Alexandria football academy founder blown away by Christmas appeal response

A former professional footballer from Alexandria has thanked the community for ensuring Christmas will be a little merrier for struggling families this year.

Graeme Ramage, who runs the Graeme Ramage Football Academy based at Goalzone, says he was blown away by the response to his Christmas Toy Appeal.

Generous locals, companies and groups helped donate hundreds of toys for youngsters to unwrap on December 25 - with £500 also donated to West Dunbartonshire Community Foodshare to ensure nobody goes hungry this Christmas.

Donations were shared between Food For Thought, West Dunbartonshire Community Foodshare, women’s aid, social work, two addiction centres, Benview and Hermitage Academy.

And Graeme, who has run the appeal for a number of years, said it highlights the strength of community locally.

The 31-year-old, who played top flight football for St Mirren, told the Lennox: “The first year we did a cash donation. But after that we did toys and things like that, and this year it went a bit mental.

“We organised a golf charity day and a 90s old-school disco. The golf day ended up being cancelled, but everyone told us to just keep the money that was raised — which was really generous.

“It’s a great place for helping other people. Anything we’ve tried to do, people are always there to help. People want to help others in any way they can, it’s a good area for that.

“The donations we’ve had have been brilliant. Companies have donated hundreds of pounds to add to the appeals, and that’s a credit to everyone in the community.”

For Graeme the appeal also has a personal side, having visited the social work office in Alexandria to choose a gift in his own childhood.

He previously told the Lennox: “I remember when I was wee when we used to