Festive Friends 2020

Christmas wishes were in full swing yesterday, thanks to the annual Festive Friends funding that Tom Elliott, Community Manager at the Clyde FC Community Foundation received from the SPFL Trust.

As events can’t take place this year it gave Tom time to get creative and with the help of volunteers, staff and partnerships around 40 special packs were delivered to the local community.

Each gift consisted of a keepsake Clyde mug, half-time pie donated by Sword Ltd and a delicious afternoon tea put together by the Westerwood Hotel.

Joe Gallacher, General Manager said, “We at the Westerwood Hotel are delighted to have been invited by Clyde FC Community Foundation to be a part of this great initiative for the Festive Friends programme. Although the lunch was supposed to take place in the Hotel this year, we are delighted we have still been able to provide a takeaway option so that those in the programme will still get to enjoy a delicious festive themed afternoon tea in the comfort and safety of their homes during this trying time. We hope to be able to welcome those involved back to the Westerwood Hotel next December to experience our fantastic in house hospitality.”

Some special guests made a few doorstep deliveries including Danny Lennon, Provost Jean Jones and CACE CEO Margaret Reilly. Danny and Tom visited Margaret McLaren who was nominated by her Clyde daft son, Gordon.

Danny said: “It was lovely to meet Margaret and provide her with a wee token of thanks from her family for all she does. Having looked after three generations of Clyde fans, I was delighted to meet her and maybe she’ll visit us at Broadwood when it’s safe to do so. Tom and his team have pulled out all the stops this year to ensure that the community, with their partnership with CACE Cumbernauld, will remember something nice in the lead up to Christmas.”

Provost Jean Jones made the final delivery to Thomas Hardie and said, “This is a tremendous initiative and I would like to congratulate everyone who is involved with it. Clyde FC Community Foundation are showing their commitment to supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our communities over the festive period and, on behalf of everyone in North Lanarkshire, I would like to pass on my heartfelt thanks to those involved in this project.”

Thanks go to the community coaches, CACE drivers, volunteers and VIPs who helped on the day.