BRECHIN City will this week pay tribute to a former player whose hat-trick against Ayr United almost 19 years ago to the day helped the club maintain their place at the top of Division One.

Danny Powell was the 21 year-old striking partner of the prolific Ken Eadie when he netted a hat-trick against the ‘Honest Men’ at Glebe Park on November 19th 1985. Eadie himself also notched a goal as a rampant City side recorded a 4-1 victory against United at Glebe Park.

Danny said: “The late Jack Sunter, who was our trainer at the time, always promised me the match ball, as it was quite a memorable night for me obviously. It was the only hat-trick I scored for the club and I wanted it as a keepsake.

“I never got around to getting the ball, although I do remember Dougie Robertson, who played for Morton, scoring four at the Glebe the following season and walking away with the ball signed. I met the Brechin directors at Gayfield a couple of weeks ago and the chairman, David Birse and treasurer Martin Smith, invited me as a guest to the game against Ayr United this Saturday.

“They said they wanted to present me with a match ball to make up for the one I missed out on. And I am very grateful, not only for the ball, but also for the chance to go to the Glebe once again and say hello to a lot of old friends.

“I remember the game vividly, because we had already beaten them 3-1 at Somerset Park earlier in the season and along with Dumbarton, were vying for the top spot in the division for much of the season, before a poor final stage saw us slip down the table.

“The Ayr goalkeeper was a guy called Hugh Sproat, who was absolutely off his head. Hugh used to wear a green jersey against Rangers and a blue one against Celtic. He was your typical mad ‘goalie’. And it was great to not only score three, but be part of such a fantastic win.”

Alex Totten signed Danny for St Johnstone for a five-figure sum and the forward went on to have spells with Montrose and a second with his hoemtown club Arbroath, before going into the junior ranks.

“I’ll never forget that night at the Glebe though, magic, and at last I’m going to pick up my ball!”