Centenary Club Assistance

AGM 2009: Centenary Club looking forward to celebrating 25th anniversary next year.

When the Centenary Club held its AGM in the Gallery on Thursday 2nd April, a special presentation was made to Treasurer Jim MacDonald who has held that post for the last 22 years.  Jim Leishman made the presentation for services to the Centenary Club.

Left to right: Pete Campbell, John Swift, Jim MacDonald, Jason Barber
and Director of Football, Jim Leishman

Chairman Pete Campbell reported that the Centenary Club has donated £5000 cash directly into the Club's youth development in this season. £2000 of this was spent on seven-a-side goals that the U11s and U12s use. Their lifespan should be a number of seasons.

Funding from the Centenary Club has also paid for U19 team polo shirts and tracksuits. It has contributed to the meals for the U19s who are just part timers. Goals, bibs, cones, footballs and even referees for U12 games when excluded from the SFA Initiative Programme.

£1000 was donated to provide the first team squad with new kit bags ahead of the pre season training camp in Austria and £500 had been donated recently to allow the South West Enclosure to be brought up to standard ahead of the Homecoming Scottish Cup tie against Aberdeen.

Centenary Club money in the past also paid for the U19s Foyle Cup trip to Northern Ireland and in years gone by a youth trip to Corfu where all footwear was paid for.  £150,000 has been paid to the football club to purchase match day hospitality and over 500 members and guests have participated over the last four seasons.

Jim Leishman paid tribute for the sum in excess of £750,000 that has been donated to the football club since the Centenary Club was founded in 1985.

"It is amazing how quickly the years have past since I remember going down to Bolton with Billy Braisby Senior.  We spoke to Nat Lofthouse and the Commercial Manager who had just started the Bolton Lifeline and from that the Centenary Club was set up. £750,000 is a great gesture and a great donation to our football club."

Jim went on to thank the Centenary Club members for their monthly committment and for their committment in time.

Hamish French accompanied by Davie Hunter, Community Coach Roger Arnott and  players Greg Paterson and Paul Willis attended a recent Centenary Club evening.