Accies-supporting musician helps boost player's Movember efforts with festive record

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Hamilton Accies star Reghan Tumilty has received a boost for his Movember fundraising campaign from a fan and talented musician.

New Douglas Park supporter Iona Sky is the singer with band After You, who have produced a four-track Christmas EP with all proceeds from sales of the signed, limited-edition CD going to the right-back’s fourth annual fundraiser in support of men’s health.

She and bandmate Alasdair Napier – who formed their duo 12 months ago to support Hue and Cry – are hoping to boost the footballer’s charity total of more than £2000 to date this year from his now-traditional growing of a moustache throughout the month.

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New College Lanarkshire music student Iona, 18, was keen to team up with her favourite Accies player in support of his Movember appeal – for which he has an online fundraising page at https://uk.movember.com/mospace/14556576

The EP features After You performing Kelly Clarkson’s festive hit Underneath the Tree, along with Just Like Christmas, Last Christmas and Christmas on the Road; and is being released on digital platforms, as well as on 150 individually-numbered CDs signed by the Accies right-back.

Iona, a former pupil of St Cuthbert’s Primary in Hamilton, said: “As an Accies fan, it’s great to support the work Reghan is doing, and having worked with him on his 2023 appeal, we were keen to support it again this year.

“We decided to record an EP of our favourite Christmas tracks with profits going directly to Reghan’s appeal supporting mental health charities; it’s an upbeat effort at our favourite Christmas songs, and hopefully people enjoy it and it raises some vital funds at the same time.”

The band’s YouTube video for lead track Underneath the Tree has already recorded several hundred views, and the limited-edition CDs are available costing £5 by getting in touch through their social media pages.

Iona added: “We wrote and released a song called Headspace earlier this year with [Lanarkshire band] Anavrin, about how best we can support young people struggling with mental health issues, and it seems to connect with audiences of all ages.”

She and Alasdair first teamed up as After You for a one-off performance supporting Hue and Cry in November 2023; but with their performance proving popular, they have continued taking to the stage with a series of summer festivals and support slots, and plan to release newly-written material next year.

They have plans for a future set at Hamilton Accies, and will be playing at a fundraising concert at Paisley Abbey on December 7 in support of cancer charity Rainbow Valley.

Funds from the Christmas EP will add to right-back Reghan’s Movember total to date of more than £2000 raised thanks to the support of family, friends, fans and online donations.

He first started the challenge four years ago while playing for Raith Rovers – “because I could grow a funny moustache!” – and has since raised more than £12,000 in support of men’s health issues including mental health, suicide prevention, prostate and testicular cancer.

Reghan, now an ambassador for Head in the Game, previously told Lanarkshire Live Sport: “Raith supported me really well in the first year and Hamilton have really taken that on now – the fans of both clubs are great. Hamilton fans come out and help support me every year and that is really appreciated.”

He has also boosted his total over the years with challenges such as a 10k, collection buckets at matches and even running a prize draw to win his goalscoring boots from Hamilton’s 2023 SPFL Trust Trophy victory; and added: “To raise awareness and a lot of money I didn’t expect has been brilliant.”

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