ELLON Rotary Club was delighted to present two deserving individuals with a Community Service Award at a recent meeting.
Archie Park and Lawrie McLean were both recognised for their outstanding contribution to the local area, and in particular to local sport, over a period of many years.
Mr Park, a founder member of Ellon Rugby Football Club, was honoured for his d
edication to the club and for his role in its development over the last 32 years.
From its inception in 1977, Ellon RFC rapidly moved through the regional leagues and then the national ones, finally moving into the Scottish Premier League in 2004.
A junior section, set up in 1983, has meant that home grown talent has been a prominent feature of the club's First XV and Ellon RFC has become an important part of the advancement of rugby in the north-east of Scotland.
Community service convenor Martin Forster noted that this has taken planning, organisation, fundraising, coaching, endeavour, enthusiasm and huge commitment by many and Mr Park has been at the heart of it all, from day one.
Mr Forster explained: "Archie has coached at various levels, was team manager for many years, has had spells as club president, he chaired the selection committee for years, he has been North of Scotland team selector, he has managed many club tours, his company has been club sponsor forever, and he has even managed the bar at The Meadows - in other words he has been the face of Ellon Rugby Football Club for 32 years.
"Archie is respected, liked and appreciated by everyone for the character that he is throughout all areas of the game. Whether you speak to kindred clubs, referees, or the Scottish Rugby Union he generally has been regarded as a North East Ambassador for the game of Rugby Football."
Mr McLean was also recognised for his devoted and significant service to a local sports club - the Auchnagatt Barons Football Club.
In 1979 Mr McLean was nearing the end of his main football playing career, was working on the Ellon Thistle Football Club committee and was chair of the Ellon Football Association, an organisation set up to get local football clubs to work together for the common good. At the same time a group of young Auchnagatt men were trying to set up a football team. After refereeing a few of their matches, Mr McLean was asked to become their first manager, and thirty seasons on, he remains in post.
Mr McLean has also taken on a number of other roles to help the club, from secretary to treasurer, coach, trainer and pitch liner and he still even plays occasionally.
Over the years, the Barons have had some successes in the Aberdeen & District leagues, but their main strength as a club has been to engender great loyalty and family involvement, factors which, as Mr Forster emphasised, are not too common these days. They have won the league's fair play trophy four times and the association's trophy once.
Geography lecturer, Mr McLean, has also fostered long term international friendships by signing up Erasmus exchange students to play for the Barons during their time in Scotland.
Addressing the meeting, Mr Forster added: "This 30 years of football management is exceptional - maybe those such as Celtic, Newcastle or Chelsea could learn a lesson or two here! I also bet their managers don't do any of the other tasks listed earlier."
