Fife Thistle AFC 30th Anniversary

That the Parliament congratulates Fife Thistle AFC on its 30th anniversary, which the club is marking this season; further congratulates Colin Murray, who established the amateur football team and has been its manager ever since; commends Colin for the exceptional dedication that he has shown to the club, which has given opportunities to hundreds of young people to play football, many of whom have gone on to play at higher levels; understands that Colin manages the teams at their Saturday matches and leads two training sessions per week, in addition to investing his own money in the team to buy kit, rent pitches and training facilities, renovate changing rooms, and buy a lawnmower and minibus; further understands that Colin cuts the grass and lines the team’s pitches and washes strips each week; notes that, under his management, Fife Thistle AFC has seen success, initially in the Sunday league and then in Saturday football, as it has progressed in the Kingdom of Fife leagues; welcomes the establishment of an over-35 team; recognises that Colin has also supported his players off the pitch to ensure that they have the opportunity to play; further welcomes Colin’s role in leading the club’s fundraising for three defibrillators, following one of the team’s players having a heart attack; understands that one of these defibrillators will travel with the team on its away matches, one will be based permanently at the club’s changing rooms in Balmullo, where it will be available for use by the local community, and a third will be installed in Crail, which is the home village of the player who had a heart attack; acknowledges the immense gratitude to Colin that has been expressed by current and former players of Fife Thistle AFC, and wishes them well in the events that they have organised to mark 30 years of the club and Colin’s contribution to it.