Dyce Boys Club has been given an award of two portable changing rooms, one storage container and a portable floodlighting system from The Scottish Football Partnership (SFP). The award equates to an investment of circa £40,000 in a grassroots football club.
Club History
Dyce Boys Club F.C. was founded on 1st August 1980 by the late Eddie Mannall Jr and former Club President, Allan King. This had followed a successful first sojourn into the local Champion Street competition under the name Overton Wolves which prompted the application to the then Youth Service Amateur Under 13 league for membership in the name of Dyce Boys Club F.C. After the death of Eddie Mannall just 4 months after setting up the club his brother Eric and one of Eddie’s old friends Len Nicol teamed up to make sure the club survived and they have been there ever since.
Since 1980 the club has expanded considerably and now boasts membership of some 140 boys aged from 6 to 15 years. The club has enjoyed their share of success on the field of play over the years and can boast trophy wins at every age level they have competed in.
Success at local level has also transferred to National competitions with the club now having participated in 12 Scottish Cup Finals, winning 6. History was made in 2011 when Dyce became the first club to win a National Trophy three times in succession i.e winning at Under 14s in 2009, then at Under 15s in 2010 and completing the hat trick with the Under 16 side in 2011. The club have also in the past been named Green Final Team of the Year (The former Aberdeen sports newspaper) and the Sports Council Amateur Team of the Year.
The club is justifiably proud of their achievements to date and were recognised by the Scottish Football Association in 2010 with the Award of the Standard Quality Mark and in 2011 this was further upgraded to Development level.
Dyce Boys club are proud of the fact that former wearers of the blue and white hoops include Russell Anderson and Cammy Smith of Aberdeen F.C., Stuart Armstrong Dundee United f.c., Graeme Shinnie Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C., Andrew Shinnie Birmingham City F.C., Lee Mair at Partick Thistle F.C. and Jack Grimmer at Fulham F.C. whilst Ross County F.C. have a former player and Scottish Cup Winner with the Club, Derek Adams as their Manager whilst in their first season of the Scottish Premier League Partick Thistle F.C. have another of the clubs former players, Scott Paterson as their Assistant Manager.
Scottish Football Partnership Funding
Len Nicol the Clubs Treasurer attended a Scottish Football Association Funding evening and learned about The Scottish Football Partnership. The main interest to Len was the provision of the changing and storage containers offered by the SFP. Having discovered the Football Partnership was virtually only a telephone call away he decided to put his new found knowledge to the test. When returning home he sat at his computer and in the first instance sent an email to SFP secretary Stuart McCaffrey expressing interest in the provision of portable changing rooms. A mutual meeting time was agreed and within days Stuart attended the fairly recently leased pitch used by Dyce Boys Club and guided Len in his application for assistance. He explained how the system worked and that certain requirements were needed to put the application in front of the Football Partnership Board. In a matter of weeks the application was approved. Soon after, a site visit was arranged and an architect approved by the SFP Board drew up all the necessary plans and approvals required by the Local District Council prior to the changing room installation at Pitmedden Road Dyce. The whole exercise proved to be much easier than expected and Dyce Boys Club look forward to making full use of the facilities provided.
Club Feedback
Len Nicol said; “having been established now for the best part of 34 years the club look forward to future development. The provision of a permanent base with a 10 year lease from the Council, the acquisition of modern changing facilities and an exciting partnership with the Local Council and other local sports clubs will realise another dream with the provision of a 3G pitch in Dyce early in 2015. The club are keen to grow and develop and will strive to complete the SFA’s Quality Mark Award at Community Club level. Recognising the main assets of the club are the boys themselves Dyce will continue to improve each boy and most importantly enjoy playing the beautiful game. On behalf of everyone associated with Dyce Boys club I would like to offer our most sincerest thanks to The Scottish Football Partnership for their support in providing the club with our fantastic new changing facilities”.
