Old Firm supporters charity match in memory of a Fraserburgh man raised £3,500
A charity football match held in Fraserburgh between supporters of rival Old Firm teams Celtic and Rangers in memory of James ‘Suds’ Sutherland who died in 2015 has raised over £3,500.
James ‘Suds’ Sutherland who had strong family connections with Fraserburgh Lifeboat died in March 2015 aged 51 after being diagnosed with a brain tumour at the end of 2014.
‘Suds’ had been a lifelong Glasgow Celtic Supporter following his boyhood heroes for over 35 years since the age of 14.
Norman Reid, his friend who organised the charity match between Celtic and Rangers supporters, said: “It was all very sudden from when he was going down to the football and having a good laugh with his mates. We decided it would be a good idea to have a local Celtic versus Rangers match and keep James’s name alive by playing for the 'Suds' Memorial Cup.
'We got the Rangers lads involved and had our first match last year in December 2015. We had special Celtic shirts made with his nickname “Suds” printed on the back.
'Celtic won 4-1 in last year’s match and we raised £3803 for Fraserburgh Lifeboat, a charity very close to 'Suds’s' heart.
'His father, also James, was Deputy Coxswain and his uncle Albert was Coxswain of Fraserburgh Lifeboat. Other uncles were also involved. Nowadays his two cousins Vic and Dave are Coxswain and Deputy Coxswain respectively.'
In a pulsating, enthralling match this year Rangers gained revenge by the narrowest of margins. After a 4-4 draw and a nail biting tension packed penalty shoot out the destination of the cup this year was only decided after the 14th penalty was fired into the net by a Rangers player.
The £3,500 raised was split this year between Fraserburgh RNLI and a local charity Buy Benaiah
'Sud’s' cousin Fraserburgh Lifeboat Coxswain Vic Sutherland said: “It was a tremendous gesture by James’s friends, both Celtic and Rangers supporters to arrange and play the game and keep his memory alive by naming the cup after him. The fantastic amount raised will benefit ourselves and another local charity. The donation we receive will help us to save lives at sea.”
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
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