St Andrew's Hospice to feature on Airdrie United shirts

Jul 16 2008 by Gordon Robertson, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

Hospice given the backing of Airdrie United main sponsors

TWO of Airdrie’s best-loved institutions have come together in an imaginative sponsorship deal that is believed to be the first of its kind in Scotland.

Airdrie United will proudly wear the name of St Andrew’s Hospice on their shirts for the coming season.

The Gillespie Investment Group - the Diamonds' main backers - are behind the move which sees their name replaced on the famous jerseys by that of the care facility.

The deal will see Gillespie’s financial support of Airdrie United increase to what the Advertiser believes to be a six-figure sum per season for the remaining four seasons of their current deal.

And it also includes a whopping £50,000 cheque from Gillespies to the hospice, whose profile throughout the country will be boosted by newly-promoted Airdrie United.

Scott Gillespie, managing director of the Gillespie Investment Group, said: “We are proud to sponsor Airdrie United and privileged to support the work of St Andrew’s Hospice in Airdrie.

"Putting the Hospice name on the new Airdrie United tops seems an eminently sensible way to communicate our group’s commitment to both.”

At an informal launch of the new jerseys, Airdrie United players Marc Smyth, Kevin McDonald, Stuart Noble, Kevin Watt and Darren Smith were photographed with nurses at the hospice.

Sports pundit Tam Cowan was also there to make up the team, swapping the claret and amber of his beloved Motherwell to wear the new top of traditional rivals Airdrie.

St Andrew’s Hospice Fundraising Director Sam Lavery thanked the Gillespie Group for its continuing support.

He said: “Our Hospice Fundraising team has to raise over £40,000 each week to enable our staff to continue to deliver vital palliative care services to patients from Lanarkshire communities and, in the summer months especially, our incomes from donations and other sources are often way below the level required.

"The £50,000 from the Gillespie Group will help us to balance the books over the summer period which is both a welcome boost and a great relief.

“We are also delighted that our hospice will feature on Airdrie United tops throughout 2008/2009 which is an innovative and special way for the Gillespie Group to demonstrate its support for club and hospice.”

Airdrie United chairman Jim Ballantyne said: “Gillespie’s got involved with us last year because we are a focal point of the community. The hospice is even more of a focal point for the community and the whole of Lanarkshire.

"Gillespie’s came up the idea and asked us what we thought. We told them it’s an absolutely great idea.”

The formal launch of the new Airdrie kit will take place before the Airdrie United versus Hamilton Accies friendly tonight (Wednesday) at New Broomfield. Kick off 7.30pm.