Words from the Chairman

He’s a man of few words, our Stuart, but what a brilliant servant he has been for our club. No-one would have a bad word to say about him. He is just a good all round lad.

Of course, he did have that short spell away when he joined Montrose, and I remember just how difficult we found it to replace him at that time. Getting him back that summer of 2015 was a priority, and I’m so glad he agreed to return.

He’s shown great loyalty over the years. Bigger clubs must have been looking at him and he certainly would have been capable of performing at a full-time level, but when others moved on, he stuck with us. His record speaks for him, which is just as well, as you’d be hard pushed to get Stuart to do it.

I know that his team-mates think the world of him. He is understated, and I think probably underestimated outwith Balmoral Stadium, but certainly not by anyone here. I always think we’re a really good fit. Cove Rangers suits Stuart, and he suits us. He goes about his business in the same way we do.

He worked with me away from football in the past, spent some time with ATR Group, and he was just as popular there. He showed the same attitude, the same application as he does to training and during games.

Stuart has been part of that core group of players who have come up through the divisions with us, and that has given us the stability, the foundation to build from. He has played a massive part of that.

Others will be due testimonials in the coming seasons, but Stuart is the first to reach that milestone, and he thoroughly deserves all the recognition he is getting.

He is a great guy on and off the park, and I hope he thoroughly enjoys his special day.

Keith Moorhouse