Football rivals club together to help the homeless with Christmas dinner
Tomorrow evening, they will be on opposite sides as they resume one of Scotland’s most enduring sporting rivalries.
But on a rain-soaked Christmas Day, Hearts and Hibs put the fight for Edinburgh’s bragging rights to one side as they threw open the doors of their respective stadiums to offer a sanctuary for some of the city’s most vulnerable citizens on a “symbolic” day for the two clubs.
Volunteers came from far and wide to participate in the campaign bringing fans of both sides together to provide a hot meal and companionship on what can often be the loneliest day of the year.
And there was plenty of Christmas cheer to be had at both ends of the city as around 200 people from the local community and beyond created a family atmosphere with traditional festive fayre, giftwrapped presents and Christmas music.
At Easter Road, families recently arrived in the city from Syria joined lifelong fans of the club in tucking into Christmas lunch, while at Tynecastle, guests sitting down amongst almost a hundred other diners ranged in age from nine-days-old up to 87.
One diner at Easter Road said she was “very anxious” about attending the dinner, however described a“wonderful atmosphere” during the afternoon.
She added: “I always have a difficult time at Christmas and I was a bit nervous about coming here today. But I am glad that I did in the end, there is a wonderful atmosphere here.
“It reminds me of a big family Christmas, everyone seems to be enjoying the company and that is so important at this time of year.”
Dozens of volunteers from Tesco gave up their Christmas Day to cook and prepare food also kindly donated by the supermarket, while drivers from Central Taxis and City Cabs offered free rides to and from both stadiums for all of those attending. In the pouring rain, volunteers travelled from different areas of the city and beyond, with some travelling through from Fife, Glasgow and Ayrshire to give back to those in need.