A schoolboy left scarred for life after a vicious XL Bully attack was given the VIP treatment on his first ever trip to Ibrox. Little Teddy Kerr visited the home of his beloved Rangers on Saturday after the club kindly gifted him tickets.
Teddy had to have his face reconstructed and was given over 100 stitches to repair sickening wounds after the savage attack. The beast tore into the helpless P1 pupil at an address on Greenbank Street in Paisley on Sunday, November 3.
The dog was destroyed following the incident and a 41-year-old man was charged in connection. We previously told how club captain James Tavernier sent a personalised letter to Teddy following the attack, along with tickets for the Scottish Premiership clash with Dundee United.
The five-year-old, from Paisley, was whisked up to Broxi’s Den at the Govan ground on Saturday, a unique suite which caters for children with additional support needs. And it proved to be a safe haven for Teddy to escape the freezing temperatures as Storm Bert brought a sheet of snow and ice to Glasgow. Gran Marion Hanratty hailed the Ibrox staff for making the youngster’s first Ibrox visit unforgettable.
Marion told the Record: “Teddy just had the best day ever. It was his first ever trip to Ibrox and it was just so special. The stewards and staff went above and beyond to make him feel at ease, we couldn’t believe how kind they all were.
“They even let us park in the private car park so we didn’t have to walk through the snow and ice. It was a bit overwhelming at first but once he got settled he really came out of his shell. He was hugging everyone and he didn’t feel like he was different to anyone else.
“He was just so happy, he was smiling all day. It really brought him out of his shell after a tough few weeks of him feeling insecure about his scars. He posed for pictures with stewards and even asked the police for a photo. He kept pointing at Broxi Bear and saying ‘that’s me’.”
Teddy was joined by sisters Brooke, 10, and Taylor, nine, as well as gran, Marion, and uncle, John Palmer. The family were set to sit in the Broomloan Rear section of the stadium. but when they arrived stewards were able to get them up to Broxi’s Den.
Teddy was given his very own hospitality experience with plenty of sweets, juice and food on offer. He also got to view Gers stars through a window with his sisters. Rangers salvaged a point in a 1-1 draw, but Teddy felt like a winner on the day.
Marion added: “Teddy was a bit nervous at first and he was saying the cold weather was hurting his scars. A lot of fans were coming up to him and he was a wee bit embarrassed, everyone was just lovely though and told him how brave he was. When we got into Broxi’s Den he felt more at ease and he was able to take shelter away from the cold.”
Marion has told how Teddy will be back at Ibrox next month for the Scottish Premiership match against Kilmarnock. Tickets were sent from fans in Belfast who wanted to do something for Teddy. And he is set to meet Rangers mascot Broxi Bear at a special dinner at a Rangers bar in Glasgow.
Marion added: “We’re still in shock at all the kind gifts that have been sent for Teddy. It has made this really difficult time that bit easier for him. We can’t thank everyone enough.”
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