Lifelong St Mirren fan John Pringle had a ball - and a right good laugh - when he got the chance to meet his sporting heroes.
John, who has been a resident at the Royal Blind care home in Paisley’s Jenny’s Well for two years, teamed up with Saints’ manager Jim Goodwin and first-team players at the club’s Ralston training ground.
The 82-year-old, who has learning difficulties and is visually impaired, has a family connection with the club.
It emerged that his uncle Charlie Pringle played for the Buddies after signing for them during the First World War.
Charlie, who was a wing back, went on to play for Manchester City and also picked up one Scotland cap.
Jenny’s Well care assistant Karrie Reilly, a fellow St Mirren supporter, started taking John along to matches.
Karrie said: “He really enjoyed going along.
“I would take him in a taxi from Jenny’s Well and he just got so much out of it.
“He used to go when he was young with his family.”
John’s love for the Buddies got Karrie thinking about what else she could arrange for him.
She explained: “I thought it would be a lovely thing for John to meet some of the players and the manager.
“He’s been unwell recently and has been in hospital. I thought it might give him a bit of a boost.”
Karrie emailed the club and Saints were only too pleased to help out.
Yesterday after they met, St Mirren Manager Jim Goodwin said: “John is welcome here any time.
“It’s been an absolute pleasure to have him here today.”
Saints CEO Tony Fitzpatrick also met John and added: “I’ve seen John at the matches and I’m so pleased that after his recent health problems we were able to invite him down to see us.
“It’s fascinating that his uncle Charlie played for St Mirren. We have a photo of Charlie with the 1916 team in our hospitality suite at the stadium.”
Royal Blind is Scotland’s largest visual impairment organisation.
It aims to create life-changing opportunities for visually impaired children and adults from across Scotland with a number of services such as The Royal Blind School and Learning Hub, Adult Services, Care for Older People, the Scottish Braille Press, Kidscene After School and Holiday Club, and the Learning Hub.
Yesterday, the last word went to John, who told us: “It was lovely. I had a good time.
“I said cheese for every photo.”
