Kind-hearted Hibs striker Kevin Nisbet donates historic Scotland shirt to former team-mate

Kevin Nisbet has placed his Scotland shirt up for auction, hours after wearing it to score his first international goal.
Kevin Nisbet of Scotland celebrates after scoring his  side's second goal during the international friendly match between Netherlands and Scotland at Estadio Algarve on June 02, 2021 in Faro, Portugal. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)Kevin Nisbet of Scotland celebrates after scoring his  side's second goal during the international friendly match between Netherlands and Scotland at Estadio Algarve on June 02, 2021 in Faro, Portugal. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
Kevin Nisbet of Scotland celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the international friendly match between Netherlands and Scotland at Estadio Algarve on June 02, 2021 in Faro, Portugal. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

The Hibs striker netted the second for Steve Clarke’s side in a 2-2 draw with The Netherlands in Portugal on Wednesday evening – the first of Scotland’s Euro 2020 warm-up matches.

But, after scoring with his first touch on his second international appearance, Nisbet is now putting the piece of personal history up for auction – to raise money for his former team-mate’s knee operation.

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Gary Fraser, now of Peterhead, and Nisbet were team-mates at Partick Thistle but while Nisbet spent the second half of season 2020-21 earning a place in the Scotland squad for this summer’s tournament, Fraser has been forced to play the waiting game.

Peterhead’s Gary Fraser. (Photo by Duncan Brown / SNS Group)Peterhead’s Gary Fraser. (Photo by Duncan Brown / SNS Group)
Peterhead’s Gary Fraser. (Photo by Duncan Brown / SNS Group)

A knee injury picked up three days before Christmas nine minutes into a 1-1 draw with Montrose ended his season and has forced the midfielder to go under the knife. However the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent NHS delays has meant the club and 26-year-old are still awaiting an appointment to be scheduled and are now turning to a pricey private procedure.

Funds have already been raised online with West Ham chairman David Sullivan personally pledging £2500 to the costs of the operation, which the club estimates will cost between £5000 and £7500, although in a bid to raise extra for good causes a £10,000 target has been set. Any surplus will be donated to mental health charity Back Onside, whose patron is another former Peterhead player, David Cox.

Nisbet's shirt from his second Scotland appearance – and first Scotland goal – has already attracted a £300 bid, while Peterhead manager Jim McInally has done likewise with his Dundee United shirt from the final of the UEFA Cup in 1987.

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The Peterhead squad are taking part in a sponsored walk up Ben Lomond on Saturday to raise further cash, while current players Charlie Adam, Simon Ferry and Tony Watt have also offered items for auction.

Nisbet and Fraser were in the same Partick Thistle squad. (Picture: SNS)Nisbet and Fraser were in the same Partick Thistle squad. (Picture: SNS)
Nisbet and Fraser were in the same Partick Thistle squad. (Picture: SNS)

The fundraiser can be accessed here, with details of how to bid on items including a golf day in St Andrews.

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