'Fan-tastic offer by MSP Stu'

Edited from the Greenock Telegraph article 10/07/07.

Football-crazy Greenock Telegraph readers have a once-in-lifetime chance to watch Premiership champs Manchester United take on arch-rivals Chelsea.

West of Scotland list MSP Stuart McMillan has teamed up with your favourite local paper to give away three sets of tickets to the FA Community Shield match next month.

The glamour tie between the title winners and the FA Cup holders is the curtain-raiser for the new season down south and a must-see match for all football fans.

Stuart said: “I wanted to give people local people the chance to go along to watch Manchester United and Chelsea play. There are plenty of supporters of both teams here.

“It will be a fantastic event.”

The new MSP has dusted down his old football boots to play in the Scottish Parliament team at a special charity tournament the day before the big match.

Managed by Scotland legend Kenny Dalglish, Stuart will be on the same side as political rivals Andy Kerr and Ken McIntosh as they take to the pitch to play Westminster, the Welsh Assembly and the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Stuart got hold of the tickets through community shield sponsors, McDonalds. He said: “I am going down to play in the football tournament which will take place at Brunel University. We were given the opportunity of the tickets to do whatever we liked with them. I wanted to give local people the chance to watch the Community Shield match.”

Stuart will star in the politicians tournament which will take place at the new Wembley on Saturday 4 August.