THE popular Alec Lucas Memorial 7-a-side football tournament returns to Whitestone Park in Peebles on Saturday after missing the last two years due to the pandemic.

This will be a reduced tournament with five teams taking part.

These include Peebles Rovers, Vale of Leithen, Tweeddale Rovers, MKU (Margaret Kerr Unit) and Newtongrange Star.

Gates open 12 noon and there will be a minute’s silence at 12.30 in memory of Royal Marine Commando Alec Lucas who was killed in action in Kajaki, Afghanistan on November 24 2008 aged just 24.

Alec moved to Peebles when he was 15 and his love of football was evident throughout his life.

Peeblesshire News: Alec LucasAlec Lucas

In addition to various local sides, he played for Cowdenbeath as a youngster and was captain of the Scotland U18 International team against Wales in 2002 and 2003.

He completed the ardous Royal Marines Commando Course in October 2004 and joined 45 Commando, based in Arbroath and was in the 45 Commando team that won the coveted Nay Cup in 2008.

All proceeds will go to the The Alec Lucas Memorial Trust which distributes financial support to The Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund and local sports charities that were close to his heart.