November 20th 2023
NAIRN County FC Chairman, Peter Mackintosh, has released the below tribute following the passing of long-serving Nairn County director, Charlie Robertson. "A Giant of a Man in Many Ways" fully reflects the sentiments shared by us all on hearing the sad news of Charlie Robertson's sudden passing late last evening in Raigmore Hospital following a short illness. John Charles Robertson, known simply to all as Charlie, became a Director of the Club following its establishment as a Limited Company in 1995/96. His sharp and business-like brain proved critical to helping the Club through very tough times of navigating itself out of perpetual debt. Charlie used to always recount just how hard it was in the formative years of the saved Club until progress was made in the 2000s, stabilising its finances whilst also building a Team and Management which he was intensely proud of. Charlie attended every home and away fixture year-on-year since 1995 and proved a fine and honourable Ambassador for the Club during his travels to the away games. Latterly, finding travel more difficult, he restricted himself to attending every home game at Station Park. With his interest in cine photography, he developed his own technique in filming matches, which he then passed on to Les to study the team's performances and thereafter, use as a training aid for future matches. A skilled motorcyclist, accomplished pianist, studious reader of the work of Rabbie Burns, adventurous sailor, successful businessman in the building trade and passionate supporter of both Nairn County FC and his home town club, Dunfermline Athletic, it is fair to say that Charlie lived life to the full. He was a very loyal and faithful colleague to me as Chairman and Narden as the Club's Main Sponsors throughout. He will be missed greatly by all who came to know him in Highland footballing circles as Mr Nairn County. He also had that rye sense of humour when he would take the sting out of the disappointment of losing a game by saying: "ah well, no need to pay the win bonuses this weekend." The Championship Flag will fly at half mast at Station Park today, the day of Charlie's funeral and at our next home game on Saturday April 2nd as a mark of respect. Graeme Macleod
