THE tireless work of Ross Buchan in restoring the iconic Netherdale stand coupled with the installation of the new playing surface with improved floodlights has been formally recognised by Gala Fairydean Rovers.

Mr Buchan, who briefly played for Gala Fairydean and was previously a club secretary and chairman at Netherdale was presented with a lifetime membership award at a special ceremony on Saturday in the boardroom during the half-time interval in the game against East Stirlingshire.

The presentation was made by his great friend and former manager Jim Gray who actually signed him in 1979 on his return from working in Saudi Arabia.

Mr Gray said: “This presentation is well overdue. It’s to a very good friend of mine who has done an amazing amount of work at the club.

“He impressively drove, along with Graeme (McIver) and another team of guys, to get the stand refurbished, the pitch laid, the new floodlights installed.

“And I believe that Ross, Graeme and the team are working on stage three which is really quite ambitions."

Mr Buchan accepted the framed certificate and said: “I’ve been involved with the club in one capacity or another for more than 40 years.

“My football career was cut short after we played Meadowbank here in a pre-season friendly where I suffered a broken jaw so that curtailed my goalkeeping period with the Fairydean.

“It took me three months to recuperate from that so Jaybo (Jim Gray) had to move on to other goalkeepers and I went to Peebles Rovers.

“But since then I’ve been secretary and chairman here before becoming involved in the refurbishment project.

“But Jaybo is the longest-standing friend I’ve got down here and it’s an honour and pleasure to be made a lifetime member of this football club. I feel very flattered.”