The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Supporters’ wall gives almost £100,000 boost to football club funds
Fans, players and managers of Arbroath FC have been immortalised in their club’s history. The names of more than 1,000 people connected with the club have been engraved on a wall of bricks in an effort to keep the team afloat during lockdown.
The idea has been so successful that it has raised almost £100,000 for club funds.
Among those forever remembered on the wall at their home ground, Gayfield, is the club’s longest serving manager Albert Henderson.
Albert was manager for 17 years and four months, from September 1962 until January 1980.
Daughter Carol McKenzie said she was proud to see her dad’s name on the wall.
Carol said: “The wall looks fantastic and it’s great to see so many names on it, including my dad’s.”
Current Arbroath forward Gavin Swankie, whose three sons, Rio, Kody and Cruz, all have bricks said: “The wall looks good and it has raised so much money.”
Club chairman Mike Caird said: “This has been an amazing idea and project.
“We had spoken about it for some time and when lockdown was first declared we decided this would be the ideal time to do it.”
There are 1,094 names on the wall, on locally-made bricks, raising almost £100,000 for the club.
The wall was the brain child of club director Brian Cargill.
Brian said: “There has been a fantastic response to the wall with people getting in touch from all over the world to buy bricks and have their names included.”
He added: “The supporters’ wall concept came as an idea to help the club through this global pandemic that has changed the world and everyone’s daily life.
“However, it has grown into so much more. The wall celebrates those loved ones we have lost, anniversaries, birthdays, parents, sons, daughters, best friends and so many more.”
Brian added: “Every name there has an association with our club and we hope when we are able to return to normality it will be the first thing people see as they come through the turnstiles and enter Gayfield.
“These bricks and subsequent donations have helped steer the club through one of the most challenging periods in our history.”