Sir Alex Ferguson helps fund Glasgow club's Scottish Cup trip

Sir Alex Ferguson has helped out junior side Benburb

A small Glasgow football club has been given a boost ahead of a crucial Scottish Cup tie - after legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson gave them funding for the trip.

Junior side Benburb FC, who are based in Govan, will embark on a 600-mile round trip to play Wick on 25 October.

When former Manchester United manager Sir Alex - who grew up watching Benburb with his father - learned of the club's upcoming journey, he stepped in to pay for overnight accommodation for the team in Caithness.

The club's co-manager Gordon Robertson told BBC Scotland the help was "a wonderful gesture" from Sir Alex.

Sir Alex had visited the club recently, and has often spoken of his fondness for the Govan side, who play in the West of Scotland Football League's first division.

Mr Robertson told Good Morning Scotland that Sir Alex was horrified when he learned of the lengthy journey the team faced before playing Wick in the second round of the Scottish Cup.

He said: "It's a six hour trip, and it would have been a big outlay for the club to pay for the players to stay overnight.

"Sir Alex offered to pay for the players and staff to stay overnight before the Wick game. It's a wonderful gesture, and very much appreciated. The players are totally thrilled."

The gesture will let the team rest up the night before, instead of travelling to the Highlands on the day of the game.

'Something special'

Benburb upset Cowdenbeath 2-1 in the first round of the competition last month.

Victory against Wick would secure a place in the third round draw.

Should the Bens progress to the fourth round - when Premiership sides like Celtic, Rangers and Hearts enter the tournament - then they could land a lucrative fixture.

Mr Robertson added: "He was complimentary about the win against Cowdenbeath - they're a couple of tiers above us, so it was a bit of a shock result. He'd seen the goals and said he hoped he could help us get into the third round.

"We consider him the greatest football manager of all time, so to have him in the corner, with a few kind words from him was good enough - but to help us prepare for the match is something special."

The Benburb co-manager said he believed the Wick game was up for grabs.

"They'll look at us and think it's a winnable game, and we'll look at them and think the same.

"It's a long way to go to, but we're confident - no-one gave us a chance against Cowdenbeath and we went there and beat them on their own patch.

"We're confident we can get through to the third round and dedicate it to the greatest manager of all time."