Frank Kopel’s widow Amanda has been left speechless following a “wonderful gesture” from Belgian giants Anderlecht – the club her late husband scored his greatest goal against.
His stunning late strike in a 1979 UEFA Cup tie against the Belgian club – against whom he made his European debut for Manchester United in 1968 – took the Tangerines into the next round on the away goals rule and is part of United’s European folklore.
United fans nicknamed him the ‘Arrow in Anderlecht’ while Scotland manager Jock Stein chose it as his goal of the season that year and United boss Jim McLean described it as one of the best he’d ever seen in Europe.
Mrs Kopel was reduced to tears when she opened a parcel from Belgium which contained a Frank’s Law T-shirt which had been signed by the current Anderlecht squad.
Mrs Kopel said: “I am really so overwhelmed to receive this T-shirt especially this week as it will be three years on April 16 since Frankie died.
“He was so chuffed and so proud in a humble way when Jock Stein chose it as goal of the season that year and that the United supporters named him the ‘Arrow in Anderlecht’.
“Our friends Graeme Marshall and Rob Morrison were instrumental in getting the T-shirt signed and unbeknown to me had been ‘plotting’ behind my back.”
Mrs Kopel phoned the Belgian club to thank them and they said they would do “whatever they could” to help the Frank’s Law campaign.
The Anderlecht signed T-shirt will now join a collection of signed Frank’s Law T-shirts which will be framed and auctioned to help with research into chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and dementia.
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Mrs Kopel said: “I so remember the night I received the phone call from Doris McLean to say that Anderlecht had been knocked out of the cup and it was Frankie who had scored the goal.
“She said Jim had said it was one of the best goals he had ever seen in Europe.
“Frankie was always so humble about it – whenever anyone asked he would tell them the ball came to his feet from Luggy (Paul Sturrock), he closed his eyes, hit it and the next thing he knew it was on the back of the net.
“That was my Frankie, a humble man, whose team-mates knew when he crossed over that line on the park, he gave 100%”
Frank’s Law – which is supported by The Courier – would give under-65s with debilitating conditions the same rights to state support as older people.
Mr Kopel was diagnosed with dementia aged 59 and his family had to pay about £300 a week to support him.
When he turned 65, he was eligible for just 19 days of free personal care before his death in April 2014.
Scottish Government ministers have ordered a feasibility study into the proposals which is expected to report back in the summer.
Mrs Kopel said: “I hope and pray it is not another negative answer for all those living in hope.
“We are hearing week in and week out that Scotland needs independence – well I would also like to say that Scotland needs Frank’s Law.”
