Dundee United diehard Simon Pringle has his passport at the ready for an African adventure next week.
And the 51-year-old Arab will be sporting a new Frank’s Law t-shirt when he adds seven more countries to his tally of far-flung destinations.
Globetrotter Simon has become an unofficial worldwide ambassador for the cause.
And he was gifted the new shirt by Amanda Kopel, the widow of Tannadice legend Frank, whose dementia led to the campaign for free personal care for Scotland’s under 65s which became law in April 2019.
She and Frank launched the fight after the former Manchester United player was diagnosed with the condition at the age of just 59.
Sadly, Frank passed away in 2014 and did not see the campaign’s successful outcome.
But Amanda, from Kirriemuir, continues to work tirelessly to promote awareness of Frank’s Law and the support it can provide.
And she looks forward to Simon’s regular pics from all around the world.
Lifelong United fan
Simon, who is originally from St Andrews, said: “I just love travelling – in all I’ve been to 87 countries in the world.
“I was seven when I first went to a Dundee United game – against St Mirren at Tannadice.”
He was too young to follow the side abroad during the UEFA glory days, but enjoyed the great Tannadice nights.
And his travels have seen him visit places which figure high in the United honour roll.
Those include the Belgian city where Frank’s famous ‘Arrow in Anderlecht’ sent the Tayside side through in the 1979 UEFA Cup.
But there’s a dual aspect to wearing the distinctive tangerine and black t-shirt beyond showing his football colours.
Simon now lives in Stonehaven and is a service manager with Alcohol and Drugs Action in Aberdeen.
“People recognise the Dundee United colours, but others will also ask me about Frank’s Law and it gives me a chance to speak to them about what it means,” he said.
“The campaign was successful, but it’s also about keeping it in the public profile and the t-shirt is a talking point to do that.”
However, Simon has had a couple of tricky moments.
“There are some countries where they are very strict on things like political slogans, so having someone’s face on a t-shirt can be taken the wrong way.
“Iran was quite tricky, and North Korea.
“One of my favourite photographs was in Syria. Standing in the citadel in Aleppo wearing the t-shirt and what it stood for was quite a juxtaposition with the situation in that country.”
Important message
Amanda says she is grateful to Simon for continuing to promote Frank’s Law around the world.
“This is Frankie’s legacy and it is so important that people know about it, not just in this country,” she said.
“Simon always wears the black and orange Frank’s Law t-shirt because it’s so recognisable in the colours of Dundee United.
“But I knew that after 30 countries he’d probably be needing a new one!
“So I got him that one and another seven in different colours for him to give out to people he meets when he’s in Africa.”
Simon and Amanda met at Arbroath’s Gayfield Park, where Frank’s time as a player/coach there in the early 1980s is remembered with a brick in a supporters’ wall.
“He’s doing a wonderful thing continuing to spread the message of Frank’s Law,” said Amanda.
FM pledge
In May, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon gave Amanda Kopel a firm assurance over the flagship policy.
It came after the revelation £30 million of funding to implement Frank’s Law was not ring-fenced.
That means councils could use the money to pay for other things.
Mrs Kopel was in the gallery at Holyrood when the First Minister said: “It will be implemented, and implemented in full.”
Conversation