Scottish Enterprise Awards 2021

26 | Scottish Enterprise Awards 2021 all of those who don’t get promoted into the First Team, then get picked up by the clubs in the Scottish Junior FA, the next senior level below us, in the surrounding towns and villages. Hopefully they have all learned something in their time at Fraserburgh.” Always looking to better itself, both on and off the park, Fraserburgh FC is already exploring the prospects of making further improvements around the stadium to make it a better experience for the supporters who loyally attend the games. To conclude, with regards to the future, Finlay shares, “We have recently refurbished the spectator areas with the help of the community which was all done during lockdown. On the pitch we are hoping to keep improving year on year and give the community a club they are proud of.” Contact Details Contact: Finlay Noble Company: Fraserburgh Football Club Web Address: www.fraserburghfc.scot football arena, and Finlay tells us that it has been extremely hard playing games without supporters attending. “Jock Stein famously said: “Football without fans is nothing” and I think we have benefited from our long-established club structure and been able to keep our players while at the same time still promoting youngsters into the First Team Squad,” Finlay adds. Recently, the football club was rewarded for its diligence, commitment and hard work by clinching the prestigious Excellence Award in Youth Sports Development 2021 for the Aberdeenshire area, in the SME News Scottish Enterprise Awards and Finlay is immensely proud to get recognition of this magnitude. Finlay tells us, “We have had many youngsters through the club that have made it into our First Team but there have been many more that haven’t. That is the nature of the game unfortunately but what we do see is that virtually As full members of the Scottish Football Association, the Aberdeenshire & District Football Association, and the Scottish Football Highland League, Fraserburgh FC is committed to helping develop its young players throughout their time with the club. We find out more from Finlay Noble in the wake of the Club being recognised in the Scottish Enterprise Awards 2021. Formed in 1910, Fraserburgh FC has played at Bellslea Park ever since that time. In 1984, the club decided to adopt as close to an all-local recruitment policy for players and get as much first team players coming through the Youth System as possible. “Our main aim is to get as high up the Scottish Football Pyramid as it can, whilst keeping the club firmly involved in the community,” explains Club Chairman, Finlay Noble. “And our place in the community is helped greatly if our players are recognised as being from the community.” As a football club, Fraserburgh’s competitors are its opponents and to distinguish itself from them is to be as successful as possible within its means. Obviously, players are required to be talented at the sport but once they are in the door, at age 15, then they are treated the same as the senior players. Operating with a “One Club” approach, where all players irrelevant of age or level are classed as Fraserburgh FC Players, it is the club’s aim that when a young player gets his breakthrough in the First Team then he is already a well-established individual in the club, so it is a seamless transition. “We are very much a club where everyone gets treated as one big family,” Finlay elaborates. “We are extremely proud of our Youth System and the high number of players who get from our Youth Team into the First Team. Of the 25 players in our First Team Squad, 19 of them have played in our Youth Team.” Obviously the Covid-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the area, especially in the Nov21094 Excellence Award in Youth Sports Development 2021 - Aberdeenshire