The man in charge of the Highland League Cup’s title sponsor is hoping for a bumper weekend of goals in this weekend’s semi-finals – despite the prospect costing his company cash.

Leading North-east construction materials supplier GPH Builders Merchants promised to donate £40 for every goal scored in this season’s GPH Builders Merchants Highland League Cup, with the money going to cancer support charity Maggie’s.

The company has already pledged to donate £1,400 to cover the 35 goals scored in 90 minutes since the first round of this season’s cup, and with the last four teams involved – Fraserburgh, Forres Mechanics, Brora Rangers and Buckie Thistle – having found the net 320 times between them in the Highland League this season, GPH Builders Merchants Managing Director Grant Shewan is hoping for more celebrations on Saturday.

He said:

“The four teams involved in this weekend’s exciting semi-finals have been banging in the goals in the league this season, and hopefully they will take that form into the cup games.

“We’re delighted to already be donating more than £1,000 to help Maggie’s Centres which do a power of work to help those affected by cancer, as well as their families, in Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness.

“We’re proud to be sponsoring the cup in our 40^th year, and are looking forward to the entertaining football continuing on Saturday. This is the first year of our two-year agreement with the Scottish Highland Football League, and we are proud to be able to give something back to the community.”

Money from the goals scored by North clubs will be donated to the Maggie’s Highlands centre in Inverness, proceeds from Aberdeenshire teams’ hotshots to the Maggie’s Aberdeen facility, while money from the five goals Brechin City netted will be donated to Maggie’s Dundee.

GPH Builders Merchants, which has branches in Inverurie, Stonehaven, Ellon and Westhill, already sponsors the Aberdeenshire and District Football Association’s Under 21 League, has also arranged for bucket collections in aid of Maggie’s to take place at Saturday’s matches at Mosset Park in Forres and Bellslea in Fraserburgh.

Richard Stewart, Centre Fundraising Manager at Maggie’s Aberdeen, said:

“While some managers might not agree, it has been great to see the goals flying in throughout this year’s competition, and we are incredibly grateful to Grant and his team at GPH Builders Merchants for the support.

“We rely on donations to run all of our centres, and initiatives like this help us provide our services across the country.”