Saddled with a spare match ticket after his father pulled out at the last minute, Bournemouth fan Matt Bradley decided to take the opportunity to do a good deed.
Left in the the lurch shortly before The Cherries’ Premier League tie against Newcastle last weekend, Matt chose to donate his spare ticket to a 86-year-old homeless man who was stood next to the ticket kiosk.
As it transpires, the homeless chap, Gordon, is something of a ‘face’ in and around Dean Court.
Matt, who hails from Dorset, recounted his afternoon to the Daily Mirror:
My dad got a stomach bug the night before the game and said at 10am he couldn’t go.
With the John Lewis Christmas advert about helping the elderly I thought I would offer it for free to any OAP because it is an OAP ticket.
Lots of people said they would love to go but none were pensioners so I decided to just chance it and go to the ground.
There were some people queuing up trying to get any tickets that had been returned and I spotted Gordon in the queue.
He’s a bit of a local legend and I’ve seen him at games before but I’d never really spoken to him.
“I just said ‘are you looking for a ticket?’ He said yes and I said ‘right you’re coming in with me’.
It certainly looks like the pair had a rare old time, if Matt’s pre-game selfie is anything to go by…
@johnlewisretail Done my bit today! Took this legend (Gordon) to @afcbournemouth vs @NUFC #ManOnTheMoon #utciad pic.twitter.com/REPdOfbfDC
— Matt Bradley (@MattBradz) November 7, 2015
Matt went on to explain that he and his special guest thoroughly enjoyed the game, despite Newcastle snatching themselves a 1-0 win:
He was shocked but delighted. We sang some chants, chatted about football and I bought him a cup of tea at half time.
I think he knows everyone at the club. Every steward was ‘alright Gordon? How’s it going Gordon?’. He’s very well known and a popular man at the club.
I think he enjoyed a bit of company and having a laugh as anyone would do. He seemed pretty chuffed.
Lovely stuff. Bloody lovely. Well played that man.