Ben Sideserf wins Alex Samuels shirt giveaway

Thursday 3rd September, 2026 at 9:29am

Following a tussle with a Livingston defender during our game against the Lions last month, Alex Samuel’s shirt was ripped and kitman Paul McDonald gave the Welshman the top to take away with him.

Alex used the unexpected piece of Thistle memorabilia as an opportunity to give back to the fans with whom he’s had such a wonderful connection since signing last summer by offering the chance to win the jersey to all supporters.

Entries flooded in with members of the Red and Yellow Army recounting their favourite Alex Samuel moments but, when it came time to pick a winner, one response caught the eye of Thistle’s number nine.

It was a comment from Gillian, who recalled an interaction between Alex and her son Ben at our Premier Sports Cup group stage game against Brechin City which was Ben’s first game in a number of months.

The reason 10-year-old Ben had been absent from Firhill was a diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes having suffered diabetic ketoacidosis and spent a few days in the hospital.

This represented a significant change for the young Thistle fan who suddenly had to take on far more responsibility for his body than the average child his age but he took on the challenge with a smile on his face and has been embracing his new way of living to the point that last month he took on the “31 Miles in August 2026” challenge to raise money for Diabetes UK.

By walking a mile for each day of the month, Ben was able to raise £1,250 for a cause which is close to his heart – if you would like to contribute to his fundraiser, you can do so by clicking HERE!

Ben received his one-of-a-kind signed shirt from Alex at Petershill Park as he took in a bit of training and met members of the first team squad.

After meeting Ben and handing over the shirt, Alex Samuel said:

“I’m absolutely delighted that Ben won my match-worn shirt. Getting the chance to meet him and his parents, present him with the shirt and hear a bit about his story made it even more special for me.

“Ben is a brilliant example of strength, courage and determination, and the way he has used his own experience to raise money and awareness for others living with T1D is incredibly inspiring. He’s a great reminder that whatever challenges life puts in front of you, you can keep fighting, keep believing and make a real difference in the lives of others. It was a pleasure to meet you, Ben — I hope you enjoy the shirt!

“Everyone at Partick Thistle is right behind you, Ben! Keep being the role model you are and keep making a difference.”