The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Provost honours former arbroath chairman for service to club.
Arbroath Football Club’s brothers in arms recognised after a season which saw the Lichties win the League Two title
The efforts of Scottish football’s longestserving chairman and his family was celebrated yesterday.
John Christison has worked with 16 Arbroath FC managers since he became chairman in 1993, and his brother Derek immersed himself in the club as a volunteer after retiring from the offshore industry eight years ago.
The pair have now formally retired from the club following a glittering season that brought a championship trophy and promotion to League One.
Their dedication to the club, that of their wives Marlyn and Maria, and five generations of Christisons, was marked with a presentation by Angus provost Ronnie Proctor.
While presenting framed copies of sheet music The Red Lichtie, Councillor Proctor told John: “There could be no more fitting finale to your stewardship than to have won the league title on May 6 this year – a proud day for you, Arbroath Football Club, and the wider Arbroath and Angus community.
“It must always be remembered that the role of chairman, which you have occupied for so long, is not a salaried appointment but a dedicated personal voluntary commitment based on a strong set of values and beliefs, which makes your contribution and dedication all the more remarkable.”
To Derek he said: “Your decision to retire at the same time as John will leave a huge gap in the day-to-day affairs of the club, but I think that you can feel rightly proud of your personal contribution and the wider Christison contribution to the proud name of Arbroath Football Club.”
On behalf of his family, John said: “It’s a great privilege to be invited here today and it has been an honour to be involved with the club for so long.
“We’ll still be at the ground at the weekend but I am looking forward to playing bowls and spending time with our new granddaughter.”
It’s a great privilege to be invited here today and it has been an honour to be involved with the club for so long