July 15th 2024
Over my 18 seasons as Chairman, I confess to be immensely proud of what has been achieved in respect of the turnaround in the Club's overall financial fortunes, coupled with the unprecedented level of capital investments to both Station Park and the former Social Club, now operating leased as the Playhouse Sports Bar and Entertainment Facility within the town centre. Such has been the investment undertaken that the Club's properties now have an insured value exceeding £1.5m. I would also like to highlight the value of the major infrastructural improvements undertaken at Station Park, after over 50 years of neglect by previous administrations, where now the accommodation provided and the quality of the playing surface are both acknowledged as being amongst the best within Scottish footballing circles. Another factor we must not overlook is the progress that has been made through the Team's year-on-year overall performance within a highly competitive and challenging Scottish Highland Football League. The Club have been extremely privileged to have had Narden as their Main Sponsor, who over their 20 years' involvement with the Club also acted as Directors of Football in association with Managers Ronnie Sharp (1999 to 2004) and Les Fridge (2004 to the present date), have built teams whose consistency and style of play have seen witness – particularly over the past 12 seasons – to being acknowledged as the most successful period of the Club's entire 102 year history. At this juncture, I must also pay due deference to the work of Gillian McWilliam for the time and effort devoted by her to manage the Club's new U20s team in addition to the existing U15 and U17 teams. Gillian, along and her Youth Coaches, has achieved through the Club's Youth Development Policy, financial recognition from the SFA for a second year. Incidentally, the Club is 1 of only 3 Clubs in the whole of the Northern Area of Scotland to operate U15s and U17s teams! I now wish to concentrate on the commitment of Narden in terms of their direct yearly financial contribution to the Club over the 20-season span, which totals in excess of £1m. In addition, through their business links, they introduced the Club to a variety of other commercial sponsorships, major advertising deals for Station Park, identifying new materials and service providers and exercising their ability to attract business interests to take tables at the Sportsman's Dinner and participate in the Club's Golf Days. Complementing this, of course, is the time they devoted 24/7 to working at Station Park over each closed season, in addition to preparing for every match day and physically – along with very few volunteers – carrying out over 500 post-match pitch repairs. The value of the time they spent, by any measurement, translates into a financial contribution equal to that of their direct financial contribution. The Club in my view owes a debt of acknowledgment and appreciation to Narden – together with the few regular unpaid volunteers – without whose dedicated support for Narden, then Station Park would not enjoy the reputation for excellence it has now become renowned for. Graeme Macleod
