Forres Mechanics chairman Dave MacDonald retires after 21-year association with Highland League club
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FORRES Mechanics chairman Dave MacDonald has retired after a two-decade long association with the Highland League club.
Mr MacDonald, who took over late in 2019 and guided the Can-Cans through some of their most difficult days during the coronavirus pandemic, will be replaced by former player and board member David 'Tosh' MacKintosh.
Dave moved into the role of secretary with Mechanics in 2001, before being vice-chairman under James 'Doc' Anderson for around five years.
The retirement of 'Doc' in late 2019 elevated Dave into the role of chairman – which he described as "a great privilege" after retiring at an AGM on Tuesday (November 15).
"I've been around a long time and I thought it was the right time to step back," he said.
"I've had a lot of years in football and it'll be nice to sit back and go to games without any added pressure.
"The club has moved on since I took over as the chairman and I'm sure it will continue to flourish with Tosh in the role.
"He has done a lot of work for the club and deserves the role and accolade of being chairman. If you ask Tosh to do a job, it's done. You don't have to ask twice.
"I cherished the role of chairman. It was an honour and privilege for me to serve a club as great as Forres Mechanics.
"I'll continue to have a close association with the club and will be in and around the club on match days in an advisory capacity."
While Dave's stint as chairman might not be one of the longest in the history of the Can-Cans – it will certainly go down as one of the most important.
Forres were the only club to make the decision to pull out of the short-lived 2020/21 season, which was eventually ended by the coronavirus pandemic and the lockdowns it brought with it.
"When I took over the role of chairman, it probably wasn't a good time with regards to the Covid situation," Dave added.
"People will look back and see this was an important time – we had to make the decision to take a sabbatical from playing and that was the community we were thinking of.
"As a board we made the correct decision and we have no regrets about that."
In terms of his two decades at Forres, Dave highlighted three stand-out memorable moments.
"When I first joined the club in 2001, we played Dundee United at Tannadice, in the 2001/02 season and that has stuck in my mind," he said.
"It was three wonder strikes that won United the game that day and I thought 'I'd like more of this'.
"Obviously winning the Highland League, under the Doc's chairmanship when I was on the committee, I thoroughly enjoyed that.
"And then there was Rangers visiting Mosset Park in the Scottish Cup, which was a memorable occasion for all the right reasons."
Dave feels the board is in a positive place, but added that new blood is always welcome.
He also had praise for the current squad and management team at Mosset Park.
"We are always looking for new, young blood to get involved with the club," he added.
"The board needs younger folk to be the custodians of the club going forward.
"Credit must go to Steven MacDonald and the coaching staff at the club just now for assembling a young, refreshing side, which will hopefully mature into winning things."
