Danny Wilson, Oleks Zinchenko, a Ukrainian boy and MCFC

Eccles Blue said:
DD, this is what makes what you and your family are doing even more amazing. We can come on here and, rightly, praise you all but you are living with it 24/7. You know you have the support, mentally from people but you are the ones bearing the brunt of it all.
It’s difficult but always remember that we stand metaphorically behind you. Try to draw strength from that. I don’t know how else to put it. Please be assured that you are in my thoughts and my prayers. It’s not a lot but I am in awe of the courage of you and your family and Myla and Timur.
I apologise if that doesn’t make sense but it is heartfelt. *huge virtual hugs* to you all.
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You have made perfect sense, your thoughts mirror mine and no doubt many others on this forum.
 
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Didsbury Dave said:
Bloody hell, this thread has found it’s way to Ukraine and back. Timur has just come in and asked me about it.
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Not surprising really. There will be plenty in Ukraine looking out for news of Zinch You have probably started the official City supporters club of Ukraine.
Well done to you and your family. All the best to your Ukrainian guests.
 
Ah so now we're getting to the truth. It's Mrs Didsbury that deserves all the plaudits.
Daves been typing this from the banks of the Mersey whilst he drowns worms :-)

Well Mrs Dids. You are a top woman with a heart of gold........

So why did you marry him ?
 
Didsbury Dave said:
Not the dust is settling I thought I'd share with you my tale of the way Manchester City have acted behind the scenes and changed a young and shattered life for the better.

We took a small Ukrainian family from the war in April of this year. A mother and her 13 year old son, Myla and Timur,they arrived at Manchester Airport traumatised and confused. They'd left their beds one early morning and fled, after hearing bombs, leaving their dad behind. On the way to the border the lady who'd joined them had a heart attack and passed her ten year old on to them, so she could find a hospital. The three of them ended up being picked up by a strange car at 3am, freezing cold, in the middle of nowhere, who thankfully turned out to be a volunteer who took them across the border. They ended up in Prague in a little hotel and that's where we found them and arranged their travel. Whilst my wife hassled the government and the MP they found out that their husband/father had been conscripted to a bunker in a school basement somewhere, despite never having held a gun in his life.

This was the state of play when they arrived. They spoke little English but Timur was football crazy and got very animated when I asked him about Oleks Zinchenko. I bought him a ticket for the Real Madrid home game the following week and we set about trying to build them a new life. The Real game was his first ever game and he was so excited (although he didn't even realise it was two legs until the car journey home!) He was up on his seat giving it "City! City!" like a proper blue.

After a few people suggested it, I emailed Danny Wilson to tell him about Timur. Danny's an old friend from years ago but I haven't seen him in a long time. He was straight on the phone and the next thing you know he organised four Tunnel Club tickets from me, Timur and my boys, for the Watford game. We went and had a wonderful time and then after the game Danny came over and whisked us downstairs to the dressing room area. Out came Oleks Zinchenko, had a long chat with Timur who was by now dying of excitement, and made several videos for him to send to his Dad, brother and friends. Oleks gave him his mobile number and asked him to stay in touch. I had a beer with Danny in the Tunnel Club after and he offered match tickets for Timur for any game and concert tickets for Myla for all of the concerts at the Etihad this summer.

Timur was now a massive blue, watching the games face to face or on the telly with me and my boys. Last week Danny Wilson, unprompted, got in touch with me again and sorted out Timur a ticket for the Villa game up with us. He even offered to give us all tickets but I'm a season ticket holder already, had bought tickets for my boys and didn't want to take the piss. Oh how excited Tumur was now, until Thursday of this week when his phone went and he was suddenly talking to Zinchenko again. He offered him a place in his family's box for the game. Wow. But this wasn't even the end of the story because as I was waiting for the bus meet, about 1.30pm on Sunday, and Timur and my boys were having a burger at City Square, Danny Wilson rang me again. It was only a quick walk to where he was at City@Home, and there he presented me with Olek's shirt, signed by the whole squad. Any of you with kids will know that a player's shirt is literally the holy grail these days. You should have seen Timur's face.

So we won the league, with Timur witnessing it wearing Oleks' shirt,with the Zinchenko (and Cancelo and De Bruyne) family. He got photos of himself with Zin's winner's medal. The head master of Timur's School in Ukraine (which is still running lessons!) held an assembly on Monday morning and showed the picture to the whole school (or what's left of them) who applauded wildly. Timur has talked of nothing else. He's built a little shrine to Manchester City in his bedroom. He walks around the house in a City scarf chanting "City!" at random

Danny Wilson and Oleks Zinchenko sought no publicity over this. They did it, to quote Danny, to "let him be a part of something special". They changed the life of a deeply distressed and depressed little boy and gave him happiness and hope when he needed it the most. What a credit they both are to MCFC, and how proud I am of the club I love.
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incredible mate . you , Danny and the club.
 
DD, this is what makes what you and your family are doing even more amazing. We can come on here and, rightly, praise you all but you are living with it 24/7. You know you have the support, mentally from people but you are the ones bearing the brunt of it all.
It’s difficult but always remember that we stand metaphorically behind you. Try to draw strength from that. I don’t know how else to put it. Please be assured that you are in my thoughts and my prayers. It’s not a lot but I am in awe of the courage of you and your family and Myla and Timur.
I apologise if that doesn’t make sense but it is heartfelt. *huge virtual hugs* to you all.
 
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