Trying to right a wrong

On 26th March 2022 Michael Anderson attended a football match in Airdrie to watch Cove Rangers (the team he supports). Before the game he mixed with the opposition fans in a local pool hall and enjoyed their company to the extent his party used their bus to give Airdrie fans a lift to the stadium.

In the 93rd minute Cove scored a dramatic equaliser which makes them heavy favourites for the league championship. It should have been a memorable day for all the right reasons. Unfortunately, Michael's bus was attacked by thugs within the Airdrie support. Michael was struck from behind, knocked unconscious, required to be taken to hospital by ambulance, spent 4 hours in A&E and has at least 2 broken teeth.

This was an unprovoked attack which I would condemn in the strongest terms.

I reached out to Michael on Twitter and said I wanted to crowd fund as an apology from all right-thinking Airdrie supporters. Michael noted that the Police said he may be entitled to some form of compensation. I asked if there was a charity which was close to his heart. Michael mentioned that his fiancee had just finished going through lymphoma cancer treatment and there have been some charities which have really helped them with Friends of Anchor being the main one.

As an Airdrie supporter, I know that we can't undo what's happened, but we can show our support to Michael by making sure he's not out of pocket. It cost £130 for Michael and his friend to get back home from Wishaw General (£40 for a taxi from Wishaw General to Queen Street and £45 each for the train tickets) and he still has a trip to the dentist to go through.

I'm asking Airdrie fans to join me in donating to cover Michael's costs with any excess to go to the cancer charities which have provided support through the cancer treatment. Michael has said that if he gets any criminal injuries compensation then he'll pass that to the charity too which is very good of him.

Airdrie fans, do your thing.