Oldest living Maroon dies aged 97

Keith FC are mourning the loss of John Fairclough, who died last week at the age of 97 years. The Englishman, who was born in 1921 in Hindley, beside Wigan stayed latterly in Forres, and was believed to be the longest living ex-Maroon at the time of his passing in Doctor Gray’s Hospital, Elgin.

He joined the Maroons in 1950 from Aberdeen junior circles, possibly Mugiemoss, and although his Kynoch Park career was relatively shortlived, he had the claim of netting one of the quickest goals ever scored by a Keith player. He nabbed two goals in the 5-1 win against Inverness Thistle on 11 March 1950, with his first strike coming in under 30 seconds. The line up in that game was - Craig, Forrest, Rattray, J McKenzie, Boyd, W McKenzie, Cowie, Carrol, Cruickshank, Auld, Morrice. He went on to score a total of four goals for the Club.

He was in the RAF during World War II and served in Burma before moving to Aberdeen when hostilities ended, marrying Marjorie who remains in Forres where they moved to nine years ago.

The thoughts of Keith FC are with his widow and their family at this sad time, he will always be part of the Club's great history.

Match Report