As part of our Feel Good Friday series, we’re speaking to volunteers who help ensure the smooth running of our club. This week, we spoke to a well-known face around Ochilview & Stenhousemuir, Andy McPhate. Andy is a club legend around these parts, and he shared his story with us.

How did your association with Stenhousemuir start?

 “I have supported the club for around 35 years now! Originally living in Stirling, before making the move through to the Stenhousemuir area. I originally supported one of the Glasgow clubs but then decided to support my local side”.

Andy has a long standing association with the club, helping fulfil multiple important roles including running the infamous Bob Hill Wee Bar, which is packed every matchday with both home and away fans. He also organises the supporters’ bus for all away matches.

How did you end up running the Wee Bar & Supporters Bus?

 “It was more a case of right place, right time. I had previously helped out in the Wee Bar, and as people retired or left, my name was put forward by Margaret Kilpatrick (Club General Manager at the time) – and I’ve ran it since then. It’s a very similar story with the Supporters Bus, as people moved on, it landed on me, and I’ve ran it ever since.

Andy still remembers the promotion successes of the past. However (quite rightly) does not want to assume it is a given this season, despite the positive start.

 How do you think the season’s going so far?

 “So far, the league season has been excellent. We have a real solid team, built on a strong defence. Fingers crossed we can keep it going. Winning the league is well within our reach, we just need to avoid injuries and suspensions where possible.”

Our community is an integral part to our football club, we always want the community and club to be aligned as one. Volunteers are an essential part of this.

How important are volunteers to Stenhousemuir FC?

 “For a club like Stenhousemuir, volunteers are vital to ensure we can keep going. The community is so important, as we have a variety of people involved at different age groups, from kids’ programmes like Mini & Mega Maroons, all the way through to Auld Warriors Walking Football – which I play in every Monday & Thursday”.

We are grateful to Andy for sharing his story with us. The club would not function without people like Andy at the heart of it.

Thank you, Andy.

You can read more about Walking Football here.