Pie’s the limit at the food bank

from an abandoned match.

Rev Mark Fleming, who’s chaplain to the SFA, leaped into action when the Partick Thistle v Celtic match on January 1 was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

The Firhill side must have been expecting either massive support for Celtic or some very hungry fans, as it had laid on a massive consignment of quality football pies.

It left the club with the little problem of how to dispose of no less than 4,000 un-needed pies – and a fair number were soon given to various Glasgow charities.

But there were still plenty left, and an urgent solution had to be found to deal with them – it was considered the alternative, binning the lot, would have been a terrible waste.

“They contacted me to see if I knew anywhere outside Glasgow that could benefit,” said Rev Fleming.

“Kilsyth Food Bank does a fantastic job in the town, and has helped hundreds of local families in desperate straits.

“So I nipped down to Kilsyth and brought as many as I could – and were able to freeze some too.”

Others to benefit included homeless persons charity the Marie Trust.

The pie bonanza was a welcome postscript to a festive season that has seen many local people, and companies, giving generously to ensure no family went without at a time when most are celebrating.

Thistle’s managing director Ian Maxwell said that as a community-based club it was “great to give something back” – and a nice way of kicking off the new year.

The pies arrived as a
bonus to an organisation already gearing up for a new year in which demand for its services appear set to be at least as great as in 2014.