Largs Thistle boss Sandy MacLean has urged supporters to turn out in force to give long serving defender and captain Eddie Walton an appropriate send-off in his last game for the Barrfields Club.

It is a 2pm kick-off at Barrfields Park on Saturday, and it couldn’t be more appropriate, as Thistle take on Scottish Cup finalists Hurlford United.

Sandy said: “Eddie has played a big role in a lot of Largs Thistle’s successes in the past several years. In the season, we reached the Scottish Cup Final in 2010, Eddie and Ross McMillan formed one of the best defensive partnerships in Scotland, With the triangle of Eddie, Ross, and Stephen Connick, sometimes you can’t believe how lucky you are, until they are not there tomorrow.

“Eddie has always had a positive frame of mind, and he gave us the goal last year which sparked us back into life in the Ashfield play-off, and also was part of the team which won the Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup. He is always a calm character, and doesn’t get hot under the collar. His signing back in 2009 took us on to a new level.” The Thistle boss is hoping to play a trialist midfielder on Saturday as he looks towards new players for next season. Sandy admitted; “It may be something of a baptism of fire putting him in up against Hurlford, but he plays amateur football, and he is someone I have known for a while, and is worthy of his chance. He is a central midfielder, but more defensive.” Dylan McLaughlin looks set to return from injury after suffering a broken toe, and has been back at training, but Kevin Struthers is still out, while Nicky Little has been away on holiday.

Sandy said: “Hurlford were promoted last season, along with ourselves and Kilbirnie, and both these sides have spent a lot of money on their sides. I hope the fans turn up to take a look at the Scottish Cup finalists. I think we have improved a lot since we lost 4-1 to them earlier in the season. It is a tough ask, but we are going to try and win the three points.” * Supersonic Stephen Connick has confirmed that he will return in Sunday’s legends charity match for prostate cancer which kicks off at Barrfields at 3pm on Sunday. James Marks will also feature along with Euan Lindsay and Creag Little from the current side. The club are producing a commemorative programme for the match between the West of Scotland Cup winners of 1991 and the Scottish Cup winners of 1994.

There will also be a seven-a-side competition for the charity day. The quarter final draw is: Kilmarnock Girls v Patrick Th Weir Academy, Jimmy Johnstone Academy v Glasgow City Girls 1, Largs Colts v Greenock Morton girls and Glasgow Girls 2 v Gourock YAC 15.