A weekly newspaper is celebrating Dumbarton’s biggest Scottish Cup match since the 1970s by handing out masks of manager Ian Murray.

The Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter will be giving out masks ahead of the Championship side’s Scottish Cup quarter final against Aberdeen on Saturday – the first time The Sons have reached the last eight in 35 years.

Supporters, shop owners and barmaids have already been sporting the ‘Murracle Masks’ which pay particular tribute to manager Ian Murray who has overseen the team’s tranformation from relegation battlers to promotion hopefuls over 18 months.

Reporter editor Emma Quigley and sports reporter Andrew Clark will hand out another 150 masks to Dumbarton fans at Aberdeen’s Pittodrie Stadium ahead of the club’s first Scottish Cup quarter final since 1979.

Editorial staff show off the Ian Murray tribute masks

“Occasions like this don’t come along very often in a town of our size, and it provided an unmissable opportunity for the Reporter to help bring the community together to celebrate it,” Emma told HTFP.

“The impact Ian Murray has had on the team in the relatively short time he has been with the Sons has been phenomenal, and we hope these masks will help highlight the fact whilst having a bit of fun at the same time.

“We’ve a talented sports reporter in Andrew Clark, who has worked hard to build strong links with Ian Murray and the club, and he deserves a lot of credit for putting this initiative together.

“We also received excellent backing from our promotions team at Romanes Media Group.

“The masks have caused quite a splash locally and nationally, but we hope that come 5pm on Saturday it will be a Sons victory grabbing the headlines as opposed to anything else.”

Ahead of the game, the Ian Murray in the dugout is hoping the Murrays in the stand can help roar the team on to victory.

“Obviously the fans support is appreciated and welcomed, especially for such a tough game,” he told the paper.

“Hopefully the players can repay them with a good performance for the long journey home.”

The Sons go into the match in fine form this year with last Saturday’s defeat at Queen of the South the team’s first loss of 2014.