Keith FC mourn passing of club stalwart Davie Leith
Keith FC 1954-5
Keith F C are mourning the passing of former Goalkeeper, Management Committee Member and Handyman Davie Leith. Davie passed away on Saturday night at the ripe old age of 92 years, thus ending an almost lifelong affinity with the Club.
A humble, quiet spoken man who always preferred to keep under the radar as it were, Davie first signed for the Maroons as an Amateur on 5th August 1950 at the tender age of 17 years, and made his competitive debut in between the sticks against Peterhead on 2nd September 1950.
Following on from that season, Davie did his National Service in the Royal Air Force, and it was during that spell that he had trials down at Nottingham Forest. Although, by all reports, Davie did well enough, Forest informed him that unfortunately he wasn’t quite tall enough.
Davie re-signed for the Maroons on professional forms on 12th May 1953, with a Signing on Fee of £5, and 30/-(£1.50), per each League match, and the same for Cup-Ties with Cup Win Bonuses to be fixed by the Management Committee. A far cry from today’s Wages indeed!
Although Keith struggled to make headway during those seasons Davie performed with distinction on many occasions, including a Scottish Cup first round tie down in the Borders, losing 5-3 to Gala Fairydean on 11th September 1954. Later that season Davie was commended by Aberdeen Officials on his display against the Dons in Jimmy Hendry’s Benefit Match at Kynoch Park on 18th April 1955, which the Reds won 7-0.
His playing days as a Maroon ended at the tail end of the 1954-55 season having made 39 competitive appearances in total, but Davie remained an avid supporter of the Team. It was no surprise then, that elder brother Albert “persuaded “ him to join him on the Keith FC Management Committee in July 1999. A unique treble perhaps, as another brother Jimmy, had been a Committee Member in the early 1960’s. Davie took on the role of collecting Stand Admission Monies on Match Days, and was also a Handyman extraordinaire Pitch Drainage, Painting, Goalmouth re-turfing, Plumbing, indeed turning his hand to most things.
Davie decided to step down from Management Committee Duties in January 2013, where-upon he became an Associate Member, helping where he could. His continued involvement led to him being deservedly awarded the Clubman of the Year Trophy for 2016-17, almost 67 years after he first played for the Club.
In recent years Davie was still a most welcome visitor to Kynoch Park on match days, supporting his beloved Maroons as avidly as ever, and could still spot a good player! I would also sometimes tease Davie if the Maroons had a catalogue of injuries. “Have you got yer beets the day Davie?” to which Davie would smile and quietly reply” Oh I dinna think so Charlie, nae the day!”.
I shall miss the chats about yesteryear with Davie who could still rattle off many names of his team-mates from back in the day.
Keith FC’s and my own thoughts are with Davie’s family at this very sad time, and as a mark of respect one of the Club’s Championship Flags is being flown at half-mast. Davie, you may be gone, but you will never be forgotten at Keith Football Club – OAMAAM (Once a Maroon always a Maroon)!
By Charlie Simpson