LOCAL FOOTBALL SCORE NEW STRIPS

Youngsters turning out for Thorn Athletic FC will look smart when they hit the footy pitch thanks to a £400 donation from a generous taxi firm.

Community is at the heart of Johnstone TOA and bosses have handed over cash for Thorn’s 2007 youth team to buy new strips for this season.

Frances Donnachie, office manager of the private hire taxi company, said: “It is a pleasure for us to be able to help the lads look as good as they play.

“Being an active part of the community we serve is important to us and we are only too happy to help the club’s coaching staff send the boys out onto the pitch looking their sporting best.

“We have been in business since 1972 – long before these youth players, and probably some of the coaching staff,  were even born – and it is great to support a club that is keeping local kids fit, healthy and active.”

The 2007 squad is coached in the Paisley and Johnstone District Football League by Derrick McMillan

Thorn Athletic has been going in Johnstone for 17 years and, as well as its first team, has five different age groups in its academy for young players.

Coach Derrick McMillan said support from local businesses is crucial to keep things going.

“Donations like the £400 from Johnstone TOA are incredibly generous and really do make a massive difference to the club.

“We rely on a lot of good will, volunteering and financial support from within the Johnstone community and we would like to thank Frances and the Johnstone TOA team for backing us.

“All we need to do now is train hard, play well and get out there and win some matches!”

Frances and her team are no strangers to doing their bit for the community and are long-time backers of Renfrewshire Foodbank.

Anyone giving up time to help the foodbank will get a lift from Johnstone railway station to the organisation’s warehouse in Paisley.

Renfrewshire Foodbank is one of more than 400 foodbank warehouses operated by the Trussell Trust.

The charity-based organisation works with local communities throughout the UK and estimate 13 million people live below the poverty line in the UK.

Now, to keep the community spirit flowing, the firm has launched a new app that will make it easier, quicker and safer for people to travel.

The Johnstone TOA Taxis app lets you track your car and get notifications of when it will arrive. It can be installed for free now at the Apple store and  the Google Play Store.

Frances added: “This is just another way of us showing people that when they travel with us they do so in comfort and safety.”