Broughty
Athletic FC is a non league football club from the seaside resort of Broughty
Ferry a few miles east of Dundee. The club play in the Scottish Junior FA
system.
Athletic
were formed in 1920 as Broughty Ex Servicemen before changing to their present
title in 1951 when they also moved to a new home at Claypotts Park. In 1989 the
ground was renamed Whitton Park in recognition of former player and club
official Eddie Whitton who passed away that year.
In
2006-07 the SJFA restructured their leagues and placed ‘The Fed’ in the East
Region North Division. Athletic narrowly missed out on promotion in 2007-08 and
2008-09. However, promotion was achieved to the Premier Division at the
culmination of the 2009-10 campaign.
Despite
finishing bottom of the table in 2012-13 The Fed stayed up thanks to league
reconstruction. Hopes were high that a further promotion could be achieved as
the club became part of the Dundee East Community Sports Club Project.
The
Hub was formed of five football clubs, a rugby club, a cricket club, a tennis
and table tennis club, a bowling club, a handball club and a karate club. The
clubs were given use of the facilities at Whitton Park and the nearby Forthill
Sports Club, Douglas Sports Centre and the grass pitches at Dawson and
Claypotts Park.
The
Dundee East Community Sports Club Project benefitted from having over 150
qualified coaches and a strong committee. Plans were afoot to improve
facilities at Whitton Park. A new all weather seven a side pitch was opened in
July 2012, with a new stand for the main pitch being planned for 2016.
In
January 2015 Keith Gibson was named as the new manager of Athletic.
Broughty
Ferry FC will play in the SJFA East Region Premier League in the 2014-15 season.
My
visit
Thursday
22nd January 2015
Having
stayed in the very pleasant Broughty Ferry for the evening after watching the
Dundee v Kilmarnock match the previous evening I decided that I needed to walk
off my very generous breakfast at the B&B before my train back down south.
Using
a bit of research and the excellent http://nonleaguescotland.org.uk/ website I headed
uphill towards Claypotts Park. I got slightly wrong on my way and ended up in
Dawson Park and had to take a detour before eventually finding Whitton Park.
The
ground was locked but the fencing low enough to afford me a decent view inside
to take my photos.
Whitton
Park was pretty basic with a post and rail fence around the playing area. The
only buildings came by way of a brick building in a corner behind the goal at
the south end, with container units further along by the entrance offering more
facilities. The installation of the planned stand would make a huge difference
and allow the club progression to the Super League.
I
headed towards the city of Dundee along Arbroath Road in search of a look at
the home of East Craigie FC.