Arbroath F.C.

Arbroath

Full name	Arbroath Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Red Lichties, The Smokies
Founded	1 July 1878 (1878-07-01)
Ground	Gayfield Park, Arbroath
Ground Capacity	6,600[1] (861 seated)
Chairman	John Christison
Manager	Vacant
League	Scottish League Two
2013–14	Scottish League One, 10th (relegated)
Home colours Away colours

Arbroath F.C. are a Scottish football club currently playing in the Scottish League Two. The club were founded in 1878 and play home matches at Gayfield Park. They play in maroon strips, and are nicknamed "the Red Lichties" due to the red light that used to guide fishing boats back from the North Sea to the burgh's harbour. Arbroath share an old and fierce rivalry with local neighbours Montrose.

History

Record score

Their most notable achievement is that they hold the world record for the biggest victory in World senior football, set on 12 September 1885 when they beat Aberdeen Bon Accord 36–0 in a Scottish Cup match, with a further goal disallowed for offside.^[2][3] Jocky Petrie scored 13 goals in that game, a record for the most goals by a single player in a British senior match. By coincidence, on the same day in another Scottish Cup match, Dundee Harp beat Aberdeen Rovers 35–0. On 3 September 1887, Arbroath were drawn in the same competition against Orion football club – the team that should have been invited to the Scottish Cup match in 1885 instead of the Orion cricket club. The result on this occasion was 20–0.

Recent history

The team has had mixed success in recent years. In the 1996–97 season they hit the bottom of the Scottish senior football standard as they finished bottom of the Third Division. However, the following season they were promoted to the Second Division against all expectations. They spent three years at this level before winning promotion to the First Division – arguably the club's greatest achievement in recent history. They finished 7th in their first season in the First Division, 13 points clear of relegation troubles, which was rather impressive for their first ever venture at this level. However, in the 2002–03 season, the team struggled badly, and finished bottom of the table, 20 points adrift of penultimate side Alloa Athletic. In the 2003–04 season, Arbroath narrowly avoided back-to-back relegations, as they escaped the drop on the last day of the season. In 2004–05, however, there was no such escaping, as a 3–0 defeat at Dumbarton on 30 April 2005 condemned them to the Third Division for next season.

Therefore, in recent years the club has risen from the depths of the Third Division to the heights of the First Division, then fallen back down to the basement league. However, under manager John McGlashan, a former player, Arbroath have competed at the top of Division 3, finishing 4th in their first season and second in the next, reaching both divisional play-offs in seasons 2005–06 and 2006–07, although failing to gain promotion. The play-off hoodoo was eventually overcome in 2007–08. Arbroath finished 4th in Division 3 and disposed of Cowdenbeath 2–1 on aggregate thanks to a late extra time winner from Assistant Manager, Robbie Raeside, in the semi final. Stranraer were the opponents in the play-off final and in undoubtedly the best performance of the season, the Lichties ran out 2–0 winners in the home tie 1st leg at Gayfield thanks to a Robbie Raeside header and a Barry Sellars strike. At Stranraer, the Arbroath goal was pummelled for much of the match and the Lichties spent much of the second half down to 10 men after Craig Tully had been red carded. Although one goal was conceded, a resolute defence saw the Lichties hold on for a 2–1 aggregate win and promotion.

Arbroath managed to consolidate their position in Division 2 in 2008-9. The season had started well but a narrow defeat in the Cooperative Insurance League Cup at Gayfield on penalties to SPL side Inverness Caledonian Thistle triggered a sequence of losses and the Lichties found themselves in the bottom half of the table. The performances were boosted by loan additions such as Steven Doris, Craig Forsyth and ex Scotland International, Colin Cameron and the team got results when it mattered. Safety was all but assured with a narrow 1–0 win over Queens Park at Hampden, courtesy of a fine Robbie Ross strike and a 2–0 victory over Stranraer at Gayfield with goals from Ross and Forsyth. A 2–2 draw against Peterhead and a 0–0 draw against Raith Rovers in May was enough to seal 7th spot. In season 2009/10, results seemed to go into free fall after a 6–0 home defeat to St Johnstone in the CIS Cup early in the season. John McGlashan resigned to be replaced by Jim Weir who after a mixed start eventually rallied the team to a spirited last few weeks of the season. With a win needed against East Fife to avoid the play-offs, the Lichties threw everything they had in the last 20 minutes to find a winner but to no avail. After beating Queens Park in the play-off semi final, the season went out on a whimper with a 2–0 loss to local rivals Forfar Athletic in the final. Jim Weir then resigned to immediately take up the vacant position at Brechin City. On 27 May, Paul Sheerin took over the reins as Player/Manager of Arbroath.

On 23 April 2011, Arbroath defeated fierce local rivals Montrose 4–1 to win the 2010–11 Third Division title; securing Arbroath's first senior honours in their 133-year history and a return to Second Division at their first attempt.^[4] Arbroath 3 seasons in the third tier (renamed League One) have been a mixed rollercoaster. A tremendous first season playing lively attacking football saw them run champions Cowdenbeath closely, more than matching them in head-to-head counters but lacking the professional edge to grind out other results and losing the final three. The Lichties finished on 60 points and went out in the playoff semifinal. In 2012–13, a fairly mediocre season saw us end up in 5th spot, on 52 points just pipped for the final playoff spot. One highlight was a 3rd Round Scottish Cup draw at Celtic Park 1–1 and then exiting in the replay due to a perfectly acceptable equaliser being ruled out. Season 2013–14 was fairly disastrous. After an average start, a run of 14 games without a win (and very few draws)saw us end up bottom of the pile on 31 points and automatically relegated. Scoring was not really a problem but defence was. the attack-minded and purist emphasis of manager Sheerin, who continued as player-manager, meant most fans stayed supportive. Some poor signings were costly. Arbroath thus experienced their fourth relegation in 11 years. Sheerin left Gayfield in June 2014 to take up a post with the Under 20 side at Aberdeen. Allan Moore was subsequently appointed with Todd Lumsden as assistant. On Sunday the 12th of April 2015 after a string of poor results in which the team only won once in 16 games, Moore was relieved of his duties as Manager.

Stadium

Arbroath's Gayfield Park is not its original ground (which was nearby) and was known as Lesser Gayfield, its current stadium is the closest to the sea in Britain, a traditional style ground exposed to the elements, where the traditions of 'real football' are still observed where opposition fans mix as they change ends at half time to stand behind the oppositions goals. There is terracing on three sides and enclosed stands on all four sides. On stormy winter days, waves beat on the walls surrounding the ground. Clearances in the teeth of the gale, let alone polished football, become impossible. Goalkeepers can find it hard to spot the ball to kick out and even then goalkicks occasionally fly out for corners. Players taking corner on the southern side were splashed by waves in February 2014.

First-team squad

As of January 2015

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player GK David Crawford GK Marc McCallum (on loan from Dundee United) GK Lenny Wilson DF Craig Johnstone DF Johnny Lindsay DF Ricky Little DF Jordan Lowdon DF Liam Gordon (on loan from Heart of Midlothian) DF Liam Rowan (on loan from Falkirk) MF Dylan Carreiro (on loan from Dundee)

No. Position Player MF Thomas Grant (on loan from Falkirk) MF Adam Hunter MF Kieran McWalter MF Scott McBride MF Kevin Nicoll MF Kieran Stewart MF Mark Whatley FW Kevin Buchan FW Bobby Linn FW Paul McManus FW Simon Murray (on loan from Dundee United) FW Jack Smith

For recent transfers, see List of Scottish football transfers summer 2014

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player MF Keiran McWalter (on loan to Lochee United)

Managers

• Bob McGlashan (1927–46)
• Archie Anderson (1946–49)
• Alec Cheyne (1949–55)
• Tommy Gray (1955–57)
• Chris Anderson (1957–60)
• John Prentice (1960–62)
• Albert Henderson (1962–80)
• Ian Stewart (1980–82)
• George Fleming (1982–85)
• Jimmy Bone (1985–87)
• John Young (1987–90)
• Ian Gibson (1990–91)
• Walter Borthwick (1991)
• Mickey Lawson (1991–92)
• Danny McGrain (1992–94)
• Jocky Scott (1994)
• George Mackie (1994–95) with Donald Park (1994)
• John Brogan (1995–96)
• Tommy Campbell (1996–1997)
• Dave Baikie (1997–2000)
• John Brownlie (2000–03)
• Stevie Kirk (2003–04)
• Harry Cairney (2004–05)
• John McGlashan (2005–2009)
• Jim Weir (2009–10)
• Paul Sheerin (2010–14)
• Allan Moore (2014–15)

Honours

Level 2 (Scottish Division Two, Scottish B Division, Scottish First Division, Scottish Championship): Runners-up 1934–35, 1958–59, 1967–68, 1971–72

Level 3 (Scottish Division Three, Scottish C Division, Scottish Second Division, Scottish League One): Runners-up 2000–01 2011–12

Level 4 (Scottish Third Division, Scottish League Two): Winners 2010–11,^[5] Runners-up 1997–98 Play-off winners 2007–08

Scottish Qualifying Cup:^[6] Winners 1903, Runners-up 1899, 1912

Reserve League Cup 2003, Combined Reserve League 1964, Northern League 1891–92, Forfarshire County League (joint) 1908–09, Dewar Shield 1937–38

Arbroath were the first winners of the Forfarshire Cup in 1883 and have won the trophy approximately 17 times since then. Winners in 1883–84, 1887–88, 1889–90, 1892–93, 1895–96, 1896–97, 1906–07, 1913–14, 1920–21, 1923–24, 1933–34, 1935–36, 1938–39, 1939–40, 1957–58, 1993–94, 1995–96 (wins post 1990 to be checked)

Scottish Cup Semi-finalist: 1946–47, Scottish League Cup Semi-Finalists: 1959–60, Scottish Youth Cup Semi-Finalists: 2001–02, Challenge Cup Semi-Finalists: 2012–13

Club records

• Biggest win: 36–0 vs Bon Accord, 12 September 1885, Scottish Cup (World record)

• Biggest defeat: 1–9 vs Celtic, 25 August 1993, League Cup

• Highest home attendance: 13,510 vs Rangers, 23 February 1952, Scottish Cup

• Highest average home attendance: 4,780, 1959–60 season (17 games)^[7]

• Most capped player: Ned Doig, 5 (2 while with Arbroath) Scotland

• Most league goals in a season by a player: 45, David Easson, 1958–59

References

External links

• Official website
• Unofficial Arbroath fan site
• Arbroath Mad fan site
• Relichtie historic nostalgia site

Arbroath Football Club Club Players Managers Honours Gayfield Park Seasons 2011–12 2012–13

Scottish Professional Football League « Scottish Premier League (1998–2013) Divisions Premiership Championship League One League Two 2014–15 Premiership teams Aberdeen Celtic Dundee Dundee United Hamilton Academical Inverness Caledonian Thistle Kilmarnock Motherwell Partick Thistle Ross County St. Johnstone St. Mirren 2014–15 Championship teams Alloa Athletic Cowdenbeath Dumbarton Falkirk Heart of Midlothian Hibernian Livingston Queen of the South Raith Rovers Rangers 2014–15 League One teams Airdrieonians Ayr United Brechin City Dunfermline Athletic Forfar Athletic Greenock Morton Peterhead Stenhousemuir Stirling Albion Stranraer 2014–15 League Two teams Albion Rovers Annan Athletic Arbroath Berwick Rangers Clyde East Fife East Stirlingshire Elgin City Montrose Queen's Park Seasons 2013–14 2014–15 Broadcasters Foreign players Managers Monthly awards Stadia

Scottish Football League (1890–2013) ≫ Scottish Professional Football League (2013–present) Divisions Premier Division (1975–1998) First Division (1975–2013) Second Division (1975–2013) Third Division (1994–2013) Cup competitions League Cup Challenge Cup Former teams Aberdeen Abercorn Airdrieonians (1878) Airdrieonians (2002) Albion Rovers Alloa Athletic Annan Athletic Arbroath Armadale Arthurlie Ayr Ayr Parkhouse Ayr United Bathgate Beith Berwick Rangers Bo'ness Brechin City Broxburn United Cambuslang Celtic Clackmannan Clyde Clydebank Cowdenbeath Cowlairs Dumbarton Dumbarton Harp Dundee Dundee United Dundee Wanderers Dunfermline Athletic Dykehead East Fife East Stirlingshire Edinburgh City Elgin City Falkirk Forfar Athletic Galston Greenock Morton Gretna Hamilton Academical Heart of Midlothian Helensburgh Hibernian Inverness Caledonian Thistle Johnstone Kilmarnock King's Park Leith Athletic Linthouse Livingston Lochgelly United Meadowbank Thistle Mid-Annandale Montrose Motherwell Nithsdale Wanderers Northern Partick Thistle Peebles Rovers Peterhead Port Glasgow Athletic Queen of the South Queen's Park Raith Rovers Rangers Renton Ross County Royal Albert Solway Star St Bernard's St. Johnstone St. Mirren Stenhousemuir Stirling Albion Stranraer Third Lanark Thistle Vale of Leven Seasons 1890–91 1891–92 1892–93 1893–94 1894–95 1895–96 1896–97 1897–98 1898–99 1899–1900 1900–01 1901–02 1902–03 1903–04 1904–05 1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10 1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 Clubs Stadia Monthly awards Representative team