A YOUNG Morton fan had an extra reason to celebrate the club’s derby triumph over St Mirren — after bagging his favourite player’s jersey.
Thoughtful Ton ace Thomas O’Ware gave Cappielow ball boy Hayden Gillan his top after the youngster was knocked over during Tuesday night’s 3-1 win over their Renfrewshire rivals.
The 11-year-old from Port Glasgow was doing his pitch-side duties when he fell to the ground as Saints star Lawrence Shankland desperately tried to retrieve the ball after it went out of play.
Defender O’Ware, who scored the opener for Morton, made it up to St Stephen’s High pupil Hayden by gifting him his strip after the match.
Hayden, who lives in Slaemuir, told the Tele: “I went in after the game to hand back our ball boy jackets and as we were leaving Thomas O’Ware said ‘I’ve got something for you’.
“He came back and said ‘take this’ and it was his match shirt.
“It was really nice of him.
“He’s one of my favourite players.
“I was doing my job and went over to kick the ball to my brother and ended up on the ground.
“I don’t know what happened.
“The stewards came over to see if I was okay — I had a wee nick on my elbow.
“Then my dad came over to see me and I went to the Cowshed to watch the rest of the match.”
This is Hayden’s third season as a Cappielow ball boy while his brother Reece, 13, has been doing it for the last five years.
Their delighted dad Brian said: “They love it and they go in and get treated like family.
“During the game the ball went out of play and Hayden went to pass it to his brother and before he knew it he ended up on the ground.
“I don’t know if he’s been barged in excitement but these things happen in a derby game.
“The positive thing was he came and sat with me and his grandad to watch the rest of the second half.
“The Cowshed gave him a standing ovation which he was a bit embarrassed about and they started singing for him.
“It’s something he will never forget — getting a strip, a standing ovation, a song and seeing Morton beating St Mirren.”