Forfar Athletic F.C.
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| Forfar Athletic | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full name | Forfar Athletic Football Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Nickname(s) | The Loons | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Founded | 1885 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ground | Station Park, Forfar, Scotland (Capacity 5,177) |
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| Chairman |  Neill Wilson |
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| Manager | Dick Campbell |
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| League | Scottish Third Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007-08 | Scottish Third Division, 10th | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Forfar Athletic FC are a football club with membership of the Scottish Football League. They play at Station Park, in the north end of Forfar.
This season the club’s colours are sky-blue with gray-blue trim, gray-blue shorts, sky-blue stockings with gray trim [1] , with the away shirt being a white top with a green strip around the neck and sleeves, green shorts and white socks.
There will be a new kit launched for the 2007-08 season, supplied by Italian sportswear manufacturer Macron. The home kit will be predominantly Sky Blue in colour, with the away kit White and Green.
The club are nicknamed "the Loons", although the local media have had a habit of using the much despised moniker of the "Sky Blues". Other rival clubs in Angus include Arbroath, Brechin City and Montrose, as well as the larger clubs of Dundee, Dundee United, Aberdeen and St. Johnstone in the wider east of Scotland region. As well as taking part in the Scottish Football League (presently Division 3) the club also participate in the Scottish Cup, the League Cup, the Challenge Cup and the Forfarshire Cup every season.
[edit] Origins of the Loons
The club was founded in 1885 when the second team of the older Forfarshire club called Angus Athletic, broke away to form Forfar Athletic. One explanation for the origins of the Loons' moniker is that this second string were younger than the first team - "Loons" being a similar term to "lads" in the local dialect - over time people would say "I'm off to watch the Loons". The early side played in a navy and black striped home strip. On September 1 1888 the club established their reputation when they defeated Lindertis, a side from nearby Kirriemuir, 14-1.
[edit] Into the League
The club were admitted into the Scottish Football League in 1921, entering the new second division. The club mostly remained in this division until the league was suspended with the outbreak of World War II in 1939. The club spent one season, 1925-26, in the ill fated third division but finished 3rd and gained promotion back to the second division. In this period Alex Troup was a key player for the club - he went on to play for Dundee and Everton. Unfortunately the club's biggest defeat also came in this period, on January 2 1930, when they lost 2-12 to King's Park.
[edit] Post War Highs and Lows
When the league resumed in 1946 the club found itself in the "C Division" of the league (the leagues seem to have been lettered a, b, and c from 1946 - 1956). The club won promotion to the B Division in 1949 and remained in the B division and its successor second division until finally winning the division championship in 1984 under manager Doug Houston. This was considerable progress from the 1973-74 season when the club finished bottom of the division. The late 1970s and the 1980s can probably be considered the club's most successful period - at the end of the 1985-86 season the club was just one point below promotion to the Premier Division.
This era also saw a succession of good cup runs, the club meeting Rangers in the League Cup semi-finals in 1978 (losing 5-2 aet) and again in the SFA Cup semi finals at Hampden Park in 1982, forcing a 0-0 draw in the first game and earning a replay which ended 3-1 to Rangers. In 1987 the Loons came within a few seconds of knocking Dundee United, then flying high after famously beating FC Barcelona at the Nou Camp, out of the cup in the quarter finals, but United scored to gain a replay, which they subsequently won.
Various kit colours were used throughout this period. In the 1950s and early 1960s, a green home strip was used. Later the team adopted lighter blue with varying navy. The nickname "The Sky Blues" was introduced in 1982 to aid marketing, however could be confused with the nickname of English club Coventry City The nickname was dropped by the club during the early 90’s, and is only now used by the occasional newspaper reporter much to the chagrin of many Loons’ supporters..
[edit] The 1990s Onwards: Hegarty, Campell & McPhee
The club continued in the first division until 1992, when they finished bottom under the management of ex-Dundee United player Paul Hegarty. The side won just five matches and lost twenty seven. Following a demonstration outside the main stand at Station Park, Hegarty was summarily dismissed. His replacement came in the form of St Johnstone reserve team coach Tommy Campbell. The Loons remained in the 2nd Division until the close season of 1994, when league reorganisation saw the Loons find themselves in the new Division 3. A successful campaign saw the club win the inaugural 3rd Division Championship with a fine 1-0 win against Ross County in April of 1995, Bobby Mann netting the only goal of the game. Despite a promising start to the 1995-1996 season, the Loons were relegated back to the third division under the continued management of Tommy Campbell and the captaincy of Ian McPhee. In late 1996, McPhee took over as player manager following the departure of manager Tommy Campbell to neighbours Arbroath, taking his side on an impressive run of results that saw the Loons achieve promotion on goal difference ahead of Ross County. The Loons survived a season in the 2nd Division, but were again relegated back to the 3rd Division at the end of the 1998-1999 season. The club were promoted again the following season, finishing in 3rd Place as a minor league reconstruction took place, however Ian McPhee resigned as manager in November of 2000 following a poor start to the 2000/01 season, stating “"I have put the club before myself - I could have been selfish, but Forfar football club is more important than Ian McPhee.” [2]. Despite a disappointing end to his term as Forfar manger, “TC” is still one of the clubs most respected former faces.
[edit] Neil Cooper (2000-2003)
McPhee was replaced by then Carlisle United first team coach Neil Cooper (not to be confused with Neale Cooper). Cooper lead the Loons to 2nd Division safety by the end of the 2000/01 season, sending Queen’s Park down on goal difference. Cooper's only full season in charge, 2001-02, was a fairly successful season with the Loons finishing 3rd in Division 2, 6 points behind Alloa Athletic who were promoted in 2nd Place. The Loons also reached the quarter finals of the Scottish Cup, where they faced Rangers at Station Park. The match was televised live on BBC Scotland, and although the Loons lost 0-6, the club received a considerable cash bonus as a result of the tie. Cooper remained manager until January 2003 when he moved back to become head youth coach for his former club Aberdeen, leaving the Loons in a strong league position.
[edit] Ray Stewart (2003-2004)
Between January 2003 and November 2004 the club was managed by former West Ham United and Dundee United full back Ray Stewart who had previously managerial experience with Livingston and Stirling Albion. Ray’s guided the Loons to a fine penalty shootout win over SPL side Motherwell, in the 3rd Round of the CIS Cup in October 2003, leading to another big money tie with Rangers at Ibrox which finished 6-0 to the home side. Stewart became increasingly unpopular with the fans towards the end of the 2003-04 season following a string of poor results, which left the Loons rooted in mid-table. The 2004-05 season started with four straight wins and an inspiring 5-2 win away to St. Mirren in the CIS Cup, leading to a tie with Dundee at Dens Park. A good run was also achieved in the Challenge Cup when the club reached the semi finals only to be knocked out by Ross County. Unfortunately the club's performance in the league again declined and Stewart offered his resignation, following an embarrassing 1-5 home defeat to Montrose in the SFA Cup First Round – an offer which was accepted by the Forfar board.
[edit] Brian Fairley (2004-2005)
With the Loons floundering in the league, the board moved to appoint then Dumbarton manager Brian Fairley as Station Park boss, Brian resigning from his post as Dumbarton manager earlier in the day. Fairley was to lead the Loons to mid-table safety by season end, cumulating in a 3-0 victory over Champions Brechin City. Brian Fairley was to resign from his post in September 2005, citing the pressures of full-time work away from football.
[edit] Ray Farningham (2005-2006)
The club moved quickly to bring in former player Ray Farningham as manager, with another former player – George coming in as assistant manager. Despite some worryingly erratic performances, the Loons again secured 2nd Division status by season end – a season that included two victories over champions Gretna. After the season ended Ray Farningham moved to Gretna as chief scout.
[edit] George Shaw (2006-2007)
George Shaw was promoted to the position of manager, with long serving striker Paul Tosh stepping up to player-assistant manager. On Monday 19 March 2007 Forfar Athetic parted company with George Shaw after 10 months in charge at Forfar's Station Park, a spell that saw the Loons rooted to the foot of the 2nd Division, and having failed to progress in any of the seasons cup competitions. Assistant manager Paul Tosh also stepped down following one game as caretaker manager and went on-loan, as a player, to Arbroath for the rest of the season.
[edit] Jim Moffat (2007-2008)
Following Shaw’s departure the club appointed former player and reserve team coach Jim Moffat as manager. A former manager of East Fife, Jim was unable to immediately take over the reins at Station Park – having made a work related commitment many months prior to his appointment. In the meantime club captain Alan Rattray filled the roll of Caretaker manager. Jim’s first game in charge was a 9–1 defeat to Greenock Morton on April 7, 2007, which saw Forfar relegated to the Third Division. Jim soon appointed former Celtic and Aberdeen player Willie Garner as his assistant. The following season did not go well, and Moffat was sacked on April 21, 2008[3] with Forfar just one point and one place off potentially finishing bottom of the whole Scottish League. Garner was appointed caretaker manager for the final game of the season. However a draw on the last day of the season couldn't help Forfar avoid the dreaded 10th spot in the third division, a position occupied by East Stirling, and so Forfar embarrasingly finished bottom of the entire scottish football league, 1 point behind East Stirling FC.
[edit] Dick Campbell (2008-Present)
Dick Campbell has signed a two year contract to become Forfar Athletic's new manager on the 8 May 2008 and is looking to get back to a respectable team again while setting the target of the play-off positions for the season 2008-09 after previously managing Angus rivals Brechin City and Partick Thistle and most recently Ross County in 2007 leading them to the top of Second Division before ending his tenure in March 2007. He has also managed Dunfermline Athletic and had a short spell at Cowdenbeath in the 1980s.
Highlights include helping Brechin City rise from the depths of the Third Division to the First Division, despite their status as a part-time club. In the 2005-06 season, he guided the Partick Thistle team to promotion through the play-offs into the First Division, after finishing fourth in the Second Division.
[edit] Honours
C Division Champions: 1949
Second Division Champions: 1984
Third Division Champions: 1995
Third Division Runners Up: 1997
Scottish Cup Semi Finalists: 1981/82; quarter finalists: 1910/11, 1984/85, 1986/87, 2001/02
League Cup Semi Finalists: 1977/78; quarter finalists: 1981/82
Most Appearances: Ian McPhee (534, 1979 - 1998)
Most Goals: John Clark (127, 1978 - 91).
[edit] Club Records
Biggest win: 14-1 .v. Lindertis September 1 1888
Biggest league loss: 2-12 .v. King's Park January 2 1930
Biggest home attendance: 10,780 .v. Rangers, (February 7 1970)
Most goals in a season: Dave Kilgour, 45, Division II, 1929-30
[edit] Current squad
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[edit] Loons Legends
Important personnel at the club in previous years have included:
- Jim Black (player, club secretary and chairman)
- Alex Brash (defender, 1974-86)
- Craig Brewster (midfielder, 1985-91)
- Tommy Campbell (manager, mid 1990s)
- John Clark (striker, 1978-91)
- Neil Cooper (manager, 2001-03)
- Raymond Farningham (midfielder, 1979-86 & manager 2005-2006)
- Archie Knox (player, 1960's, player manager, 1976-1980)
- Doug Houston (manager, early-mid 1980s)
- Stewart Kennedy (goalkeeper, 1980-91)
- Dave Kilgour (striker, 1920s)
- Bobby Mann (defender, 1992-99)
- Ian McPhee (left sided defender and later manager, 1979-87, 1991-2000)
- Sam Smith (chairman, 1980s and 90s)
- Alex Troup (player, 1920s?)
[edit] References
- ^ "Forfar kitted out", The Courier, July 29, 2006.
- ^ "McPhee leaves as Forfar Manager", BBC Sport, November 13, 2000.
- ^ Forfar exit for manager Moffat. Retrieved on April 21, 2008.
[edit] External links
- Forfar Athletic Football Club - leads to the official club site
- "Loonstalk" - Independent Forfar Athletic Message Board.
