Football clubs will open stadiums to feed 400 people on Christmas day in heartwarming initiative

Hearts and Hibs will feed Edinburgh residents on Christmas Day

Tuesday 05 December 2017 16:28 GMT
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Tynecastle, Hearts' home ground, is one of the two stadiums hosting Christmas dinners
Tynecastle, Hearts' home ground, is one of the two stadiums hosting Christmas dinners (Getty)

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Two Scottish football clubs will open their stadiums to feed up to 400 people on Christmas Day this year as part of a heartwarming charity initiative launched by a local newspaper.

Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian are usually better known for their intense rivalry and trying to chase down Glasgow's big two in the league table, but this winter they will unite to support the Evening News Edinburgh Cheer campaign by offering up their grounds at Tynecastle and Easter Road respectively for the events.

Tesco have stepped in as a partner for the campaign and will provide the food.

Leeann Dempster, the chief executive at Hibs, told the Evening News: “We’re very happy to open up our club home at Christmas to welcome people along to enjoy Christmas Day with us again following on from the success of last year.

“We hope that up to 200 people of all ages, who might otherwise have less to look forward to at Christmas than the rest of us, can come together and have a wonderful lunch and a great time. Special thanks are due to Tesco, who are again providing us with a huge helping hand by providing the food, and thanks also to Central Taxis for their efforts in bringing people here.”

Tesco manager Fraser Cromar added:

“Our Christmas campaign – Everyone’s Welcome at Tesco – celebrates the many ways we come together at Christmas, so when we heard about the Edinburgh Cheer initiative to make Edinburgh the city of kindness this Christmas we were only too pleased to be able to help out at this important time of year.

“Many people in the communities we serve will be facing the prospect of being alone this festive season, so we are very proud to play our part in helping them enjoy a Christmas meal together. “Hibernian hosted an event last year and it is fantastic to see that Hearts were so inspired by the success of it that they’re on board this time around and together we’re ready to kick off the Christmas meal on 25 December.”

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