Plymouth Argyle Football Club are set to make a group of Colchester United fans very happy.

The Pilgrims have agreed to hand over the jersey worn by U's keeper Richard McKinney during his man-of-the-match performance in Saturday's goalless draw at Home Park.

McKinney, who originally donned a gold U's sweater in the pre-match warm-up, was forced to borrow the lucky blue jersey following a sequence of colour clashes involving Plymouth and the three match officials.

His outstanding display pleased his away sponsors The Mafia - McKinney's Away Fans In Appreciation - so much they lodged a bid to buy the jersey.

Argyle Commercial manager Andy Budge readily agreed and he told the Evening Gazette: "The jumper is still being used by our youth team, but our kit manager has promised to keep an eye on it and the fans can have it for what it cost when the season is over."

Delighted Mafia McKinney spokeswoman Julie Ager said: "We can get Richard's Colchester jersey, but we wanted this one. It is different. He turned in a real five-star display wearing it and he was easily the man-of-the-match."

Published Friday, April 11, 2003

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