Border Telegraph | Sport | It's all change at the 'Dean

Friday, 5th December, 2008

Published: Friday, 19th October, 2007 10:30

It's all change at the 'Dean

By David Knox

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BUSINESSMAN John Ritchie is about spearhead the revival at Gala Fairydean.

The 40-year-old double-glazing company boss has a clear vision for the Netherdale club.

At Thursday night’s Annual General Meeting several stalwarts of the local football team resigned – including chairman Bill Berry and treasurer Kenny Smith.

And despite nobody jumping into the chairman’s seat just yet, the new vice-chairman believes he has a match winning team behind him.

Mr Ritchie told the Border Telegraph: “I came back to Gala Fairydean a couple of seasons ago when the place was in trouble and I couldn’t believe the state it was in.

“A lot of work has been done since then to improve the clubrooms and changing facilities.

“There are a lot of willing people who want to make Gala Fairydean the great club that it once was and we will work towards that over the rest of this season.”

Debts and a team that only narrowly avoided finishing bottom of the East First Division sparked a mini revolution in Galashiels footballing circles at the start of 2006.

Gala Football Club was formed to oversee a new united front from all the town’s clubs and local managers Bryan Templeton and Derek Hancock took control of the senior team.

While improvements have taken place at all levels – including the senior side just missing out on promotion last season – the financial situation has taken a little more time.

John added: “There are two things we need to concentrate on straight away and that is controlling the debt and having the team return to winning ways.

“I believe we have a strong committee now in place to tackle the debt and I am confident our managers Bryan Templeton and Derek Hancock will pull things together on the pitch.

“What we need now, more than anything, is for more people to come down and support the club.”

Paul Gray has taken over the role of secretary, with John Clayton remaining in the match secretary’s position, and both Simon Gillie and Steve McLaren teaming up to fill the treasurer’s job.

And Tom Cass, Keith Bell and Steven Noble are job sharing the role of bar convenor.

New treasurer Simon Gillie believes there is now light at the end of the Fairydean tunnel.

He told us: “We know how much money we owe and we will do everything we can to address this is a priority.

“We have a new executive committee and a new match-day committee who I know will do their very best for the club and we have every faith in Bryan and Derek to do their best with the team.

“We are now in a position to drive this club forward and the more people who come down and help us the better.”

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