New Kit Unveiled
The club was delighted to welcome over 120 supporters, players, members of the management team, officials and club sponsors to Station Park on Friday 24 June for a special event.
All those that attended were the first to see the new Forfar Athletic home kit for 2016-17 season and to find out the name of the new Bridie Mascot. The event was also live streamed via Facebook with almost 4,000 views allowing far-flung Loons and those unable to come along to Station Park to enjoy the action from afar.
Kerr Hay with James FitzGerald followed by Michael Kennedy with Beau Taylor
The highlight of the night was the unveiling of the new home kit and of course the first proper introduction of the Bridie mascot to supporters. As reported in other news stories on this site the new mascot has been named Baxter the Bridie. The name Baxter, chosen by Karen Murray of McLaren & Son and Morna Saddler of Saddler’s of Forfar, the sponsors of the mascot outfit, is an old word for a baker so a very fitting name for a Bridie. Ross Milne from Kirriemuir was the inspiration behind the name and was present to collect his prize of a voucher to be a mascot (non Bridie variety!) at a first team fixture during the season.
There then followed the unveiling of the new home team strip
which was modelled by first team players Martyn Fotheringham; Kerr Hay; Michael
Kennedy and new signing goalkeeper Grant Adam (who wore the club’s new leisurewear).
The players were joined on the pitch by junior season ticket holders Beau
Taylor; Michael & James FitzGerald and Henry Colquhoun. The new strip
colour lay-out, which is a new combination this season from Pendle (the club’s
kit manufacturers), was selected taking into account the need for it to
contrast not only with the current away strip but also looking ahead to the new
away strip design for next season. The
new kit is now available in the new club shop or by emailing
Grant Adam with Michael FitzGerald followed by Martyn Fotheringham with Henry Colquhoun
The children present at the event were excited to secure player autographs and to pose with Baxter the Bridie for photos. Thanks to the lads for supporting the event along with Manager Gary Bollan and Assistant Coach Ian Flaherty – this was much appreciated given the busy pre-season period. It certainly made the youngsters’ evening and a few not so youngsters were also pleased to get autographs and photos with the players.
Delighted Loons modelling new kit with players
Another highlight of the evening was the opening of the new club retail shop which has been set up over the close season. The shop did a roaring trade in new replica kits and other Forfar Athletic merchandise with the special range of handcrafted mini replica Bridies, made locally, sold out before the evening was over.
As the weather held despite a forecast of thunder storms the thirty children who attended enjoyed taking part in a number of football activities including beat the goalkeeper and a Euro theme goal challenge. Long after these events ended and darkness fell many of the children continued to play on the park and their enjoyment of simply kicking a ball about was great to see and demonstrates the tremendous facility we have at Station Park.
Guests also had the chance to purchase season tickets and to enjoy refreshments in the 1984 Lounge.
All in all it was an excellent night and the club are very grateful to everyone, too many to mention, who helped in some way to make the evening a success, not least of all those that came along and supported this venture. With the first pre-season friendly taking place in a few days this event was a great way to start the season.
