CULTER FOOTBALL CLUB

Second Successive Second Spot:

Thanks to Cruden Bay holding Longside to a goalless draw on 23 May 2003 , Culter ended the 2002/03 Season as Runners-up in the Printagraph Premier Division for the second successive season.

Congratulations go to Team Manager, Bobby Gray, his Team Management Assistants and his Players on achieving this creditable record.

Culters Cup: Culter ended the 2002/03 Season in style by winning the splendid Acorn Heating Cup for the first time. Last season, Culter came close but lost to Formartine United in the Competition’s Final by the only goal of the game. Once again there was only one goal scored but fortunately it was in our favour this time. Culter beat Longside 1- 0 at Heathryfold Park , Aberdeen , on Friday 30 May 2003 with defender Andy Thain being our surprise goal-scoring hero.

Mike’s Money: Our player, Mike Fraser, was the outright £3,300 winner of our Lottery at the end of April 2003. Delighted Mike was a new member of our playing pool having joined us in January 2003. He became our highest individual winner since our Lottery started in January 1999. Once before, the Lottery reached £3,300 but was shared on that occasion by three winners.

Nap-hand Neil: Neil ‘Toastie’ McRitchie produced another amazing goal-scoring feat by netting all our five goals against FC Stoneywood in our Printograph Premier Division game won 5-1 on Tuesday 29 April 2003 . Neil’s nap-hand, at that stage, brought his tally for the season up to 50!

FortiethFunction: Culter staged the 40th End-of-Season function on Saturday 24 May 2003 in the Palm Court Hotel , Aberdeen .

Our first function took place almost forty years ago at the Douglas Arms Hotel, Banchory, in 1964. The venue for the forty events were:

Douglas Arms Hotel 11, Red Star Inn 10, Palm Court 5, Cults Hotel 4, Lauries Hotel 4,

Gordon Arms Hotel 3, Kintore Arms 2 and the Embassy 1.

Annual Awards: Winners of our Annual Awards were announced at the Club’s Annual General Meeting on Sunday 22 June 2003 in Crombie Park Pavilion:-

Sponsor’s Success. Doug Mime, our main sponsor, won the Dick Brown Memorial Trophy. Honorary Vice President Doug became the first Honorary Official to win it. Doug’s immense contribution to the playing staff and maintenance! development of Crombie Park has been invaluable. Team Manager’s Press quote sums him up, ‘Our main sponsor, Doug Mime, has been fantastic.’

Toastie’s Trophy Treble: For the third season in succession, Neil ‘Toastie’ McRitchie won the Larry Barclay Trophy for the Player of the Year. His tremendous tally of 56 goals was less than last season’s 63, but we played six games fewer. Toastie now has amassed 171 goals in only three seasons. His highlight this year was scoring nine goals in our 16-0 rout of Maud in August 2002.

Double Departure: At our Annual General Meeting it was announced that two Committee Members were leaving - Andy ‘Punchie’ Adam and Jockie Lawrence. Andy, who joined the Committee in 1997/98, left due to ill health, whilst Jockie decided to resign from his post as player/coach after 3 1/2 years with Culter FCdue to lack of playing in the past season. One the otherhand, long-time loyal supporter, Allan Menhenick, has been welcomed onto the Committee.

Review Released: My Annual Review No.33 of Season 2002/ 03 is now on release. Copies are available from me on request.

Albert J Moir