PAISLEY  Pirates had the chance to say hello and thank you to long distance fan Stewart Gray at their matches against Kilmarnock Thunder and North Ayr Wild last weekend at Braehead Arena. 

Stewart, who has been a fan of the team since 1994, was over for a short holiday and couldn’t resist dropping in to see his favourite team as they went up against the Ayrshire sides - hammering Thunder 12-1 and drawing 4-4 with the Wild. 

Although he’s been living in Thailand for the last 11 years due to his work as an engineer, Stewart is originally from Renfrew and was desperate to see his team in action and offered to be the puck sponsor for the Thunder match.

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“I’ve been following the Pirates for the best part of 25 years since the days of Mike Bettens, Dino Bauba, and Alex Koulekov, and I’ve never lost my love for the club”, said Stewart. “When they played their first match at Braehead in 2007 I was working in Oman, but I wasn’t letting a wee thing like several thousand miles stop me from seeing them play their first game in their new home, so I hopped on a plane and watched them beat Aberdeen Lynx 15-2 in February 2007.

“I come to see them as often as I can. My job in Thailand was supposed to be for six months with a short extension, and 11 years later I’m still there.” 

Jackie Turley, Head of Off Ice Operations for the Pirates, commented: “We’re always telling people there are Pirates fans all over the world and Stewart is the perfect illustration of that. It’s great that he wanted to be a sponsor, and greater still that after all these years, and with all these miles between us, he still retains this affinity with the club, and we look forward to meeting up with him next time he gets over.”

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Pirates now play their final match in the West Section of the Stuart Robertson Trophy this Sunday when they go head-to-head with Solway Stingrays. With section leaders North Ayr Wild boasting a massively superior goal difference, the Pirates need an unlikely margin of 22 goals to top the group. Face-off 5pm.