AROUND 30 ex-players turned up for a football match in Alloa to salute their former youth coach on Saturday.

As the Advertiser reported earlier this month, ex-members of Forth Valley Football Club organised a testimonial game at Lornshill Academy to honour their coach Joe Smith, 76, and his wife Agnes, who had been involved in working with young talent around Tullibody and beyond for 25 years.

Joe, who used to be a janitor at Abercromby Primary School, ran Forth Valley’s U21 squad, working with hundreds of talented youngsters over the years.

Saturday’s game, which saw a 4-1 victory for the younger old boys, and was followed up with a buffet and disco night at Peppe’s in Alloa, was “absolutely brilliant” according to Joe.

He said: “It was a tremendous day all round. I really enjoyed it. We felt really privileged, my wife and I.”

Joe added: “What a lovely bunch of guys, you have no idea. I have never met people like them in my life.

“I have worked with all these boys, they have all done very well and it was great to see them all again and my wife and I really enjoyed it.

“Actually, I was quite surprised with their fitness levels, they are all in their 40s and they looked as if they have been looking after themselves.”

The well-respected gentleman received two replica strips, one from each team with signatures from all the players, and said the function suite at Peppe’s was “right mobbed out the door”.

Joe and his family, wife Agnes, daughter Jayne and son Tony wanted to thank all who organised the event and came along, saying: “We were delighted with what they’ve put on and we were very honoured.

“What a lovely bunch of guys, you have no idea, I have never met people like them in my life.”

“We cannot thank the former players enough, we were really delighted and overwhelmed with their kindness."

Forth Valley FC was originally formed in 1977 with its teams winning virtually everything there was to win, apart from the Scottish Cup. Joe and Agnes retired from the game in 2002, it is understood the club folded the following year.

Andy Russell, former committee member at the club and one of the organisers, previously told the Advertiser that The Valley would not have been the same without him.

Alloa and Hillfoots Advertiser: