I started supporting Gretna when they joined the SFL, in 2002, I believe. I suppose I've carried on supporting them because they are more than just a football team. As more and more football becomes a form of entertainment,with less and less relevance for fans, I love the way that Gretna involves a wide community across the western Borders and indeed further afield.

My favourite moment involves both 1946 and 2008. One of the few games I was able to see in the SPL was at "home" to Celtic at Livingston. We were out on our feet and I don't know how we managed to field a team. But we had a crowd that outsang sellick and a team that wouldn't roll over. Almost a year later I was standing on that bog at Everholm and put my hand in my pocket and pulled out the ticket - Gretna v Celtic. I looked around me.....

I really can't pick a favourite player I'm afraid. Curtis is always exciting, Ross has come on leaps and bounds and young Chris has made an immediate impact. I could go through every one of them and not find fault.

At the moment it's something like a 700 mile round trip from Kent but I'm planning to relocate permanently to Springfield next year and be able to volunteer to help out at the club.

I've just turned 60 and I'm not sure whether I've retired or am just on an extended rest between jobs. I'll take a decision next year. .........Ian Richmond

Sandra Bowdon

It was more out of curiosity that I first went to see Gretna FC play. Being a regular at St. James Park at that time, I had been watching the Gretna results out of interest and was keen to see at first hand the team that was consistently winning their matches by some distance. The first match I saw was in November 2004 at Raydale Park when they played Peterhead in the SFL 3rd Division. They won 2-1 on that day and, as a result, went top on goal difference replacing Peterhead themselves. They never lost top spot that season and were promoted to Division 2. The rest is history and the visits to Gretna for me became a regularity!

My favourite moment has to be the Cup Final at Hampden Park – an unbelievable experience!

As for Gretna 2008 most would say that their favourite moment was winning the Alex Jack Cup and yes, it was a fantastic day and a proud one too. However mine was the pre-season friendly against Workington in July 2008 when the new team took to the pitch for the very first time. We were watching young players we’d never seen before in an old Gretna FC strip and we were soundly beaten 5-0 but it didn’t matter. The new club was formed and two days earlier we had been accepted into the East of Scotland League Division One. It was a very emotional moment.

It’s impossible to pick out a favourite player as the whole squad give something different to the team and can be relied upon to do a good job, even if coming off the subs bench. My player of the season last year was Ross for his consistently high standard of performances in whichever position he was asked to play.

Some people are amazed when I tell them which team I support, as I live near Hexham which is 43 miles from Gretna, but the 86 mile round trip is nothing compared with a few other supporters and well worth it for the sheer enjoyment watching the team brings. It does have advantages in being nearer to some away grounds!

Being semi-retired allows me more time for my match secretary’s job for the club, which I really enjoy. It mainly involves being the main point of contact with the opposing clubs, match officials, the East of Scotland League and Scottish Football Association. It can be quite stressful at times, with postponements and re-arrangements at short notice, but so far we’ve had no real catastrophes that I am aware of!

When I am not working for Gretna 2008 I do the book-keeping for a charity in Newcastle one day a week – another stressful job in the current financial climate!

Most spare time involves football and even on holiday we manage to fit in a match or two. This year we visited another 3 grounds in France making a total of 26 we’ve been to on our regular trips over there. Part of my family are involved in Whitley Bay FC so we regularly check scores and keep up with events in each other’s clubs. After our match against Civil Service Strollers in May we drove down to support them in the FA Vase at Wembley; our first visit to the new stadium. All in all I don’t know what life would be like without football – pretty miserable I would think. .......Sandra Bowdon   

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