Welcome to the web site of Gleni

DANCE IS A SELL OUT BIG THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO WILL BE ATTENDING HAVE A GREAT NIGHT

A big thanks to Douglas Alexander MP who presented the kids with their awards this year. George Edgar and Bill Crawley were the master photographers on the day, the venue was a big hit with the kids, but once again there were moans, why can't we play fives for the last hour I heard some of them say.

Founded in Paisley, Scotland in the year 1972 with only one age group Gleniffer Thistle has grown both in size and stature in the clubs 36 year history, we now have 12 age groups ranging from under 5s all the way up to under 17s playing football in the West of Scotland.
Within this umbrella is the small sided section of the club where over 100 children aged between 4 and 11 years are coached and encouraged to play football in a non competitive league and you will see that we are developing the skills of over 300 young people in the area. The reputation of this club within senior football is second to none, and this is something we at Gleniffer are proud of. Gleniffer Thistle have coached and nurtured the talents of many young footballers who have gone on to play at the highest level, have a look around the site we hope you like what you see.

Glasgow Airport have handed over a cheque for £2500 to the club, £500 towards strips and £2000 towards securing the area and help to repair the playing surface. Pictured in the photo is Derek Provan, Wendy Alexander, Hugh Henry and the two Billy's

Gleniffer Thistle nets £2,500 cash boost from Glasgow Airport

A local football club whose dreams of glory were dashed by vandals has netted a cash boost from passengers at Glasgow Airport.

Gleniffer Thistle has invested heavily in a new pitch at Abbotsinch playing fields, but months of training ahead of the new season were undermined when vandals tore up the site earlier this month.

Now, airport bosses - who originally gifted the site to Gleniffer Thistle - have agreed to donate £2,000 from their local charity fund to help restore the pitch to its former glory. The team will also receive £500 to help towards the cost of new football shirts.

BAA Glasgow is also reviewing security on the site in a bid to prevent a repeat occurrence.

Derek Provan, customer services director at Glasgow Airport, said: "The vandals who destroyed these playing fields should be ashamed of themselves. This is a valuable community facility and the committee and parents at Gleniffer Thistle have invested a lot of time and money to develop these facilities. This selfish act has really set the club back, and will cost the club money they could better spend elsewhere."

"Therefore, as a gesture of support, we have agreed to make a one-off donation of £2,000 from our charity fund to help repair the pitch and improve security. We will also donate a further £500 to sponsor the cost of providing a new strip for the club. We hope this small gesture will ease some of the club's money worries."

Paisley and Renfrewshire North MSP Wendy Alexander said: "Gleniffer were understandably outraged and dismayed to witness the damage done to all their hard work by recent invaders. I am delighted that BAA's very generous support will hugely lift their spirits as they now tackle the repair job. Hopefully the boys will have new strips and a pitch to be proud of for next season."

Billy Hassan from Gleniffer Thistle said: "We are very grateful for this very kind gesture from Glasgow Airport. We have been associated with the airport for over 20 years and when we had to move due to the Glasgow Airport Rail Link, we thought that this long standing partnership would be coming to an end, but the airport bosses came up trumps and we are deeply thankful for all the help that they have given to us. We hope that our partnership will continue for many years to come."

The donation has been made possible thanks to the generosity of passengers at Glasgow Airport returning home with unwanted currency. Every year, Glasgow Airport distributes the funds to good causes around Renfrewshire and the west of Scotland.

The BAA Communities Trust, a charity run by BAA, also provides financial support for local charities and community projects. In the past year, the Trust has donated £100,000 to projects across the west of Scotland.

Help is required to paint the inside of the two changing rooms and some joinery work, hanging a couple of doors and finishing off the seating. Any volunteers should contact Billy Hassan 0141-884-1008 or e-mail us at the link above.

The club are seeking to recruit more coaches, assistance is required at most age groups. If you are over 16 and interested in getting involved please contact us at gleniffer_thistle@hotmail.com

Our younger age groups are looking for players at the following age groups, players born in the year 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999. Anyone interested in taking part should contact Billy Hassan on 0141-884-1008 or e-mail the club at the above e-mail address gleniffer_thistle@hotmail.com

Due to players being called up to the Pro Youth set up the club have some vacancies at the following age groups 1996 players should call Marcus Curran on 07979494529, and the 1995 age group players should call Billy Hassan on 0141-884-1008 or e-mail gleniffer_thistle@hotmail.com

The club are holing a Sportsman's dinner on Friday the 28th of August 2009. The event will be hosted by former grade one referee Brian McGinlay, well known comedian Joe Cammy and former grade one referee Kenny Clark. For further information please e-mail the club gleniffer_thistle@hotmail.com

The new changing rooms have arrived from the Scottish Football Partnership. They arrived on the third of February 2009 and are a very impressive bit of kit. I would, on behalf of everyone at Gleniffer, like to thank the SFA West Region team, past and present, for all the help that they have given us over the last year, and this help will see the club go from strength to strength. .

The club are now looking to put down the car park at Abbotsinch playing fields and are looking for companies who dig up the roads, to off load the loose chippings that they lift and in stead of taking them to land fill give them to us. If you know of anyone who could help then please get in touch with us at the above phone number or e-mail us. We are also looking for help to paint the outside and inside of the existing storage and changing containers.

Office Bearers : Club President Billy Hassan Jnr: Vice President William Logue: Secretary Bill Crawley: Treasurer George Edgar:

All Gleniffer Thistle photographs and club crest are copyright of Gleniffer Thistle Boys Club 2009.