On Saturday I kept up my busy social calendar by attending a Gentlemen’s dinner at the Menzies Hotel in Dyce, Aberdeen. At this dinner I was supplying memorabilia and running the silent auction to raise funds for the Highland League football team.
Amongst some of the items at the dinner was Manchester United memorabilia including a Manchester United signed shirt, a signed photo of the 1968 European cup winning team and two signed Manchester united jerseys. I had supplied a vast array of memorabilia from formula 1 memorabilia which included a Michael Schumacher autograph and a Lewis Hamilton signed cap.
The two guest speakers were Ron Atkinson former Manchester United and Aston Villa manager and one of the best, if not the best after dinner speakers on the Scottish circuit Bill Copeland. I had spent a good 45 minutes speaking to Ron in the VIP lounge prior to the game and I have to say he is one of the most entertaining and knowledgeable gusts I have a had a chance to meet at a dinner.
The main purpose of the night was to raise funds to buy new players and have a kitty for additional expenses during the season. We tried to achieve this by auctioning the following sporting memorabilia; Pele signed jersey, Ryan Giggs signed shirt, Colin Montgomery autograph, Maradona memorabilia and Steven Gerrard signed shirt. The first group of auction items raised a fair bit of cash for the club.
After a short break it was time for Big Ron to do his stuff, he was fantastic even better than the time I spent with him in the VIP lounge, he had the crowd in the palm of his hand with great football stories and anecdotes, it was a great decision from the committee of Formartineto get the former football manager up to Aberdeen.
The second part of the auction was then under way with the like of an Eric Cantona autograph, Muhammad Ali autograph, Pulp Fiction memorabilia, Anthony Hopkins autograph, Rod Stewart signed guitar,last but not least Rangers memorabilia and Celtic memorabilia. These were the main auction items but in the Silent Auction there was Manchester City memorabilia, Spurs memorabilia, Chelsea memorabilia and Manchester United signed memorabilia and finally to cap the evening off a VIP trip for four to Old Trafford.
It was a fantastic night for the club and a feather in the cap for the Commercial manager of Formartine United, Peter Mclean and also for my company Memorabilia 4U.
I can truly say that the evening was a great success and all who attended certainly got there monies worth, I have a special thanks for my friend Gary Morrison who graciously invited me along to the evening and also to Athol Cadger the Chairman of the football club for access to the VIP room.
If there is anybody out there thinking of doing a Fundraising Dinner then with the right speakers and the right genuine memorabilia you will definitely have a success on your hands.
Happy Fundraising!!!!
