Tributes paid to Moray footballing stalwart Mike Christie after his death at 85
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
TRIBUTES have been paid to a Moray footballing stalwart after his death.
Mike Christie, well-known locally for his association with Elgin Boys Club, Elgin City and Burghead Thistle, died on December 30, at the age of 85.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years Jean and sons Ryan and Craig.
A minute's silence was held on Saturday afternoon before matches at both Burghead Thistle, where Mike was once manager, and Elgin City, where he was a trainer.
His funeral was held at a packed St Columba's Church today (Wednesday, January 11).
Alexander 'Mike' Christie was born in Elgin on November 21, 1937, and was the eldest of six siblings.
He began being called Mike due to a number of people in his family – his dad, grandfather and great-grandfather – all sharing the name Alexander.
Growing up, Mike lived in Pluscarden, where he attended school, before moving back to Elgin and going to the old Academy.
After leaving school, Mike was an apprentice plumber before joining the Army and serving with the Scots Guards in England for three years.
Those three years would be the only ones he spent living away from Moray, but they were as important as any – not least due to being scouted by Midlands-based football club West Bromwich Albion while playing as a goalkeeper for the Army.
West Brom were interested in signing Mike. However, he decided to move back to Elgin with Jean, who he married in 1962 and had two children with, Ryan, born in 1967, and Craig, born in 1971.
Mike worked in finance and insurance during the 1960s, and at McDermott Fabrication Yard in Ardersier as a welder during the 1980s.
He later started his own second hand shop in Elgin town centre and, in semi-retirement, worked in the funeral business.
Mike met many people through his work delivering The Northern Scot, working in circulation for the newspaper for many years.
Back in the footballing world, Mike played for a number of junior clubs. His most prominent connection was with Burghead Thistle, who he was a goalkeeper for.
He later became the club's manager during a highly-successful spell in the early 1970s which saw them win the North Junior Championship and reach the last 16 of the Scottish Junior Cup.
Current Burghead manager David MacDonald said Mike will be "sadly missed".
"People like Mike are few and far between," he said. "Mike was at many, if not all, home games. He was passionate about and proud of our club and will be sadly missed by the team and myself."
In 1966, Mike started what would become a 56-year association with Elgin Boys Club. He was involved with the club as manager, committee member, groundsman and even scorekeeper.
Perhaps his greatest joy was seeing young footballers enjoy the sport. He saw many boys go on to become great Highland League players, or even senior footballers in Scotland and England.
Mike took particular pride and interest in the careers of fellow goalkeepers Alan Main, who played more than 400 times for Dundee United and St Johnstone, and Nicky Walker, who played with Rangers and was twice capped for Scotland.
Away from football, Mike was enthusiastic about fishing and golf, which he took up in his latter years. He was a member at Garmouth and Kingston Golf Club, where he was renowned for playing both right and left handed.
He was a passionate Scotsman, who loved traditional Scottish music and regularly attended the anniversary of the battle of Culloden.
He was honoured, in 2005 at an event in Lanark, to help carry the spirit of William Wallace home to Scotland in a coffin.
In his final years, Mike took great pride at being invited to a Royal Garden Party at Holyrood for services to his local community, where he met First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Moray's MSP Richard Lochhead said: "It was my immense privilege to invite Mike to the Scottish Parliament, where he had a grand time. He made his mark with everyone who met him that day.
"My deepest condolences to Mike’s family and friends. He will be sorely missed and thank you Mike for everything you did, including for my own boys."
