SCOTLAND Seniors will defend their Four Nations title on home soil this weekend as the town of Largs, North Ayrshire plays host to England, Wales and Northern Ireland in the over-50s international tournament.
The three-day competition runs from Friday 5 to Sunday 7 June at the National Sports Training Centre, with Scotland opening against Wales at 7pm on Friday night.
Saturday’s headline fixture sees the hosts face England at 3pm, before completing the tournament with a game against Northern Ireland at 11am on Sunday.
Scotland Seniors were formed in 2011 by former Ayr United and Kilwinning Rangers midfielder Alan McTurk, who built the squad from scratch after recognising there was no seniors’ international team representing the country.
Fifteen years on, the squad has competed at multiple Seniors’ World Cups in Thailand, raised more than £30,000 for charity, and last summer won the Four Nations over-50s tournament in Chester.
The squad includes several former professional footballers, among them former full Scotland international Gary Holt, who earned 10 caps and won the Scottish Cup with Kilmarnock.
Holt, who captains the side, is unfortunately a major doubt for this weekend’s tournament with an Achilles injury.
Among the others travelling to Largs are ex-St Mirren and Dunfermline defender Scott Walker and former Kilmarnock and Ayr United striker Mark Roberts, part of a core of ex-pros, semi-pros and amateurs with deep roots in the Scottish game.
Manager Alan McTurk said: “When Paul Donnelly and myself set this up 15 years ago, we just wanted to create something that gave players a chance to represent their country in the seniors game.
“To now be hosting our own tournament as defending champions, in front of our own support in Ayrshire, is something I’m incredibly proud of.
“We hope everyone who comes along this weekend, whether as a player, a family member or a supporter, goes home with memories that last long after the final whistle.”
Squad member Iain Harrison, who works for Ayrshire drug and alcohol charity WithYou, said: “It’s an honour to be part of this squad and to represent Scotland Seniors at home in Scotland.
“The tournament means a great deal to everyone involved, on and off the pitch.”
Entry to all matches is free. A commemorative 32-page match programme is on sale for £2 in support of the squad’s favoured charities, including Calum’s Cabin, founded in memory of 12-year-old Calum Speirs who died from a brain tumour.
