First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
Players, management, staff and supporters have all been quick to respond to the bravery of 15 year old Dundee United fan Heather Hird, who suffered serious spinal injuries in a car accident on her way home from the Boxing Day game against Kilmarnock. A collection will also be held before this Saturday's game.
An initial fund raising initiative to assist with the immediate needs of Heather and her family has been kick started by the players and has been matched by the Chairman. Supporters' will also be undertaking a collection before this Saturday's Scottish Cup tie against Aberdeen.
Heather, who has been left paralysed, is showing remarkable courage and her resilience and bravery has touched the hearts of all those associated with the Club. Last week she was visited by players Derek McInnes, Mark Kerr and Alan Archibald and last night Manager Gordon Chisholm and Assistant Billy Dodds looked in. Today, Chairman Eddie Thompson and Director Derek Robertson spent time with Heather and a visit is also being arranged from her two favourite players, Collin Samuel and David Fernandez. Fans' representatives have also arranged to undertake regular visits.
The players have all contributed generously to an initial fund to assist with Heather and her family's immediate needs and Chairman Eddie Thompson has pledged to match this amount. The Club has also been inundated with offers of help from supporters and has authorised a collection to take place before this Saturday's Scottish Cup tie against Aberdeen. The collection will be administered by ArabTRUST, the Dundee United Supporters' Trust, and will be assisted by the Federation of Dundee United Supporters Clubs and the Dundee United Business Club.
Chairman Eddie Thompson said, "We have all been moved by the tragic consequences of the accident after the Kilmarnock game and also by the tremendous courage shown by Heather and her family. All Heather wanted to talk about today was football and the fact that she's missing the cup game on Saturday.
We had hoped to keep any involvement low key and confidential but it is clear that many fans want to know what they can do to help as well. While, in time, support mechanisms will kick in, there are obvious immediate needs that can be helped by some initial funding and I am delighted that our fans, together with our players and staff, have volunteered to help out in this way.
All of the fund raising will be co-ordinated by ArabTRUST and we are extremely grateful to all of the supporters' groups for volunteering their services. I understand that collections will also be made on out of town buses and I am positive that Aberdeen fans too will want to contribute before the game.
While it is of course only some consolation, I am sure that Heather and her family will be delighted to know that so many people are thinking of them at this time."
Donations will also be accepted by ArabTRUST on behalf of Heather. Cheques, made out to ArabTRUST, with the name of Heather Hird on the reverse, can be sent direct to the Club for onward transmission or handed in to the Club Shop.
If anyone is unable to contribute on Saturday, you can still donate using one of the PayPal links on the ArabTRUST website by clicking here.
An initial fund raising initiative to assist with the immediate needs of Heather and her family has been kick started by the players and has been matched by the Chairman. Supporters' will also be undertaking a collection before this Saturday's Scottish Cup tie against Aberdeen.
Heather, who has been left paralysed, is showing remarkable courage and her resilience and bravery has touched the hearts of all those associated with the Club. Last week she was visited by players Derek McInnes, Mark Kerr and Alan Archibald and last night Manager Gordon Chisholm and Assistant Billy Dodds looked in. Today, Chairman Eddie Thompson and Director Derek Robertson spent time with Heather and a visit is also being arranged from her two favourite players, Collin Samuel and David Fernandez. Fans' representatives have also arranged to undertake regular visits.
The players have all contributed generously to an initial fund to assist with Heather and her family's immediate needs and Chairman Eddie Thompson has pledged to match this amount. The Club has also been inundated with offers of help from supporters and has authorised a collection to take place before this Saturday's Scottish Cup tie against Aberdeen. The collection will be administered by ArabTRUST, the Dundee United Supporters' Trust, and will be assisted by the Federation of Dundee United Supporters Clubs and the Dundee United Business Club.
Chairman Eddie Thompson said, "We have all been moved by the tragic consequences of the accident after the Kilmarnock game and also by the tremendous courage shown by Heather and her family. All Heather wanted to talk about today was football and the fact that she's missing the cup game on Saturday.
We had hoped to keep any involvement low key and confidential but it is clear that many fans want to know what they can do to help as well. While, in time, support mechanisms will kick in, there are obvious immediate needs that can be helped by some initial funding and I am delighted that our fans, together with our players and staff, have volunteered to help out in this way.
All of the fund raising will be co-ordinated by ArabTRUST and we are extremely grateful to all of the supporters' groups for volunteering their services. I understand that collections will also be made on out of town buses and I am positive that Aberdeen fans too will want to contribute before the game.
While it is of course only some consolation, I am sure that Heather and her family will be delighted to know that so many people are thinking of them at this time."
Donations will also be accepted by ArabTRUST on behalf of Heather. Cheques, made out to ArabTRUST, with the name of Heather Hird on the reverse, can be sent direct to the Club for onward transmission or handed in to the Club Shop.
If anyone is unable to contribute on Saturday, you can still donate using one of the PayPal links on the ArabTRUST website by clicking here.
