'It's always nice to be nice': Glentoran offer free ticket to Portadown fan who suffered unfortunate fall during last meeting at the Oval

Avid Ports fan Andrew Lutton, known as ‘Drew’, required hospital treatment after falling at the east Belfast venue on October 31 this year.

As a result, Mr Lutton failed to see much of the action as his heroes were narrowly beaten by Declan Devine’s side.

Medical assistance was quick to arrive on the scene for Drew, with paper stitches used to bandage up the wound having the desired effect as he made a full recovery.

The two teams met again at The Oval on Tuesday night and Mr Lutton received a free ticket for the game alongside his daughter in a kind act by the Glens.

The scoreline just didn’t go in their favour as Eamon Fyfe’s opener for the Ports was cancelled out by efforts from MJ Kamara and Pat Hoban’s penalty at the other end.

Explaining the reasons behind their gesture, Leanne Dawson, operations manager at Glentoran, said: “Drew missed quite a bit of the game after his fall.

"But we must pay credit to the medical staff, St John’s Ambulance, club doctors and security staff for their assistance.

"I told Drew’s daughter that we would keep in touch about his recovery.

"As a club, we had no hesitation in giving out a free ticket for Drew and his daughter for the game at The Oval last Tuesday night.

"You never want anyone to get injured going to a game of football.

“I know it seems like a nice gesture for this time of year but we would have done the exact same thing if the game was played later on this season.

"It’s always nice to be nice.”

Unfortunately for Drew, Glentoran managed to beat his heroes yet again on Tuesday but he wanted to remind people how spectators will always be safe at a football match if they unexpectedly fall into difficulties.

"Nobody could have done anything more for me that night,” he explained.

"I was on the terracing for 30 minutes or so before I fell and then suddenly I was on a stretcher and I was in Glentoran’s security hut.

"I tried to cut across the terracing, the light was dull and couldn’t see much and before I knew it, I fell. Thankfully, I wasn’t unconscious or anything like that. I remember the match having to be stopped for a four minute spell and there was blood gushing out.

"They brought my daughter’s car to the back of the ground and then we went to A+E but everything turned out alright in the end.

"Leanne explained to us that we never saw much of the game and that she would keep in touch.

"I was very grateful when we received the two free tickets a week ago. Being honest, not too many clubs would do that.

"I want to point out that this has never been about me.

"I want to get the message across that anyone who has an accident at a ground should know that there’s always help on hand.”