SHEA Gordon fully appreciates the importance of the bond between players and supporters at clubs like Partick Thistle, and he is hoping to strengthen those ties now he has made his move to Firhill permanent.

The midfielder spent an injury-hit season on loan at Thistle last term, coming back to fitness to help their push to safety towards the end of the campaign before agreeing a two-year deal following his release from Motherwell.

A big part of the attraction to Firhill for the Northern Irishman was the way that the fans have taken to him, and he hopes to thank all of them on the pitch after thanking one lucky young supporter in person.

“I was sitting on my phone one night and a dad sent me a tweet to say his son was disappointed when I told him I was only on loan and would probably be going back to Motherwell,” Gordon said.

“He had sent me a letter to say thanks for the goals and stuff, so I got his address and just went out and gave him some boots. He was over the moon with it, and it was nice to get a letter from a kid that had obviously been looking up to me, and I wanted to repay him in some way.

“It’s nice for the club to engage with the fans and it keeps a real close-knit feeling between everyone.

“Now I’m here permanently, I’m looking at it as a chance to settle down. I’m really looking to push on now and become settled here.”

Another major attraction for Gordon was the single-mindedness of the club to achieve their aim of reaching the Premiership, a feat that Gordon feels they are entirely capable of.

“The manager spoke to me a few weeks ago and that was very much the message,” he said. “I wouldn’t have been staying here if the club didn’t think they could do that.

“With the squad we have and the additions the manager is looking to make in the summer, we should definitely be up there challenging.”