COWDENBEATH FC held its Festive Friends Xmas Dinner yesterday prior to the home game against Forfar Athletic on Saturday.

Some 16 OAP guests enjoyed dinner and drinks and all received a Club gift and a whisky miniature then took in the game as the club's guests

Almost 500 elderly people across Scotland received a Christmas to remember thanks to 26 Scottish football clubs and their charity arms, in a new ‘Festive Friends’ project being facilitated by the SPFL Trust.

In another powerful demonstration of the positive impact football can make in local communities, 487 socially isolated older people were invited to their local SPFL stadiums to enjoy a free Christmas meal, receive a gift and meet new friends including staff from the clubs.

The SPFL Trust - an independent, registered charity that works in partnership with all 42 SPFL Clubs to develop community activities across Scotland – officially announced the new project with a number of clubs and charitable trusts having already hosted their Festive Friends events.

Nicky Reid, SPFL Trust General Manager, said: “The SPFL Trust recognises the difficulties that many older people face during the festive period and the impact this can have on their physical and mental health.

“Festive Friends is a very simple but hugely effective project which will allow clubs to make a real difference and provide a memorable day for hundreds of socially isolated elderly people across Scotland.

“Not only will these people receive support with transport to the stadium, enjoy a warm meal and be presented with a Christmas gift, there is also an immeasurable social benefit in meeting other people and making new friends within the community.

“It’s another example of the positive force of football. All clubs, trusts, charities and organisations involved should be congratulated for backing this new and important project which we have ambitions of growing in the future.”

Clubs and club trusts delivering Festive Friends, with SPFL Trust support, were: Aberdeen, Albion Rovers, Arbroath, Ayr United, Berwick Rangers, Brechin City, Celtic, Clyde, Cowdenbeath, Dundee, Dundee United, Dunfermline, East Fife, Elgin City, Falkirk, Hearts, Hibernian, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Kilmarnock, Livingston, Motherwell, Partick Thistle, Peterhead, Queen of the South, Raith Rovers and Ross County.