Long serving Gala Fairydean Rovers player leaves the club

Aitchison joined the club in January 2014, a year after the merger of Gala Fairydean and Gala Rovers to become one of the founding members of the Scottish Lowland Football League.

A combination of travelling and family commitments culminated in his decision to call it a day at Gala, but his contribution will live long in the memory and he leaves with the best wishes of everyone connected to the club.

Aitchison said: “It's been an absolute joy and pleasure to represent Gala Fairydean Rovers for the last eight-years. They are a great community club with a brilliant youth set up and it’s a credit to all the people behind the scenes.

Ross Aitchison celebrates a goal for Gala Fairydean Rovers

“It’s like turning up to a family event on matchdays. You get there and have a chat with everybody, the boys, all the back-room staff, the committee members, and the fans, and I’ll miss that.

“I honestly haven’t a bad word to say about the club and I wish them all the best for this season.”

Chairman Ryan Cass said: “We say goodbye to club legend and longest-serving player Ross Aitchison wishing him all the very best for the future.

“Ross has spent eight seasons at Netherdale and shown great loyalty and played a huge part in the club’s progression since being founded in 2013.

“Ross is everything you want in a player – he gives his all, he’s a winner, but, most importantly, he’s a fantastic person.

“It will be strange not having him around, but I’m sure we’ll see him back at Netherdale in some capacity in the near future.”

Manager Martin Scott said: “Aitchy’ is at an age where he has to keep playing football. He has given up a lot of his family time to play for Gala and I didn’t want to see him frustrated by not playing every week.

“The door wasn’t closed for him and he will be a great addition to someone’s squad. Everybody at the club wishes him well.”

John Collins added: “It’s always been a pleasure dealing with Aitchy. He’s a great trainer and a great professional and a really great person. And I believe that he has all the attributes to become a manager and I would love to see him back at Gala Fairydean Rovers in the future.”

Former boss Neil Hastings who left the club past season to join Livingston added:  can’t speak highly enough of Aitchy! I was delighted he decided to return to the club when I spoke with him and he simply never let the club, myself or himself down.

Ross Aitchison in action for Gala Fairydean Rovers

It would of been easy for an older, experienced player to just laugh off everything I asked of him, but he embraced everything thrown at him. I’m sure his team mates would agree that he’s a fantastic guy and it’s simple to say I have a friend for life.

I wish him nothing but the best for his next chapter in football and I’m sure wherever that may be he will be successful and his new club will have the same feelings about him that I do.

Committee member Debbie Ritchie said: “Ross is one of  that special category of a dedicated modest loyal footballer. That’s what we love at Gala and he graced us with those qualities for eight seasons.

“Players arrive at Netherdale and when the time comes to move on it’s hard but we always wish them well.

It’s more than just 90-minutes on a Saturday and players like Ross certainly make the free-time we all give up worthwhile.”

I can’t speak highly enough of Aitchy! I was delighted he decided to return to the club when I spoke with him and he simply never let the club, myself or himself down.

It would of been easy for an older, experienced player to just laugh off everything I asked of him, but he embraced everything thrown at him. I’m sure his team mates would agree that he’s a fantastic guy and it’s simple to say I have a friend for life.

I wish him nothing but the best for his next chapter in football and I’m sure wherever that may be he will be successful and his new club will have the same feelings about him that I do.

Former manager Steve Noble who signed Aitchison said: “Ross Aitchison has been a great signing for GFR and one of the best if not the best signing I made for the club, loyal, committed, hard working and most importantly an absolute great guy.

“He played a wide variety of positions for me and wherever he played you knew what you were getting from him, everything, he scored some amazing goals when playing in midfield and upfront but also had some fantastic games playing at the back, especially in my final season when we had to fight hard to stay in the league.

“He was a great example to all the lads in the squad especially the young lads who learned how to look after yourself on and off the pitch from Ross.

“He was always popular with fans and the committee and was definitely a fans favourite, I never once heard a bad word about Ross or his performances. Shame that Ross is moving on but that'd football and I wish him all the best going forward and I look forward to catching up with Ross again in the future.”