They hit the headlines last season and there’s plenty to discover about Arbroath as Ewan Smith explains...
How would you assess your club's 22/23 season so far?
It was always going to be hugely challenging for Arbroath to emulate the incredible success of last season. We came so close to achieving the seemingly impossible, the fairytale promotion to the Scottish Premiership.
As a result, the club have sold record season tickets of around 1,500 and are generating substantial income off the park through major commercial success. But there’s no getting away from the fact that it’s been hard this year. Recruitment has been very difficult, with the club unable to find a way to replace the departures in attack - Jack Hamilton, Joel Nouble and Anton Dowds.
Injuries to key players such as Tam O’Brien - for my money the best central defender in the Championship - have also cost us dearly and, while we haven’t been on the end of many hammerings, it’s vitally important that we start to turn draws into wins.
I remain convinced that Arbroath’s battling spirit, coupled with some January transfer reinforcements, will see us OK. It has almost been unspoiled success during Dick Campbell’s six years at the club and we will be back.
Main Man: Favourite current player and why
Michael McKenna epitomises everything I want to see in an Arbroath player. He has the heart, fight and determination to win every 50-50 and is continually striving to improve both himself and the team. He was inspirational last year and has levelled up at every stage of Arbroath’s rise through the leagues. Arbroath is littered with hard-working, honest performers who will give their all and, ultimately, that is what we need to see right now.
What is your earliest memory supporting your club?
I’m an incomer to the town. I moved to Arbroath 17 years ago as my wife wanted to return to her hometown. I’ve since been to around 300 games – home and away – and can proudly say my son Jackson has been to the all three title-winning days in the club’s history. Given the fact he’s only 16, that’s some going. I have a treasured photograph of Jackson on my shoulders on the hallowed Gayfield turf, as a four-year-old, celebrating the 4-1 win over Montrose that saw us claim our first major silverware in 133 years.
It’s a cliché, but Arbroath FC is the embodiment of everything I love about the town – it's open, welcoming and unpretentious. Gayfield is definitely my happy place.
Explain the nickname
We are known as The Red Lichties. The Bellrock Lighthouse lies approximately 11 miles off the coast of Arbroath and its red lights were used to guide fishing boats safely back to the harbour.
Almost Famous – What is your club best known for?
Two things – wind and 36-0! We have the closest ground to a major sea in Europe and, as you may well be aware, it gets a little bit choppy off the coast of the North Sea! I have seen some incredibly windswept games down at the Costa del Gayfield, including the infamous match where our iconic winger Bobby Linn was drenched by a North Sea wave as he went to take a corner kick! The scoreline 36-0 remains a world record for a competitive match. Little could we have known that a victory over Aberdeen Bon Accord in 1885 would still have Arbroath’s name enscribed in the history books.
Greatest Gaffer: Your favourite/most loved boss watching your team
Without a doubt it is our current boss Dick Campbell. I’m in a very privileged position as I’ve known Dick for 25 years, during my time as a sports journalist.
I’ve built a rapport up with him over that time and, as well as being an incredibly witty guy, he’s someone I trust to call a spade a spade.
He has raised the profile of Arbroath exponentially during his time at the club and taken us from the brink of an SPFL pyramid play-off to drop into the Highland League to a promotion battle to reach the Scottish Premiership last term. His one-liners grab headlines but, he’s a very sharp operator.
Can you tell us one interesting fact about your club which other fans may not know?
We were almost denied a place in the history books for the aforementioned 36-0 win. On the very same day, Dundee Harp beat Aberdeen Rovers 35-0, believing they had created a new world record – only to discover Arbroath had beaten them to it.
Who would make your ultimate all-time 5-a-side team?
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Derek Gaston
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Tam O’Brien
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Ricky Little
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Josh Falkingham
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Bobby Linn
What is your all-time favourite match?
It has to be the 1-0 win over Kilmarnock last season that extended our lead at the top of the Championship. It was far from the most vintage game I’ve seen but there was an incredible belief both on and off the park that night. To see Gayfield packed, full of the next generation of supporters, was also a sight to behold. Arbroath are building for the long-term, not just a one-off season.
What should visiting fans make sure they see/do when visiting your club/town?
Without sounding like a rep from Arbroath Tourist Office, I’d urge you to spend a few hours exploring the stunning surroundings of our town. We have a fantastic beach, a harbour/marina and stunning cliffs. But I know your average punter is very unlikely to do anything other than hop off the train and head for a bar. For that I’d firmly suggest you visit The Townhouse, where you will be met with unrivalled hospitality, before a few pre-match refreshments in Tutties Neuk. P.S. Did you know the wifi password at Tutties is ‘Bobby Linn’?
What makes your club special to YOU?
As I said earlier, it’s the fact the club is unpretentious. I’m unlikely to ever enjoy a European tour with Arbroath, unless we draw a trip to Wales or Northern Ireland in the SPFL Trust Trophy, and I don’t ever expect to see Lionel Messi pulling on a maroon jersey. But I do believe I’ll continue to see a team packed full of honest, hard-working players who – by very definition of the club’s community ethos – will play with pride for our great wee town. During lockdown, when the club was facing a bleak financial period, the fans really rallied round. They raised well in excess of £100,000 through purchasing supporters wall bricks and many donated their season ticket refunds back to the club. It’s that level of togetherness that makes this town special and it’s something we will need to turn our season around.
You can follow Arbroath’s progress every week in our SPFL Lower League Round Up - watch the latest edition now!
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