Forty Ukrainian refugees based in Glasgow will be able to attend Saturday’s Partick Thistle match for free following a collaboration between the cinch Championship club, a fans’ group and community organisations.

The Jags Foundation (TJF), a supporters’ organisation that recently passed the 1000-member mark, raises funds by asking fans to pay a monthly fee, which in turn allows TJF to support the club and social causes close to its heart.

Tickets for Ukrainians living in temporary accommodation on the cruise ship MS Ambition, stationed in Braehead, have been provided for Saturday’s league meeting between the Jags and Cove Rangers after TJF and the club were approached by a Kirk minister and supporter based in Glasgow’s south side, Adam Dillon.

Dillon’s congregation at Sherbrooke Mosspark Parish Church run a support group for displaced Ukrainians and the Thistle fan thought a trip to Firhill might be just the tonic for a group of people who have suffered a great deal over the last year or so.

As part of the arrangement, the children in the group will be granted free entry to the stadium on Saturday and the club has some 'extra surprises' in store for them.

Two other local organisations – Cosgrove Care and Jewish Care Scotland – will provide transport to shuttle the refugees to and from Firhill. 

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“Our Ukrainian partnership has brought a lot of joy, sharing stories and symbols of each other’s cultural heritage,” Dillon explained. “I stood behind the goal at Cove when Jamie [Sneddon, Thistle’s goalkeeper] towered above the defence and scored.

“On Saturday when I do my own team talk on the coach to Firhill, I’m going to be proud to share part of my own cultural heritage in following Thistle.

“It’s a tough time right now for Ukrainians in Glasgow – and it’s a great opportunity for Thistle to extend a hand of friendship to Ukraine.”

The arrangement to house refugees on the MS Ambition looks to be coming to an end in the not-so-distant future, adding to the many challenges facing the displaced Ukrainians.

TJF director Graeme Cowie believes that schemes like the one to bring fans along to Saturday’s game show how football clubs can play a big part in their local communities – and hopes that the Ukrainians will benefit from the 90-minute escapism provided by the beautiful game.

“Football has real power to bring communities together,” Cowie explained. “We all too often underestimate the sheer scale of disruption and the mental toll that conflict has on displaced families.

“It is our hope that by welcoming Glasgow’s Ukrainian community to Firhill on Saturday, we can help to raise a few smiles, create and strengthen bonds of friendship in the Thistle community, and maybe even secure a few Ukrainian converts to the Jags cause.

“We’d like to thank Adam Dillon for bringing this idea to us, as well as Partick Thistle, Cosgrove Care and Jewish Care Scotland, for all doing their bit to help make it happen.”