Albert Shepherd

Many supporters of Forfar Athletic, in fact, many Forfarians of all walks of life would have been saddened when news broke on Wednesday of the passing after a short illness at the age of 87 of Albert Shepherd.

Albert came from a well known local family and apart from national service and a short spell working down south, had spent all his life living in the town.

As far as the ‘Loons’ were concerned, Albert was a lifelong fan, serving the club as a Director for a ten year period and as a hard-working and dutiful treasurer for nine of those years.

Albert in fact first became officially involved in the club in early 1973 when he took up the post of Secretary of the newly formed at the time Forfar Athletic Sports & Social Club who had been given the task of purchasing and overseeing the takeover of the Castle Hall in the town as  a Social Club for the Athies.

In November of 1973 with by then the social club up and running Albert became the first representative of that organisation to be appointed to the club’s board.

Within six months he had assumed the role of club treasurer a post he held until December of 1983 when he passed the ‘baton’ on to local Bank Manager David Potter.

Albert served the club as treasurer during one of the most if not the most successful periods in their history the arrival of Sam Smith as Chairman ably assisted by Gordon Webster and others and Archie Knox as Manager seeing vast improvements made to the club structure both on and off the field of play.

In fact, Archie was so sad to hear the news of Albert’s passing when it was communicated to him yesterday as was club captain of the time Ian McPhee.

Albert without doubt played his part alongside others in that upsurge in the club’s fortunes and was also part of the group who headed to Ontario in the late Spring of 1980 on the club’s first-ever overseas trip.

However, he made the decision to step down from his position at the club just prior to the centenary celebrations and our first-ever title win in 1984 due to increased business commitments in his role as the manager of Remploy’s factory in Dundee, a post in which he was much respected well beyond the boundaries of Tayside.

Albert however continued his love affair with Forfar Athletic right to the end.

He was a loyal fan, season ticket holder and a familiar figure sitting in his customary front-row stand seat next ‘door’ to the Directors Box and was also a supporter of many of the club’s fundraising activities over the years.

In fact he was in his normal position at the early March fixtures and also attended the AGM in late February.

Away from the football front, Albert was also a keen and accomplished bowler both indoor and out and was a Past President and member for over half a century and more of the Forfar Bowling Club.

He was for many years the Convenor of the ever-popular Forfar Open Tournament held annually in the first week of August.

He was also an official until just weeks back from the local Probus Club.

He loved travelling and along with his wife of many years Marion who sadly preceded him a few years back went on cruises in many if not all parts of the ‘globe.’

Albert also was a great family man and thoroughly enjoyed the company of sons Alan and Ian and their respective families and was proud of their achievements in life.

While Ian’s work commitments saw him leave the ‘toonie’ many years back, Alan has maintained the family tradition as a ‘Loons’ fan of many years standing and in fact over the past 24 months has played an important part in seeing the club through the vagaries of the pandemic as our very diligent and much appreciated Covid Officer.

At this sad time, the sympathy of all involved at Station Park is extended to Alan and Ian, their wives and extended family.

Forfar Athletic mourn the loss of yet another great supporter, while the town itself has lost another of its characters of whom there are becoming fewer and fewer.

Albert’s passing will be officially marked by the club at the home game with Stenhousemuir on Saturday week.