Gordon Greer has dug out his running shoes to help a very good cause and a former team-mate.

He hopes it might also help ease a back problem which, unknown to many fans, niggled away at him throughout his high-flying years as Albion captain.

The former Scotland defender has joined long-time friend Billy Paynter to raise funds for the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation.

Their challenge is to each run 100k in May and Greer has already knocked off 30% of that.

But he is having to manage his workload due a long-standing nerve issue in his back which can lead to pain elsewhere.

Former footballer Stephen Darby and close friend and British Forces veteran Chris Rimmer both have motor neurone disease and have created a foundation in the quest to find a cure and help other sufferers.

Paynter, who had a short stint with Albion in the 2011-12 season, and Greer were team-mates at Swindon when Darby arrived as a young player on loan from Liverpool.

Greer said: “I’ve always kept in touch with Darbs.

“He put a message out about getting involved.

“I’ve not done much training since I stopped playing so I just thought it was a good way of trying to raise money and also get a wee bit fitter.

“You can do whatever you want. I’m doing ten 10k runs, I would say, but I could change that.

“The 10k takes it out of you when you are trying to push it.

“I might do fives at some stage but it’s just 100k in the month of May.”

Paynter is publicising the runs through his Twitter account @Paynts13.

Greer said: “We’ve got a lot of the same friends so we teamed up together and both of us do it.

“I’ve got private social media, I’ve never been a big social media person.

“I’m only asking close friends but you can get access to us through Billy’s page.

“Anything we can get would be brilliant.”

Greer accepts people might be stretched – or committed to supporting other causes – due to the current coronavirus pandemic.

He said: “I can appreciate people are in different circumstances and there are so many good causes out there. You can’t give to everything.

“But it’s about raising awareness as well. Even if I don’t raise much money it is more to raise awareness of the disease.”

The fringe benefit for Greer could be in easing that back issue which has affected him since the very start of his time as a kingpin of Gus Poyet’s footballing revolution at Albion.

He was suspended when he arrived from Swindon in the summer of 2010 and again soon after.

But those early weeks also saw him battling his back issue and eventually having an epidural which eased the problem for 18 months.

He led the team out for the memorable 4-0 win at Charlton and was able to remain a fixture in the side for the next five years.

He said: “I’ve done three 10k’s and, believe it or not, I have been flying through them.

“But I struggle massively with my back.

“I’ve got a nerve problem. It has been an issue I have been able to manage quite well while I was at Brighton.

“But the longer it has gone on it has been harder to manage so any exercise I do I feel real pain in my back and my calf.

“I have stayed away from doing long runs.

“I could do a run and then do nothing again for ten days because I’m in pain.

“I’m trying to get to the bottom of it now and get something done but it’s not easy.

“Now you’re out of football you’re no longer important for people to help you out.

“I’m trying to go through the PFA but the more I started running, the easier it became. Maybe if I do more it could help.

“I’ve always kept it quiet because, when you play football, you don’t really want to highlight an issue you have got.

“It’s mostly my calf that I feel now but it stems from my back and it’s a nerve issue. I can’t seem to shake it.

“Towards the end of my career I would play for five games and miss a couple.

“I stopped playing 18 months ago but I would hope to do more training now and not be in pain.”

Greer, who has gone into football scouting, recently had a scan, which showed a worn disc, and has spoken to Albion physio Adam Brett.

He said: “I just want to train to stay fit and I have been surprised how well I can run even now.

“It’s not easy when you get older!

“But I have always been quite a good runner.”