Stornoway club hosts charity match

Donnie Graham played for Stornoway rugby club as an uncompromising No 8 for more than 20 years from the late 1980s.

Originally having played for the Hyndland club in Glasgow, Donnie became a hugely influential player for Stornoway.

“He was the type of player that you would follow into battle,” recalled his team-mate, Iain GG Campbell.

Donnie worked for energy company, SSE, as an overhead linesman, ensuring power supplies to remote communities. Only six months after he retired, following 37 years with SSE, Donnie was diagnosed with MND in August 2023.

“He is still passionate about following the team and has come to games in a mobile chair,” explained Iain Campbell.

Pictured: Donnie in action on Boxing Day, 2012.

“His sons, Roddy and Alick, who also both work for SSE, have followed in Donnie’s footsteps, and Alick is our current captain. He also leads by example.”

SSE are raising a team to face Stornoway at the Bayhead pitch in the town at 2pm on Saturday 31 May.

Proceeds from the day will go to MND Scotland, which was set up in 1981 by John MacLeod, who was born in Lewis, two years after his own diagnosis.

You can support the fund-raising via Just Giving link here.

Pictured: Donnie out supporting Stornoway in March of this year.