CARDENDEN football legend, Willie Johnston, has been formally thanked for his strong support for various groups and activities in the village.

Alex Burns made the presentation to the former Scotland international winger.

Alex said that Willie had always been someone who was interested in Cardenden events and backed the John Thomson tournament, held in memory of the famous local man who was fatally injured in an Old Firm game in 1931, since its inception.

In 1994 Willie set up his own tournament for pubs and clubs in Cardenden, which was regularly held at Dundonald Bluebell's Moorside Park, and earlier this summer saw the last tournament being held.

Alex and Willie, brought up in Carden Castle Park, were chums at the former Auchterderran School, which incidentally was also attended by John Thomson many years before them.

They both went to work in the pits after leaving school, Willie at Bowhill Colliery and Alex at Brigghills, and Alex remembered how after shifts they would take a ball up the park before their evening meal and have a kick about.

Said Alex: "We use to go to the popular cafe in Links Street, in Kirkcaldy, with another close friend of ours, Paddy McCormack, which was own by a weightlifter who represented Scotland at the time.

"They were great days and Willie's football career then took off and he went on to play for Rangers, Scotland, Hearts and West Brom.

"Willie has always been keen to back Cardenden events and we have remained close friends since childhood and I felt it only right that we should mark this with the memento."