John May

Many people in the town including ‘Loons’ fans of a certain vintage would have been saddened by the news last weekend of the death following a lengthy battle with Alzheimers of ‘adopted’ Forfarian John May.

John originally from Banffshire, arrived in Forfar in the mid-sixties to teach at the recently opened at the time new Forfar Academy complex in Taylor Street.

We are sure he never imagined that he was to become a ‘weel kent’ face in the town for the next fifty years and more.

On the football front at the time John who in this day and age would have been classed as an industrious midfield player plied his trade with Inverurie Loco Works.

However, he was signed by the then Athies manager Doug Newlands in early June of 1967, as it turned out just a couple of weeks before Doug resigned from the post.

Jake Young took over the reins and there followed the most successful two-season period in the club’s history for some considerable time, John playing his part in a team that became renowned for some excellent football and included in its ranks Archie Knox with whom John retained a friendship for many a year.

In fact, Archie was so sad to hear of his former colleague’s passing.

John spent three seasons with the club, making 75 competitive starting appearances plus 11 as a sub, in the days when only one substitute was permitted.    He netted 11 goals.

He was of course part of the Forfar starting eleven who took on Rangers at Station Park in February 1970, a match watched by a staggering record crowd of 10.800.

John continued to take a great interest in the affairs of the Athies and in fact reported on their home fixtures for some time for the now long-defunct Forfar Times weekly newspaper.

A keen golfer he was an ex-President of Forfar Golf Club.

At this time the thoughts of all at Station Park are with John’s devoted wife Pat, daughter Shona and son Andrew and the extended family.

John’s funeral cortege will leave Strathmore Funeral Directors at approximately 12.30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 10^th, proceeding via Station Park and Forfar Golf Course to a short graveside service at Newmonthill Cemetery at 1 p.m. to which all are welcome.