Tartan Army play their part in fundraising effort for Ukraine

Supporters have raised thousands of pounds for charities in the week they should have seen the team play Ukraine.

24th Mar 2022

Their team couldn’t be there but Ukraine were heard in Glasgow as football fans got together to raise money for charities working in the war zone.

Scotland were meant to be facing Ukraine in a World Cup play-off semi-final in Glasgow but the Russian invasion has forced the postponement of that fixture, with Poland arriving for a friendly instead.

A match organised by the Tartan Army to play Ukrainian football fans raised thousands of pounds for Dnipro Kids ahead of the Scotland game.

Deanston Bakery, just a mile away from Hampden Park, and their Ukrainian baker Yuriy, have raised nearly £90,000 for charities in the war zone.

Their efforts were marked with the gift of a signed shirt from the Scotland men’s team, and an invitation for the staff to attend Thursday’s match at the national stadium.

And one Tartan Army footsoldier with a special connection to Ukraine has made a significant effort to help. Clarke Gillies, whose wife is Ukrainian, has helped send more than £5000 to children’s charities in her homeland.

Following the efforts from the Tartan Army and the wider community, the fundraising fixture at Hampden added further aid.

The Scottish and Polish FAs had partnered with UNICEF, with £10 from each ticket sold going to humanitarian efforts in Ukraine and it was announced that over 38,000 tickets had been sold.