Marc McCallum agrees contract extension

Marc McCallum agrees contract extension

Forfar Athletic supporters will be delighted with the first piece of major story to emanate from Station Park in 2024, the news that long serving goalkeeper Marc McCallum has put pen to paper on a two year extension to his current contract.

This means that Marc has committed his footballing future to the ‘Loons’ till at the very least the summer of 2026.

To be a one club man for such a lengthy period, potentially nine seasons is a very rare occurrence these days especially within the part time structure in the current semi-professional game.

Local lad Marc, a highly popular figure with not only Athies fans but within the area itself where he also works in his ‘day’ job in fact made his Forfar debut back in January 2012 when on loan for an eight game spell from parent club at the time Dundee United.

Marc who made only one first team competitive appearance for the Tannadice club, a televised home league fixture against Aberdeen also had spells during that part of his early career at Berwick Rangers, Peterhead, Arbroath and Livingston, before making a permanent move to the West Lothian outfit in 2016.

A season down at Home Park plying his trade with Plymouth Argyle followed before he returned north of the border to sign for his local club during the close season in 2017.

Since then he has been a model of consistency in the ‘Loons’ colours missing only nine games during that period which included the two truncated seasons due to covid through injury or illness.

In fact since the commencement of the 2021/22 Marc has missed only one game, covid itself ruling him out of a visit to Ochilview that season.
Marc consequently made his 250th competitive appearance for the Athies at East Fife in late September, this Saturday’s visit to Stenhousemuir due to be appearance number 262.

During his time at Station Park, there is no doubt that Marc’s popularity with the fan base has also been in part down to the recognition of his willingness to appear at various functions in the town to carry out presentation duties etc and also his fairly regular interaction with sponsors and hospitality guests on après match.

He has also lost none of his agility or concentration levels either as was undoubtedly illustrated by his outstanding first half save in last Saturday’s encounter despite having hardly touched the ball as he was battered by the icy wind and rain throughout that first period against the Fifers.

Manager Ray McKinnon is naturally thrilled as all connected with the club are that Marc has made this further commitment to the ‘Loons’ cause midway through the current campaign.
Hopefully there will be further signing news to come in the not to distant future as the second half of the cinch league2 campaign gets underway.