Rab and friends, including football aces Paul Lambert and Neil Lennon, raised a whopping £9350 at the recent Gordon Cowan Memorial Golf Day.

Big Rab, who is on the verge of signing for Dundee following his release from Leicester City, said: "This is an extremely good cause, and Gordon is someone that we don't want to forget.

"My golf was decidely average, but we all had an enjoyable day.
"It was not about winning. It was about raising money which can hopefully help somebody else."

Lanark lad Gordon tragically died of cancer in 1997, at the age of just 24. Money raised in his name will go to the Beatson Oncology Centre, where Gordon received some excellent care before his untimely death.

Robert Douglas Snr revealed that his famous son and fellow fund-raiser Graham Matthews played in the same boys team with Gordon when they were growing up together in Lanark.

"They played for Kirkfield United Boys Club," Robert Snr said.
"Rab played in goal, but Gordon would also play in goal when Rab moved into defence.

"Gordon was a big, easy going lad who was very friendly."

One person who is particularly thrilled about the huge sum raised is Gordon's mum Jean Cowan.

She said: "I think it is fantastic that they are keeping Gordon's name alive.

"It was especially good that Paul Lambert was playing at the golf day. Paul was Gordon's hero. He was Motherwell daft.

"I can't believe the amount raised. The Beatson are overwhelmed and delighted.

"It gives us a lot of comfort knowing they are thinking about him.
"He means as much to them as he did to us."

The golf day organisers thank Lanark Golf Club for staging the fund-raiser.

Also thanked are backers Lanark Plumbing and Heating, Impact Joinery, Shining Bright Windows, Flynns Barbers, AW Lithgow, Calder Maintenance, G & L Limited (the eventual winners), Bukta Sportswear, Corra Linn Bar, Port Vaults Bar, Woodpecker Bar, Rosewood Builders, Juiceworx, Cloburn Quarry, Granite Mix, Ian McFarlane, Extreme Ceramics Porters and Distributors of Ceramic Tiles, RNEC, CMC Design, Hyndford Plant Hire and Murraybrooke Properties Limited.

Given the success of this year's Memorial Golf Day, the organisers will no doubt be looking to tee up a similar event for 2009!

Rab Douglas certainly thinks this would be a handy idea.