A north-east football club has made a heartfelt appeal for information after a “stalwart” fan went missing earlier this week.
Paul Simpson, 24, was last seen at Peterhead Community Hospital on Tuesday wearing his beloved Peterhead Football Club shirt.
Police are anxious to trace Mr Simpson and last night the club’s chief executive Nat Porter appealed for anyone with information to come forward and contact the police.
Mr Porter, who oversees match days at the club’s Balmoor stadium and has known Mr Simpson professionally for several years, said: “He has worked as a steward here at Balmoor on match days and he’s a stalwart supporter of the football club. Paul’s been with us for a while.
“Our chief steward had been trying to reach him during the week – as he usually would – in the run up to tomorrow’s game against Ayr.
“His mobile now isn’t ringing at all. Perhaps his battery is dead. But we were shocked when the police said he had gone missing.
“We would love for him to get in touch with us or the police and hope he returns home safely.”
It is understood Mr Simpson was last seen at the town’s hospital at around 10am on Tuesday.
Last night a police spokesman said: “Police Scotland is anxious to trace 24-year-old Paul Simpson, who has been reported missing from the Peterhead area.
“Paul was last seen at around 10am on Tuesday, September 30, at Peterhead Community Hospital and is described as being about 5ft9in, of proportionate build, with very short dark hair and a dark full beard.
“When last seen, he was wearing dark tracksuit bottoms, a Peterhead football shirt and a blue jacket with thin white stripes in a square pattern.”
Mr Simpson lives in the Peterhead area and went to school at Mintlaw Academy, leaving in 2006.
It is understood he has previously worked at the Aberdeen amusement park at the Beach and is currently employed as a rigger at Surelift in Peterhead.
Anyone with information about Mr Simpson’s whereabouts is urged to contact police on 101.