Peterhead manager Jim McInally was pleased to have Gary Fraser back in his squad for last Saturday’s game at Cove Rangers and delighted that the midfielder got 80 minutes under his belt in a charity match for https://backonside.co.uk/ on Sunday.
Fraser suffered a knee injury in December 2020 and after delays caused by Covid the club ran a crowdfunding page to help pay the cost of Gary’s operation as well as raise funds for Mental Health Charity Back Onside who worked with the 27-year-old when he was out of the game.
Blue Toon manager Jim McInally put his shirt from Dundee United’s 1987 UEFA Cup Final against IFK Gothenburg up for auction, with player/coach Simon Ferry doing likewise with his English League Two winning top with Swindon from 2012.
Back Onside donated a four ball at their Golf Day in St Andrews this May as well as a Tyson Fury Boxing Glove with Motherwell’s Tony Watt, Dundee’s Charlie Adam, Andrew Halliday from Hearts as well as Kevin Nisbet, who handed over the Scotland top he wore when he scored against the Netherlands, to help swell the funds.
Peterhead General Manager Martin Johnston putting up a Paul Gascoigne painting and a Blue Toon title winning jersey up for auction with Gary’s former club Partick Thistle auctioning a picture of a famous goal he scored for the Jags.
Nearly £22,000 was raised which included a handsome donation from West Ham Chairman David Gold who had read on-line about his situation.
The operation took place three months ago and Gary got back onto the playing pitch in the final 15 minutes at the Balmoral Stadium with Jim saying: “Saturday’s result at Cove was disappointing however everyone smiled at Gary being back. We saw during his short cameo appearance what he can bring to the team in term of his passing and his ability to ping balls in behind defences.”
“He followed up that display by playing for 80 minutes at the Oriam on the Sunday. It was important that he played in that game as https://twitter.com/Libbyemm has been great with Gary in terms of having him ready to return.”
“We will build up his game time in the coming weeks and I am sure he can still have a positive impact on our season.”
