaw FC’s manager Paul Finnie asked players to suggest good causes to fundraise for, the idea of a memorial bench at the Mintlaw Pavilion was agreed upon, as was Grampian Autistic Society – that with one of the player’s sons in mind.
A club spokesman said: “Philip was also the barman at our Garret Bar where, after watching our home games, he would be the first to tell us who had played well and who had in his words been useless.
“Philip’s mum Linda owns the Garret Bar and is our club chairwoman.
“She is hugely respected and loved by the team, management and committee for all that she does for us so and we thought this a fitting tribute for her also.”
Mr Eddie’s death was related to complications arising from myotonic dystrophy – a genetic condition that weakens the muscles over time.
