Arbroath FC’s long-serving committee spoke of their delight after the club secured its first-ever league championship, with chairman John Christison declaring, “We’ll have to buy a trophy cabinet!”
Arbroath won the first championship in the club’s history on Saturday having previously won seven promotions which were all achieved as runners-up or via the play-offs.
“To be quite honest it’s been too nerve-wracking to really take it in,” said Mr Christison. “We’ll have a wee champagne and a couple of whiskies and we’ll see how it is after that.
“It’s fantastic and it’s not just for the club but it’s for the town itself. It puts everything back on the map and we’re absolutely delighted.”
It’s been 133 years but Mr Christison said they will finally have to buy a trophy cabinet.
“I wasn’t at the first game 133 years ago but it feels like I was!” he said. “It’s absolutely fantastic and we’ll have to buy a trophy cabinet!”
The Lichties have, for 133 years, been an integral part of the Angus town’s community and have enjoyed some real highs as well as some lows. What they had not experienced, however, was a league title win or lifted a national cup.
April 23, 2011, may only be edged out for importance in the club’s history by September 12, 1885, when they achieved the world record win in senior football with a 36-0 victory over Bon Accord.
Director Mike Caird said he was delighted for manager Paul Sheerin and the long-serving board members.
“It’s a fantastic feeling and I’m delighted for Paul,” he said. “He came in at the start of the season with very few players but he’s got a side together and playing fantastic football. Some of the one touch stuff was a joy to watch.
“I’ve been here 15 years but there’s some people in the committee that have been here a lot longer. I’m delighted for them and to do it at home against Montrose makes it even better.”