Marvin's surprise visit to terminally-ill teenager.
By: johnogroat-journal.co.uk.Former Rangers footballer Marvin Andrews paid a surprise visit to a terminally-ill Caithness teenager during a brief visit to the county this week.
Marvin, a committed Christian, called in to see 16-year-old Liam Munro at the Dunbar Hospital in Thurso on Wednesday.
"Liam was happy to see me but he was tired," Marvin told the John O'Groat Journal yesterday. "I spoke to his mother, Alison, for a while and prayed for Liam."
Marvin, who is currently back playing for Raith Rovers – his first Scottish team – also left a signed football for the teenager.
Liam, a keen Hibs fan, was diagnosed with a very rare brain tumour shortly before Christmas and since then has had 15 operations during spells in hospital in Inverness and Glasgow. While in the Southern General in Glasgow he was visited by Hibs players Andrew McNeil and Kevin McCann.
The players brought with them a number of gifts. Assistant manager Tommy Craig also dropped by to see him.
Liam is a keen footballer himself and played for Pentland Boys' Club before his illness. He also enjoyed rugby and badminton.
Liam's mum, Alison, said she and the family were "greatly encouraged" by Marvin's visit to the Dunbar.
Marvin was paying a return visit to Caithness – he was first in the county in November last year – and was helping out at a holiday club at Canisbay being run by the Faith Mission on behalf of the Canisbay Free Evangelical Church. It was also supported by Canisbay Church of Scotland and Keiss and Wick Baptist Church and attended by pupils from Canisbay, Keiss and Crossroads primary schools.
The footballer played a CIS Insurance Cup match on Tuesday night and did not get to bed until after midnight but was up again at 5.30am and left Kirkcaldy an hour later for the five-hour trip north. He talked to the youngsters about his football career, his life, and how he became a Christian.
He spoke about how he was healed from major injuries, the most well known being a cruciate ligament problem he had at Rangers two years ago.
Marvin answered various questions about his football career and mentioned some of the highs of winning trophies in Scotland, getting to the World Cup finals with Trinidad and Tobago, and playing against Inter Milan in the Champions' League.
He also told what it was like to play against Henrik Larsson and John Hartson when they starred for Celtic in response to another question before signing an assortment of strips, boots and footballs.
Afterwards, Marvin coached the kids on how to head a ball, amongst other skills.
Kenny Cormack, who helped organise the visit, said: "A football match near the end was played more enthusiastically than usual as youngsters were hopeful that Marvin might be acting as a scout for his present team, Raith Rovers, or even his previous club Glasgow Rangers."
Marvin left Canisbay later on in the afternoon and went to Thurso where he met up briefly with another holiday club – the Pulteneytown Parish Church teenagers who were having an afternoon outing to the bowling alley. "Again Marvin was more than happy to sign autographs for everyone," Kenny said.
"After an evening meal Marvin drove back to Kirkcaldy and arrived home at 11.30. He enjoyed his visit to Caithness and everyone is grateful that he managed to fit this trip in, as he has a very busy schedule with his football career and he is always in big demand for speaking engagements around the country."
Marvin said the trip went "very well" and the weather was kind. He said he saw some good young players.
"If they keep working and pushing themselves they could develop into football stars of the future," he added.
The holiday club in Canisbay finishes tonight (Friday) with a barbecue at Canisbay Hall at 7.30pm and there's a family service in Canisbay Free Evangelical Church on Sunday at noon.
There were about 40 children present each day and more than 60 different youngsters attended throughout the week.
See link below to a video of a childrens holiday club in the far north of Scotland last year that had Marvin Andrews visit as special Guest. Marvin appears about 2 min 25 secs into the video.VideoMarvin's Visit.
Canisbay visit by a true 'Defender of the faith'.
By: Kenny Cormack.Marvin Andrews brought some of the Caribbean sunshine with him during his visit north on Wednesday the 8th of August 2007. The rain finally stopped, the clouds parted and the sun that has eluded us for much of the summer holidays began to shine.
Marvin had played a CIS Insurance cup match the previous night and had not gotten to bed until after midnight. He was up again at 5:30am and left Kirkcaldy an hour later for the 5 hour journey north. Marvin had been invited to the Canisbay holiday club that was being run by 'The Faith Mission' on behalf of Canisbay Free Evangelical Church and supported by Canisbay Church of Scotland and Wick & Keiss Baptist Church. The club was attended by pupils from Canisbay, Keiss and Crossroads primary schools. There were about 40 children present at the holiday club each day and over 60 different children through out the week attended.
Marvin spoke to the children about getting the best out of life by respecting their parents and teachers and most importantly by obeying God. He also had a word for the parents about their responsibility to teach their children about Jesus Christ. During questions afterwards he told how he became a Christian not long after being healed by God of a football injury.
He has been healed of major injuries twice since then, the most well known was the cruciate ligament injury he had two years ago at Rangers, when he was told by the top doctors he'd never play again if he didn't take surgery. Rangers and Celtic fans will not need much reminding how the Scottish Premier League was turned around in the last two minutes of the 2004 / 05 season.
He answered various questions about his football career and mentioned some of the highs of winning trophy's in Scotland, getting to the World Cup finals and playing the likes of Inter Milan in the Champions league. He also told what it was like to play against Henrik Larsson and John Hartson of Celtic in answer to another question.
He was asked later on in the day about what he considered to be the requirements for a modern day professional footballer. He said it consisted of 30% natural talent and 70% hard work. This is because of the speed of the modern game and the fitness levels required. Any youngster desiring to be a professional one day would do well to note this.
Marvin as usual was willing to sign an endless assortment of strips, footballs, boots, etc, for everyone who asked.
Marvin then took the kids outside for some football coaching. The children had a great time as Marvin taught them how to head a football amongst other skills. Marvin is arguably one of the best at heading a ball in the country and is rarely beaten in the air. Alex McLeish, the former Rangers and Scotland manager, is quoted as saying the tough tackling defender is one of the bravest players in the game. He also said his physical presence and his defensive heading ability were the main reasons he signed Marvin for Rangers back in 2004.
A football match near the end was played more enthusiastically than usual as youngsters were hopeful that Marvin might be acting as a scout for his present team Raith Rovers or even his previous club Glasgow Rangers.
After the coaching Marvin prayed that the children would trust God with their lives and that God would watch over all the children and their families. Marvin enjoyed his time with all the young people and took an interest in them all.
He left Canisbay later on in the afternoon and went to Thurso where he briefly met up with another holiday club, this time the Pulteneytown parish church 'breakout' for teenagers who were having an afternoon outing to the Bowling Alley. Again Marvin was more than happy to sign autographs for everyone.
Afterwards Marvin made a surprise visit to 16 year old Liam Munro in the Dunbar hospital. Liam has been diagnosed with a very rare brain tumor. Marvin spent some time with Liam's mother Alison and took time to pray for Liam. Marvin also left a signed football for him. Liam is himself a keen footballer and played local football for Thurso Pentlands before his illness.
He is a big Hibs fan and recently received visits from some of the Hibs players and coaching staff when he was in the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow. Liam's mother, Alison, said afterwards that they had all been greatly encouraged by Marvin's visit.
After an evening meal Marvin drove back to Kirkcaldy and arrived home at 11:30pm. Marvin enjoyed his visit to Caithness again and everyone is grateful that he managed to fit this visit in as he has a very busy schedule with his football career and he is always in big demand for speaking engagements around the country.
