CULTER FOOTBALL CLUB

Team Troubles: Team Manager, Bobby Gray, had ongoing difficulties due to a spate of players being injured during the season. Indeed, Alan Morris was injured in May 2002 and did not play again until Saturday 19 April 2003 . In addition, Gavin Fraser departed in January for a year’s back-packing in Australia .

Playing Pool: Bobby signed three new players before the transfer window ended on 31 January2003. Mike Fraser, who was signed from Parkvale, made his debut in a Premier League game against Wilson ’s XI and scored the match-winning goal in our 2-1 victory. The other two players were David Calder and Steven Morrison,

both from Highland League side Keith. David Calder’s stay was short-lived when he was recalled by Keith. Steven Morrison, grandson of our Senior Committee Member, Gordon Morrison, previously had a brief spell with us at the end of season 2000/2001. Steven’s first goals for Culter were a brace against Deveronside on 19 April2003, and he was denied his hat-trick just on the final whistle by the goalkeeper’s acrobatic save.

Goals Galore: Culter almost made a remarkable comeback in a Premier League game against Formartine United, last season’s Champions. At Crombie Park, Culter were down 5-0 just after the interval and looked buried until a spirited fightback saw us move agonisingly close to grabbing a vital point but the match ended 6-5 in Formartine’s favour.

Toastie’s Tally: At the end of March2003, Culter’s goal machine (Neil ‘Toastie’ McRitchie) fired in his 40th goal of the season in a 1-1 drawn game with Cruden Bay . His amazing goal feats have been a major contribution to Culter’s successes in recent seasons.

League Looks Lost: At time of writing, Culter seem to have gone out of this season’s Premier Division title race. Culter lost to league leaders Sunnybank 2-0 at Crombie Park on Tuesday 22 April 2003. At this stage, Sunnybank are now favourites to lift the title.

15 years ago: Culter ended their first season in the Junior grade in 1987/88 by winning promotion to the Premier League at the first attempt. Culter was presented with the historic Fowler Cup as 1st Division Runners-up. (The Fowler Cup was donated to the North Region Junior FA by the London Rubber Company in 1920.) Culter has a splendid spell of 15 games undefeated from early February to the end of May 1988 - winning 12 and drawing 3 matches. In the lat game of that season, Culter finished in fairytale fashion by lifting the Archibald Cup at Spain Park drawing 1-1 with Premier side Lewis United and, after extra time, winning 4-2 on penalties. Goalkeeper Bon Seivwright was the Culter hero with two penalty saves, which deservedly won him the ‘Man of the Match’ award.

ALBERT J MOIR