News

Manager Paul Hartley headed the delegation from Cove Rangers dishing out festive cheer to some of our more elderly supporters in the lead-up to Christmas.

We are one of 41 clubs participating in the SPFL Charitable Trust’s 2021 Festive Friends campaign.

When it was originally launched, the campaign involved clubs inviting elderly, socially isolated, supporters to their stadiums to enjoy a festive meal with fellow fans.

The Covid pandemic has prevented us from doing that this year, so the Trust instead spent £100,000 on bumper Christmas gift hampers, which players, coaches and staff are delivering to the homes of the 3,000 supporters throughout Scotland who agreed to participate.

Paul kicked things off by handing hampers over to Bill Davidson and Sandy Lyon, who both live in Aberdeen.

Paul said: “Everyone at the club is delighted to help out with the Festive Friends campaign.

“This is the time of the year when it can be particularly difficult for any elderly supporters who live on their own.

“It was a pleasure to get the chance to meet some of them, have a chat and also hand over the festive hampers.

“It’s another example of the positive force of football in the local community.”

Retired postal worker – and Cove Rangers season ticket holder – Bill, 82, said: “I really appreciate the kindness shown to me by the SPFL Trust and also Paul taking the time to deliver the hamper to me.

“I live on my own, so supporting Cove Rangers is always one of the highlights of my week.

“It was great to get the chance to speak to Paul about how well the team have done so far this season and his hopes for the new year.”

• 

• 

Sandy, 73, played for Cove Rangers in the amateur leagues, when he was still a teenager.

His nephew, Callum, also played for the club.

Sandy, who worked in the oil industry before his retirement, said: “It was very kind of Paul to make the time to meet me and deliver the festive hamper.

“The Festive Friends programme is a fantastic idea because is really does make a difference to people’s lives.”

Cove Rangers kit manager Adrian Thomson and club secretary Duncan Little also did deliveries.

Those they met included Mary Watt, 77, who was a member of the Cove Rangers match day catering team for 18 years until her retirement.

Mary, who stays in Cove, said: “This is the second year that I’ve received a festive hamper from the SPFL Trust and it’s very much appreciated.

“It gives you a big boost ahead of Christmas.

“It was brilliant to also catch up with Adrian and Duncan again, I got to know them very well when I was involved at the club.”

Adrian and Duncan then called in past Ernie Hay, 74, and his wife, Vi, who also stay in Cove.

Ernie’s family connection to Cove Rangers stretches way back to just after the club’s formation, in 1922.

His grandfather, Jimmy Coull, was one of our earliest committee members, as was his uncle, Ernie Coull.

“They used to look after the pitch and do all sorts of odd-jobs to help out during the 1920s and 1930s,” said Ernie.

“Vi and I really appreciate receiving the festive hampers because the club has always meant a lot to our family.

“I would also like to thank the SPFL Trust for their generosity.”

The other Cove Rangers supporters to receive hampers were; Jean Milne, James Kerr, Irene Geddes, Frank Burns, Sheena Henderson, Davy Stephen, Jean Sturton, George Birrell, James Roebuck, Douglas Munro, Margaret Crichton, Ray Davies, Norma Valentine, Eleanor Park, George Ewen and Albert Smith.

Article Copyright © 2021. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to www.coverangersfc.com.

East Fife Preview | Connor Scully »