THE community will have the chance to celebrate a Neilston FC legend at a special game this Saturday.

Residents are being urged to turn out in their numbers for Stephen Docherty’s testimonial at the Brig O’Lea stadium. 

After signing from Newton Mearns AFC, ‘Doc’ played for Neilston for 10 seasons. 

Andy Whiteford, who played with and later managed him, including during the title-winning 2013/14 season, has been helping to organise the match with the current management team.

He told the Barrhead News: “When he first joined, he was a younger guy with a slight build and I was thinking ‘how will he handle it?’

“Junior football back in the day was quite a competitive environment but, after seeing him in training and a couple of games, I knew right away he was cut out for it.

“He did remarkably well getting into the team, keeping his place and then becoming a major player.

“He was very rarely injured, he wouldn’t dip below a seven out of ten and I think he was recognised for that when he won personal awards, like Player of the Year.

“He’s a local boy and I’ve got no doubts there will be a good turnout. It’s a celebration of what he’s given to the club and we are just trying to give him a wee bit back.

“It would be good to see as many people as possible coming down to support Stephen.”

The game will see the former midfielder, who is married to Emma and dad to two-year-old Nola, play alongside former team-mates from the league-winning season against more recent and current members of the team.

Stephen, 36, said: “It was a privilege to play with the club. I had ten good seasons but I’ve not played for the last year and a half. 

“With Covid and stuff, it’s nice of them to organise a game for me after all that, when it could easily have been forgotten about. I’m looking forward to it.”

The match kicks off at 2pm.