MAROONS MOURN LOSS OF LEGEND COGAN

Keith FC Highland League Cup winning team of 1964 - Mike Cogan is sitting in front row, second player from the left, sitting beside Alex Rutherford, Chairman.

Keith FC are mourning the loss of a true legend following the death just before Christmas of former inside forward Mike Cogan at the age of 83. Although born south of the border in Spennymoor, he was proud of his Highland League involvement, staying in Forres for the latter years of his life. He also played for Forres Mechanics, Deveronvale and Stirling Albion.

He will be forever remembered as being a key member of Keith's first ever championship winning side, their first ever Highland League Cup winning team, first ever Qualifiyng Cup winning side, and also part of an Aberdeenshire Cup winning side.

Mike joined the Maroons from Forres Mechanics in the early part of the 1959-60 season, making his debut in the 9-0 home league win against Nairn County on 12 September 1959. He was in the memorable team that dumped Hamilton Accies out of the Scottish Cup with a famous 3-0 win on 30  January 1960. Later that season he figured heavily as the Maroons won the Aberdeenshire Cup defeating Peterhead 5-1 in a two legged Final, Cogan scoring one of the goals in the 4-0 second leg win.

He was transferred to Stirling Albion in the latter part of the 1960-61 season, but not before playing a key role as the Maroons won the Qualifying Cup for the first time, defeating Buckie Thistle 7-5 in a two legged Final.  Cogan's eye for a goal again came to the fore as he nabbed a double in the first leg which Keith won 4-2 at Buckie.

Cogan rejoined Keith from Deveronvale in January 1962 and fitted perfectly into that great team that won the Highland League for the first time in 1961-62 with such skill and aplomb. Many Keith fans of a certain vintage maintain that is still the finest ever Maroons team.

He marked another first when he was in the team that won the League Cup for the first time, defeating Nairn County 1-0 in front of a crowd of nearly 4000 at Borough Briggs on 12 September 1964. The previous season, 1963-64, Cogan was also the Club's top scorer with 16 goals - no mean feat when you consider that the likes of Dave Whytock, Ivor Smith and Jimmy Smith were in the squad.

Cogan went on to play 123 competitive games for Keith, nabbing an impressive 61 goals along the way as well as winning the aforementioned winners medals.

He will always be remembered fondly as not only a gritty and skilfull player but also a real gentleman. The last time I met him several years ago in the Kynoch Park Boardroom he was proud to show me his League Cup winners medal attached to a chain around his neck.

It was more than appropriate then that a minute's silence was observed in his memory prior to last week's home match against Buckie Thistle.  He will never be forgotten, and will always be part of Keith FC's history regarded as a true legend.