FROM THE CHAIRMAN FINLAY NOBLE

That’s us at the end of another season and one which we played a mammoth 51 competitive games. The most games we have ever played in a season. 34 League games and 17 Cup games.

We must give credit to the players who have put in a demanding effort this season and we often forget that these guys have full time jobs, many of which are manual jobs where they are on their feet for most of the day and then must train or play games at night. There was hardly any rest afforded to them last close season due to the early start to the season with the Kilmarnock game at Bellslea in July. Who can forget the thrill of that Premier Cup Section with games against Kilmarnock, Stenhousemuir, Partick Thistle and Montrose. Brilliant for everyone to be involved in and experience. However, it was an intense start to the season. That on the back of the intensity of the title run in the previous season is some shift so hats off to the guys for that immense effort.

Our season, certainly for me, has been an enormous success. It was always going to be extremely difficult to retain the title, irrespective of who they are.

While not successful in our defence of the title, we have won all three Aberdeenshire trophies, the Cup, the Shield and the Aberdeenshire League (U21). That is a great achievement for the whole club and one which I am extremely proud of, especially as I am currently President of the Aberdeenshire FA. Furthermore, we are the first club to do that.

We also had a great run in the Scottish Cup with an away win at Civil Service Strollers followed by a brilliant victory at Bellslea against Stranraer before succumbing to Dick Campbell’s Arbroath here at Bellslea.

A huge thanks to the coaching staff, Mark, James, Antony, Alex, Paul, Matthew, Dean and Graham along with our two match day physios Sarah and Emma. Likewise, our Kit Manager Derek Strachan who is assisted on a matchday by Zander Smith and Scott Murray. Your efforts are hugely appreciated by everyone at the club.

It is equally demanding for the guys off the park where some of us are involved in all games we play, including the U18 and U21 games on a Monday night, especially the ones at Bellslea. A total of 41 home games over the season!!

We are extremely fortunate to have a core team of guys who keep the club functioning for these games and to make it as professional as possible in all aspects of the club.

We also have a very good Hospitality Lounge on a matchday and it without doubt a major part of the club’s finances, so we are extremely grateful to all the girls who do such a wonderful job in keeping everyone happy over the course of the season, so many thanks to Alice, Amber, Bex, Cara, Chloe, Jade, Jaye, Kim, Lexie, Lisa, Lucy, Megan, Nicole, Phoebe, Sarah and Stace.

You would be incredibly surprised by the number of staff we have off the park that we need to make the game take place to the high level of professionalism we demand. In no order I would like to thank Amy Munro, Becky Gordon, Julia Bronk, Kim Stewart, Laura Matthew, Loretta Jack, Louise Duthie, Maria Strachan, Kryz Tarnowski, Billy Cowe, Tracy Mutch, Cameron Batty, Claire Batty, Graeme Noble, Lewis Noble, Mac Matthew, Charlie Gibson, Luke Schrader, Ava Davidson, Jack Massie, Theo Watt, Fraser Stuart, Owen Paterson, Richie Wade, Hamish Gordon, Finlay Anderson

Even the small touches like ballboys. With the layout of Bellslea Park, especially on a windy day, and the cost of a football in excess of £50, it is costly to keep purchasing balls when they are lost so we are lucky to have had the services of Cameron Batty, Keira Batty, Mac Matthew, Luke Schraeder, Vittorio Dimitrov, Charlie Gibson, Finlay Smith, Conor Duthie and Ben Ritchie over the past nine months.

One person who does a ton of work for the club and pretty much nobody out with the club realises it, is Elizabeth Dunbar. Elizabeth is our Child Protection & Wellbeing Officer who has a hugely difficult job keeping that up to date. That is a huge undertaking for which we are so grateful for. Elizabeth wont like me for saying this as she just likes to get on with it, but it is one of the most important roles at the club.

We as Directors, are merely custodians of the club and it’s imperative we keep the club as healthy as possible so that when the time comes, we pass it on to others for them to continue.

We have two Directors who are moving on due to work and family commitments, Peter Bruce (Vice Chairman) and Calvin Morrice. These are two guys who between them have given over 50 years dedication to the club and two that I will miss immensely.

Peter and Calvin have been at the forefront of the successful running of the club for many years and will be greatly missed, but it comforts me that they will be on the end of a telephone for help and advice when it’s required. That happens in football all the time, up and down the country, but it’s sad when it is your own club. On behalf of everyone at The Broch, we wish Peter, Fiona, Calvin and Gayle the very best wishes and look forward to seeing them at Bellslea Park again in the future.

With Peter’s departure we had a vacancy for the Vice Chairman and that will be filled by George Thom, who I look forward to working more closely with. George is introduced in greater detail elsewhere in the magazine.

Another significant change at the club is the end of a hugely successful sponsorship from McWilliam (Aberdeen) Ltd and in particular, Mike Lawrie. Mike has recently sold his business and is enjoying an extremely well-deserved retirement. Mike has been our main sponsor for 12 years and in that time, we have won 15 trophies together, our most successful period in the history of Fraserburgh FC. Mike is a very quiet and humble man who is a great friend of the club, and we thank him for his generosity over the years. I just hope that he has enjoyed the ride and got as much out of it as we have.

As I say, football moves on and with that comes change so I am excited to see a new logo on the front of our shirts for the first time since 2011.

That will be VT Wealth and on behalf of everyone at the club, many thanks to Vee Thom for her willingness to take on the Main Sponsorship of the club. Our new away kit will be launched in early June at Justrite, and we look forward to seeing what that, as well as the home kit with the new logo will look like.

Further thanks to all our sponsors and advertisers who support us so well over the years and whose backing we couldn’t do without. Especially the main club sponsors, Entier, VT Wealth, Gray & Adams, Bruce of the Broch, Score Group, PBP Services, AM Campbell, JBS Group, Victoria Group and of course McWilliam (Aberdeen Ltd).

And finally, to our loyal supporters for your continued backing both home and away in such good numbers. Here at Bellslea, the supporters have always been like an extra man and when you travel in numbers to our away games it is so encouraging for the players to see that support.

Come awa the Broch. Finlay