ONE of Hill of Beath Hawthorn’s longest serving players will be honoured this Sunday.

Cowdenbeath man, Rikki Dair, played 353 games for the Keirs Parkers and scoring 18 goals, as they challenged for the East Super League title in the junior ranks, and then stepped up to the seniors by joining the East of Scotland League.

On Sunday Rikki will lead his own personal Hill of Beath Hawthorn selection, against a Dunfermline Athletic XI, in the testimonial which has a 2pm kick-off at the home of the Haws.

The Haws general manager, Jock Finlayson, was the man who signed Rikki for the club during his 40 years as team boss at Keirs Park, and described him as ‘an outstanding central defender’.

A joiner to trade, Rikki played his youth football with Cowdenbeath Central, Blue Brazil Boys Club, Woodside 17s in Glenrothes; and at under 19 level with Thornton Hibs and Rosyth Recreation Under 21s, before signing for Hill of Beath Hawthorn in 2007.

Jock Finlayson recalled: “As he came through the youth ranks he looked a really solid defender and he became a fixture in the side and also captain.

“He played for us for 13 seasons, and he was a member of the team which won the East of Scotland Cup, in 2015, the only cup which the Haws had entered and not won until that great day, when we beat Boness United in the final.

“Rikki, who is now 35, was a real stalwart in our defence throughout his career, which he decided to end in 2020 after a series of injuries, and he always had the utmost respect for his team mates and opponents.

“He never missed a training session and hated missing a game through injury.”

Married to Linzi, and dad to sons Rocco, 8, and Cruz, 4, Rikki has put together a Haws team containing some club legends, to take on a Pars team, which will include some first team squad players and also many of the East End Park club’s outstanding under 18 players.

After the match a special presentation to Rikki will take place at Hill of Beath Ex-Servicemen’s Club.