On Team Talk today, we welcome Alford AFC, located in Alford, Aberdeenshire and playing in Aberdeenshire AFA''s Division 1 North.

Duncan Harper (no relation to Colin The Wall Harper, so far as we know), Manager, Coach and Fundraiser (and recently retired player) answers my Team Talk questions below...



G: Tell me about your team history – when and how did the team get started?

D: 1970, my knowledge of the history is a bit skechy.

G: What colours do you play in and why?  What does your club badge represent?  Do you have a team nickname and why?

D: Our home strip is dark blue, because it doesn’t show too many stains in the muddy pitches, our away strip is white, provided by some sicko that doesn’t do washing.

G: Tell me who is involved in your team – who are they and why do they do it you think?

D: Duncan Harper – Manager, passionate about football but not fit enough to play anymore. George Mathews – Secretary, long time servant of the club in various roles including former player.  Derek Johnston – Assistant Manager and general source of advice.

G: What kind of place does your team come from?

D: Alford was a small farming community until the last 15 years when the population expanded mainly due to the oil industry.  Most of our players have strong links to Alford, over 1/2 living in the surrounding area.  It is very difficult to attract city based players due to the location.

G: Tell me who are your local supporters and sponsors – why are they behind you?

D: The Vale Hotel in the village are strip sponsors and provide refreshments after home games. 3M are our other sponsors who also provide equipment and are very generous with golf goodies for our end of season golf outing.

G: What’s been the main highlights for your team?

D: The club has won various cups and league titles over the years, but the biggest high in my time has to be last season, when we gained promotion, and won the league cup in an exciting competitive match v Bridge of Don in front of a partisan crowd. We fought back three times to finally win the match 3-2 to a late dramatic goal from Scott Emslie.  The team pulled together to finish strongly, some of the players had forgotten how enjoyable success can be.

G: What’s been the lowest points for your team?

D: The lowest point in my time was this season’s Scottish Cup 4th Round tie at home v Bannockburn being only 0-1 down after 50 minutes we capitulated to lose 0-11.

G: Tell me about how you fund your team – what do you do to raise funds?

D: Our main funding comes from our weekly lucky numbers sweeper, we also have at least one race night per year to keep funds up.

G: Tell me about your local ground – what are the pitches and facilities like and who owns them?

D: The facilities are council owned but very good.  The pitch is flat and the changing rooms are of a good standard.

G: Tell me your ‘team view’ – what would make amateur football better for your team?

D: If we could play 5 subs from 5 listed would help, keeping people at clubs when they sit on the lines the whole game is hard at our level.  It would have no bearing on the spectacle at this level as it would at pro level.

G: Tell me something I’ve not asked – what other thing would you like to say?

D: Team Idiot? – Nicol Robertson.

G: Tell me briefly, what words best summarise your team?

D: “Like a drink”


Thanks for taking part in Team Talk, Duncan!