Glasgow Saints FC tackles 24hr charity match
The team kicked off at 10pm on Saturday, and played through the night
A Dennistoun football club is recovering after taking on a game lasting 24 hours to raise money for charity.
The Glasgow Saints kicked off their marathon match at 10pm on Saturday, and rotated players every half an hour to keep the game going.
They were playing in aid of several charity causes, the Beatson Cancer Centre, where one member of the Women’s and Non-Binary team is undergoing treatment, and for Scottish Women’s Premier League player, Alana Marshall, who is being supported by the team and her colleagues at Openreach for overseas MS treatment.
As well as this, each player brought along one item for a collection to give to Dennistoun’s Everlasting Foodbank.
"It's about making a tangible difference"
Organiser and manager at the club, Laurie Keith, came up with the challenge.
He said: “This is not just about football; it's about making a tangible difference in people's lives.
“Together, we can score big for those in need.
“We’ve had amazing support from so many people and organisations so far and have some superb prizes donated for a raffle.
"It’s going to be a real challenge played out over 24 hour-long matches, and some of our players are going to have very tired legs by the end.”
Women’s and Non-Binary Team player, Gemma Fleming, is one of the core players who started off in the first batch.
She said: “When I first got asked to do it, I was like sure why not, but I didn’t really consider that I’d probably be playing football for at least a third of the hours I was here as a core player.
“It’s been quite intense, but good fun!”
The team have raised more than £7,000 already, with their GoFund Me still running for anyone who wants to chip in.
After the event, the team enjoyed a celebration and raffle draw, with prizes including an overnight stay at Loch Lomond, wine tasting, and tickets to a Scotland fixture.
"Today's really felt like a proper community"
Glasgow Saints teamed up in a diversity and inclusion partnership with Openreach last year, giving Glaswegians from all backgrounds a safe place to play.
Laurie Keith said at the end of the match: “It’s been kind of special, if I’m honest.
“An awful lot of what we try and do at Saints is about community, and today’s really felt like a proper community, solidarity, community, it’s something we talk about an awful lot.
“It’s just felt brilliant, there’s been everyone here from all walks of life, all age groups, just having fun, and just doing something really good for other people.”