St Mirren captain Mark O'Hara and forward Jonah Ayunga made a visit to Veterans and staff at Erskine Veterans Charity.
The pair visited the charity’s Veterans Village, just a few miles from The SMiSA Stadium, last Thursday where they proudly showed off the Premier Sports Cup trophy won in December when Saints defeated Celtic 3–1 on a famous day at Hampden.
Ayunga fired in two goals after defender Marcus Fraser headed home the opener as the Buddies lifted the League Cup for only the second time in their history.
And the famous trophy caused a real buzz when it arrived at Erskine. Many residents and staff are lifelong Saints supporters and were thrilled to meet the players, hold the cup and relive the big win.
Wing Commander Ian Cumming MBE, Chief Executive of Erskine Veterans Charity, said the visit was a huge lift for residents.
"Welcoming Mark, Jonah and the League Cup to Erskine was a wonderful moment for our veterans and staff," he said.
"Many of our residents have followed St Mirren all their lives, so seeing the trophy up close and meeting the players was a real thrill.
"Erskine has supported Scotland’s veterans for more than a century and days like this bring enormous joy to the people we care for. We are very grateful to the club for sharing such a proud moment in their history with our veterans and staff."
O’Hara said it meant a lot for the team to bring the trophy to the charity.
It’s incredibly special for us to bring the League Cup here and spend time with the veterans," he said.
"Clubs like St Mirren play a massive part in the local community and Erskine means a huge amount to people across Paisley and Renfrewshire.
"To see the smiles when people held the trophy or talked about the game at Hampden was brilliant. The sacrifices these veterans have made are extraordinary so it means a lot to share this moment with them and the staff here at Erskine."
Founded in 1916 to support soldiers returning from the First World War, Erskine remains Scotland’s largest provider of dedicated veterans’ care.
Today the charity supports former servicemen and women across the country through specialist care homes, family cottages and supported accommodation at its Veterans Village in Bishopton, alongside activity centres and home support services that help veterans stay connected to their communities.
