Trust project is winner for club

It’s easy to sit back and knock Scottish Football.

But it’s important that success and positives in our game are celebrated.

Sometimes you have to look hard to find them – but they are there.

One project which is a resounding success and, to be frank, could be rolled out across the nation was born right here in Monklands.

And for that, members of the Airdrieonians Supporters’Trust deserve immense credit.

Very rarely do you come across a charity scheme which ticks all the boxes, ensuring everyone is a winner.

But the trust’s KitAid collection does just that.

In case you are not familiar with KitAid, it is a UK-based charity which collects old or unwanted football clothing and sends it out to some of the world’s poorest countries.

The people benefiting are hugely grateful – and, it has been said, will wear their new football tops with huge pride.

This year has seen the Diamonds fans take part for the third time.

The trust’s excellent work is highlighted in these pages regularly.

They truly are a great, enthusiastic bunch of people – Airdrieonians Football Club is very lucky to have them.

In order to help find the fans of the future, the trust decided to tie a donation to KitAid with free season tickets.

Simply put, if a kid had an old Manchester United shirt collecting dust in a drawer, they could hand it into one of the KitAid collection points.

In return, they get a voucher redeemable for a free season ticket which entitles them to attend the club’s league games.

And the trust make sure their club is not out of pocket by underwriting the cost of the free season tickets.

The latest appeal is just wrapping up. Once again, it has been a success.

Around 400 vouchers were handed out and loads of kit collected.

The enthusiasm from people in Monklands for the KitAid appeals led to the charity naming Airdrieonians as one of their ambassador clubs.

It’s a wonder why SPFL clubs in Scotland aren’t copying what is being done in ML6.

The club does not lose out financially, has new young fans through the gate (who could grow up and become supporters who pay their own way) and benefits from a dose of positive PR.

Young people in the area are getting to watch live football on their own doorstep simply by handing over a piece of football kit they probably don’t wear any more.

The KitAid charity receives a huge donation which supports their work in far-flung places.

And the trust take on the responsibility of funding the entire thing, with great support from sponsor Stuart Shields at BSB Structural Ltd. Everyone’s a winner. Of course, what matters most to football fans is picking up three points on a Saturday.

But it’s good to see success off the pitch as well as on it.

Hats off to the boys and girls at the trust.

They really are sparkling Diamonds.