Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Volunteers who keep Rovers alive
A group of volunteers have been described as the “beating heart of Albion Rovers ”for their efforts in keeping the club going.
This plucky group of volunteers have been key to the behind-the-scenes running of Rovers – working on everything from making repairs, to cleaning out the dressing rooms and emptying the bins after a matchday.
Different groups attend different days, and the Advertiser was invited to meet some of the volunteers involved in ‘The Thursday Club’.
Mary Loughran is one of those volunteers, and as the Advertiser arrived at Cliftonhill she is booking the bus for the rearranged fixture against Stranraer.
After she retired she decided to keep busy at Rovers. Mary said: “My husband had started coming up and it was a good laugh.
“It’s a bit different. My husband has always followed the Rovers and it basically keeps the club running.
“I came along just to talk about the club and got hooked on it!”
Mary’s husband Peter is cleaning the pitch on a cold winter’s day ahead of the next home game against Arbroath.
He started supporting as a child, and has been delighted to see Coatbridge get behind his beloved team.
He said: “One of the players, Sean Higgins, comes in and helps out with the disability group.
“It’s good to see so many different groups of people get behind the club.”
He laughs: “It’s not the best weather but a lot of us are retired – and this gives us something to do.”
Chairman Ronnie Boyd was full of praise for everyone who helps out, calling them the “beating heart of the club”.
He added: “The volunteers are invaluable for us. We work on a tight budget as it is, but it shows the love for the club that there is in the community.
“The Thursday Club aren’t the only group that helps out, but we all come in and do some minor repairs, empty the bins and do all the not very attractive things that keep the club going.
“It’s not the warmest time of the year, but the volunteers always come out and help, they are very loyal. No job is too big or too small, no job is too dirty to do.
“I can’t speak highly enough of them. They are absolute gems.”