Spotlight on Vale of Earn
Manager Garry Brock profiles Crieff amateur club in new feature
This week’s Herald includes a new feature designed to help promote the Strath’s sports clubs throughout the coronavirus pandemic – Club of the Week.
In the first installment, we caught up with Vale of Earn FC manager Garry Brock to find out a bit more about the Crieff amateur football side’s activities and successes over the years.
Tell us a bit about the history and background of the club.
The club has been in existence a very long time.
From my time involved with the club – which is almost 20 years – this has included a mixture of successes and failures.
In the early 2000s the club seemed to be stuck in the 2nd division and rarely won any silverware.
Eight to 10 years later they moved up through the leagues and finally made it to Division One.
The most successful and greatest achievement in the club’s history came in 2009 when Kenny Smith led the club to the North of Tay trophy, defeating NCR 3-1 in the final at a rain-swept Dens Park in Dundee.
Moving on from this success the club lost many of its players and went through a re-building process and ended up back in Division Two but we were soon promoted again and have been a mainstay in Division One for many years now.
Along the way we have won countless Western District Cup trophies and last season picked up the Consolation Cup.
How many members does your club have?
We have a full committee of 10 and a playing squad of approximately 20.
Tell us about the leagues you compete in.
We compete in the Perthshire Amateur Football Association’s Division One.
Is there a social aspect to the club as well as a sporting side?
Amateur football is very sociable and many of the best nights out are based around a football team.
What principles do the club represent and promote?
We try to promote loyalty, dedication and commitment, which are all required to represent your local club.
Are there any particular difficulties the club faces?
Many at the present time.
Leaving the current coronavirus situation aside, the state of amateur football across Scotland is sadly a declining one.
Many teams are now struggling or having to fold and that theme appears to be a more regular occurrence.
I personally believe the SFA needs to wake up to the new modern lifestyles people live and adapt to make the amateur game more appealing.
I have grave concerns for the future of the Perthshire amateur game.
I just hope that all clubs can get back to playing and finish this season although I don’t think this will happen.
It’s a shame as we had just hit a bit of form at the right time.
How can people get involved with the club?
We are easily found on social media or by word of mouth.
We are a well known club within the town.
What have been the club’s major successes?
The North of Tay cup win in 2009 was an unbelievable achievement and the players and coaches of that winning side should go down in the club’s history.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Our main sponsor this season has been Mike Melville of MAM Construction Ltd, who continues to support the club season after season.
A big thank you should also go to the Tower Hotel, which continues to provide hospitality after games.