The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Loons wish 90-year-old fan a happy birthday
Players get together at training to celebrate fan’s special birthday
A 90-year-old Forfar Athletic fan was given a birthday salute from the team she’s devoted to on Saturday.
As part of a video message to commemorate reaching such a landmark age, defender Stuart Malcolm led the team into a chant and celebratory dance in Betty Forsyth’s honour.
The effort was the brainchild of her son John and grandson Robbie Forsyth.
John said she wasn’t bothered about football before retiring, but that she then became a fixture at Station Park.
“I’ve been going to see Forfar since 1964 or thereabouts, since I was in school,” said John.
“I gave my mother a season ticket when she retired around 30 years ago. She kept it going for about 26 years.”
“It’s a year or two since she stopped going, because it’s getting a bit much for her.”
How did she react to the gesture when she saw it?
“She was delighted. The thing is, my mum’s now completely deaf.
“We had a few other video inserts from friends and friendly – like my brother, who lives in France.
“Robbie had subtitles on them all so that she could read them in real time.
“He runs an interactive football website so he was able to put a lot of effort into making sure that she could take part at exactly the same time as everybody else.”
With the fixture against Annan FC postponed on Saturday, it’s not difficult to imagine the Loons huddled round belting out Happy Birthday.
Mr Forsyth is quick to dispel any such notion. “They sang the message to her at training on Thursday night.” Andy Murray celebrated a love match yesterday as he watched his father, Willie, tie the knot.
The world No. 1 and brother Jamie joined their dad as he married Sam Watson.
The ceremony took place at Andy’s hotel Cromlix House.
William, 62, has been dating Sam, 51, for more than 12 years after splitting from the boys’ mother Judy.