A police investigation has been launched after a 12-year-old girl was attacked by a gang near a park in Forfar The youngster was in the area of the town’s Reid Park when she was assaulted by a group of both boys and girls A video of the attack has been shared widely on social media It shows the girl screaming while being knocked to the ground and repeatedly punched and kicked as several people become involved and others watch A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We were made aware of a 12-year-old girl being assaulted in the Reid Park area of Forfar around 6.15pm on Friday “Officers are following a positive line of enquiry.” Comments are currently disabled as they require cookies and it appears you've opted out of cookies on this site. To participate in the conversation, please adjust your cookie preferences in order to enable comments Our site uses cookies If you're not happy about that please hit your back button are the property of Forfar Athletic Football Club (unless otherwise stated) and are protected by the copyright laws of the United Kingdom and under international law without the express written consent of the Site Managers A moving ceremony was held in Forfar today (Monday 28 April) to mark International Workers’ Memorial Day elected representatives and young people to remember those who have lost their lives due to work-related accidents and diseases and to fight for safe and healthy working conditions for working people throughout the world Held at the International Workers Memorial Tree and Bench at Forfar Community Campus the event featured speeches from Angus Council Leader Cllr George Meechan Roy Beedie from UNISON and George Ramsay from UNITE as well as a wreath-laying ceremony and music from piper Alex Link from Webster’s High School.  Attendees marked the event with a minute’s silence to reflect on the human cost of unsafe workplaces and to reaffirm the commitment to improving health and safety for workers worldwide Angus Council Leader Cllr George Meechan said: “This annual event is a reminder that behind every workplace fatality is a family a community and a loss that could have been prevented We stand here not only to remember but to reaffirm our collective commitment to safer healthier working environments for everyone.” International Workers’ Memorial Day is the time to remember those who have died either because of a workplace accident ill health or diseases as a result of work and indeed every commemoration across the world is ‘remember the dead and fight for the living’ Local Government Trade Union UNISON Angus join with fellow trade unions and Angus Council to provide a tribute to workers who have lost their lives through simply by being at work both designed by pupils at Forfar Academy to remember those workers.” “This was my first time attending the event in Forfar Our communications team's contact details are on our contact us page Sign up for e-news All about Angus Visit Angus Invest in Angus ANGUSalive Social media Skip A-Z links All Content © Angus Council 2025 We use cookies to collect information about how you use the Police Scotland website We use this information to make the website work as well as possible and improve our services Police in Forfar will be using office space in Angus House as a temporary base following a decision earlier this month to vacate the existing station in the town Forfar police station on West High Street was closed on 11 September 2024 as a precaution following compliance concerns relating to health and safety The police station at West High Street has long term structural issues and suffered significant storm damage in 2023 As part of the organisation’s ongoing national estates programme public consultation was launched on 29 July 2024 requesting views on a proposal to relocate officers in the area and dispose of the existing station The public consultation ended on 26 August 2024 The building had been subject to regular monitoring to ensure the safety and welfare of police said: “I would like to first thank local officers staff plus the local community for their understanding over the last week “When we opened public consultation in July on our proposal to relocate our intention was to remain at West High Street until a decision was approved and a new location was ready the health and safety of our officers and staff is a top priority and unfortunately a compliance concern arose which necessitated the difficult decision to close the building “We have kept local stakeholders informed and we are pleased that Angus Council has invited us to share part of their building at Angus House in Orchardbank Business Park which we will be able to use as an interim measure “Local officers and staff will start to move into Angus House this week A portable office structure will also be sited at West High Street as a base for estates staff and will be in place for some time “Front counter services remain available in Angus at Arbroath between 8am and 4pm Monday to Friday plus at West Bell Street in Dundee We are looking at alternative options for front counter provision in Angus and we’ll provide an update should we be able to offer an additional location.” “Angus House in Forfar will provide our officers with a suitable modern and safe environment to work in for the time being and we are very grateful to Angus Council for assisting us at such short notice.” The consultation report on the proposal to relocate in Forfar has now been published on the Police Scotland consultation hub site A total of 117 responses were submitted to the consultation Tayside Division’s Support Superintendent Suzanne Smith explains: “I want to thank everyone who participated in our public consultation on the future of Forfar police station which for a public sector estates consultation “It was important to us to hear from as many local residents and stakeholders as possible “Respondents mostly agreed with our proposed plan to move from West High Street and were understanding of our reasons “We also received a number of comments from those with concerns about us moving away from the town centre which I can completely understand.“Respondents appreciate the visible presence of officers and police vehicles accessing the West High Street building which they feel helps deters crime and gives a feeling of safety there was an understanding from respondents that the building is in a poor state of repair “Taking into account the views of the public the health and safety of our officers and staff plus the current situation with West High Street I can confirm that we are in discussion with Angus Council about taking space at William Wallace House as our long term and permanent location “At the time of conducting the consultation we did not envisage exiting West High Street at this point Angus House will be a suitable location for the local policing team in the interim however William Wallace House would be the best fit for our overall and longer term requirements It will also enable us to reinstate public counter services for Forfar which isn’t currently possible at Angus House “I realise that there has been sudden and fast change in terms of closing our station at West High Street however I would like to reassure the community that measures were quickly put in place to ensure local policing services in Forfar remain unaffected “We are committed to maintaining a presence at Forfar to service the Angus area and I would like to thank the local community our officers and staff for their understanding at this time “Officers will continue to be on patrol in the Forfar area and we would encourage anyone to approach them with any issues.“For non-emergencies and general enquiries said: “The success of our Agile programme means that we have space within Angus House and we are delighted to be able to support Police Scotland by making this space available to them “The police have acted very responsibly in vacating the building on West High Street and it shows an appropriate concern for the public and their staff “Moving to Angus House is a creative solution demonstrating the close partnership working that we enjoy between Police Scotland and the council and it is good to see them maintain a presence in Forfar “I know I will be speaking for fellow councillors and council staff in extending a warm welcome to police colleagues for as long as is required.” The full Forfar consultation report is published on the Police Scotland Engagement hub here: Estate Transformation: Local Area Consultations - Police Scotland - Citizen Space The future permanent location of policing in Forfar will be confirmed in due course Police Scotland support those who wish to become police officers special constables or police staff by hosting various online and in-person recruitment events throughout the year supported victims and a thriving workforce Read about our 2030 vision and three-year plan Worried that your partner or the partner of someone you know might have an abusive past we'd appreciate your feedback on the service we provided Police Scotland has been working to make its websites more accessible - read our accessibility statement tomorrow’s William Hill League 2 match between Stranraer and Forfar Athletic at Stair Park has been postponed The fixture has been rearranged for Tuesday February 4 All materials on this website © The Scottish Professional Football League 2025 The Scottish Professional Football League is not responsible for the content of external websites Website designed by BIG Partnership A Forfar resident has told of his “living hell” amid more complaints about noise coming from a textile factory in the town The Courier reported in January how Angus Council had received a “number of complaints” about noise at the Don & Low premises on Glamis Road the local authority is still receiving “complaints about noise nuisance” in this area of the town told The Courier the issue has been “persistent since last August” and “isn’t getting any better” He said: “We’ve had four midnight visits from the council where they’ve come to test the noise levels but no further action has been taken “Summer is just around the corner but we certainly can’t sit out outside and enjoy our gardens because of the noise – it’s round the clock it also means we can’t open our windows at night “Sometimes it gets so bad the front door starts shaking – it’s a living hell.” A spokesman for the local authority said: “Angus Council continues to receive complaints about noise nuisance in this area of Forfar “We are currently undertaking investigations and remain in contact with the business premises concerned “The outcome of our ongoing investigations will determine any future enforcement action.” Don & Low say it continues to work with Angus Council following the complaints A spokesperson said: “Don & Low is aware of the complaint and we continue to work with Angus Council and our professional advisers to understand the issue.” Complaints about noise from business activities can be made online The 1984 Lounge at the ground will be open to supporters from 12.30pm The lounge will re-open again on the final whistle till approximately 8pm The Refreshment Kiosk and Club Shop will be open as usual at the fixture 50/50 tickets will be on sale from vendors within the ground and pre-match in the 1984 Lounge one to go for all ten teams in the William Hill League2 none more important than the visit of Alan Maybury’s Stirling Albion to the Alpha Projects Stadium @ Station Park on Saturday The ‘Loons’ go into the contest requiring one point to finish above Bonnyrigg Rose in the league table and avoid a two legged play-off to secure their SPFL status his coaching team and the players go into the game however in a positive mood knowing that they have had opportunities in recent weeks to put the situation to ‘bed’ but these unfortunately have not been taken Again last Saturday away to Edinburgh City a handful of first half chances were not converted add in a decision or two that did not go our way and a point was the end reward when three would have meant a relaxing final day Nerves will obviously play a part over the ninety minutes tomorrow but the manager emphasised in his interview with FAFC TV last night that victory will be the aim with no thought of playing for a share of the spoils or relying on assistance from Stranraer who entertain Bonnyrigg at Stair Park Forfar will again go in to the contest without the services of their injured skipper Stuart Morrison but the remainder of the squad are fit and raring to go Albion come into the contest sitting in sixth position in the table and on the back of a 4-1 defeat in their final home game of the season last weekend when Clyde were the visitors to Forthbank This will be their third visit to Station Park this season having lost out in a dramatic penalty shoot- out in the Scottish Cup back in late November after a thrilling 3-3 draw after 120 minutes of red hot action The spoils were then shared in a 2-2 draw the end result in a league clash a month later Stirling though recorded victories in both games between the sides in the central belt Back to tomorrow’s fixture and the home support have their part to play The backing the players have received especially in the second half of the season both home and away has been nothing short of remarkable culminating in the 900 plus attendance for the last home fixture two weeks back Thanks yet again to all and club officials can only ask for that support to continue tomorrow in what is without doubt one of the most important fixtures in the club’s long history Hopefully this campaign that has tested the patience of all fans young and old on many an occasion will have that happy ending with the positive performance and result the so loyal ‘Loons’ faithful deserve The man in the middle for the visit of the ‘Binos’ is Duncan Williams who will be refereeing a Forfar Athletic fixture for the third time this calendar year A reminder to the ‘Loons’ supporters that the end of term Player of the Year Awards presentation will take place on the pitch approximately ten minutes after the final whistle on Saturday Match Sponsor – Strathmore Potatoes Ltd.Hospitality Guests – David Adam & Friends Gordon Patullo & Friends1984 Lounge Hospitality – Alasdair Soutar & FriendsMatch Ball Sponsor - Ewan Philip Queenswell Road Car Wash Saturday’s other William Hill league 2 Fixtures – Clyde v Peterhead A card from King Charles was delivered to Forfar centenarian Christina Charlton this week – as Prince William also sent his own social media message of congratulations after meeting her just a couple of months ago the Prince of Wales sat down for a chat with her on a visit to the Deirdre Knight day centre in the Angus town And the bubbly centenarian left enough of an impression for William to remember to post a birthday wish on X The unmistakable uniform of a Chelsea pensioner also joined the family get-together at a town restaurant for Christina’s special day on Wednesday Her nephew Terry McLaggan made the trip from London as more than 25 family members gathered at The Nest in Forfar to wish her a happy 100th birthday and has been sadly predeceased by eldest sister In the setting of the former Sunnyside Hospital near Montrose Love blossomed and the couple married on September 25 1945 when Fred was on service leave They set up home in Kirriemuir at the bottom of The Roods and their only son Chris was a seasonal worker on local farms while Fred worked with a local builder as a slater in Kirrie The couple’s working lives ended in tandem at Wilkie’s textile factory in the wee red town where Chris had found work and Fred was also employed in the roofing trade They enjoyed a very sociable life with friends and neighbours Daughter-in-law Maureen said: “She would often tell stories of Kirrie Hogmanay’s visiting each other’s houses in Middlefield which went on for weeks after the New Year!” And the couple were both keen – and competitive – members of Kirriemuir Bowling Club they picked up quite a few winner’s trophies – Chris more than Fred The Kirrie Thistle Club was another favourite haunt for dances with local bands Chris was also an accomplished cross-stitcher and her home is graced with some of her framed work living in her own flat at Brander Ha in Forfar And she has enjoyed celebrating milestone birthdays with son Bob and daughter-in-law Maureen on trips to Bruges she also travelled to London to spend time with her grandsons Michael and Andrew She also enjoys visits from eldest grandson Paul and his wife Twice a week she attends day care at the Deirdre Knight Centre in Forfar where she is a popular figure at what her family describe as a social lifeline Chris has been a member of the centre since 2022 she regaled royal visitor Prince William with tales of her early life in the town admitting to him to being a bit of a tomboy growing up The post on X by the Prince and Princess of Wales has been viewed more than 140,000 times “Chris would say the secret to a long and healthy life is to keep walking up and down East High Street,” said Maureen “She likes the snooker on the telly and loves to read.” As a football fan, Chris is also kept up-to-date with the fortunes of The Loons, son Bob having previously been a director at Station Park for a decade 50/50 tickets will be on sale pre-match in the 1984 Lounge and from vendors within the stadium The Refreshment Kiosk and Club Shop both situated within the ground will be open as usual The 1984 Lounge will be open to supporters from 12.30pm till kick-off and again on the final whistle till approximately 8pm A full preview of the fixture will appear on FAFC social media channels on Friday A thug abducted and threatened to kill his partner in a terrifying attack in Forfar weeks after appearing in court for biting her Roadworker Michael McKay locked his victim inside her first floor flat held a knife against her throat and threatened to kill her he had appeared in court from custody after biting her chest following an argument He is now awaiting sentence and will be assessed for a supervised release order following the imposition of a jail term McKay, 28, was brought to Dundee Sheriff Court from HMP Perth to admit injuring the woman in a domestic assault on June 17 last year Prosecutor Michael Robertson said: “Shortly after midnight on June 17 “An argument ensued between her and the accused “She tried to usher the accused from the address The accused grabbed her and bit the right side of her chest.” McKay – on two bail orders – was traced by police but granted bail again McKay subjected the woman to another terrifying assault She was listening to music in her kitchen at 2am when he arrived drunk and locked the front door behind him McKay was told to leave but refused and became “increasingly aggressive.” She began to scream and he grabbed and squeezed her mouth to prevent her making a noise He marched the woman back into the kitchen where she tried to reason with him “The accused continued to shout at her and became more enraged,” Mr Robertson said McKay’s victim tried to flee again but was stopped and dragged into the living room stating “this isn’t good” and “I need help.” The woman tried to leave a third time but McKay again stopped her and picked up a knife from the kitchen held the knife to her throat and threatened to kill her McKay hit the woman on the head and struck her head off the floor McKay took the phone and struck her on the head with it four times He then got up and closed all the windows to ensure nobody could hear the woman’s screams then said: “Let’s just go to bed I’ll get your phone fixed in the morning,” before asking her: “What have I done wrong?” the woman used his phone to dial 999 but hung up when he woke mid-call Mr Robertson said: “She was in fear of her life.” McKay has been on remand since July 8 last year His solicitor John Boyle said: “Mr McKay accepts there are issues he has to address.” Sheriff Alastair Carmichael deferred sentencing until June 6 The court heard McKay received two years detention in 2017 for assault He also received post-release supervision following the completion of that sentence For more local court content visit our page or join us on Facebook Match and the seemingly endless stream of dating apps Love can still be found in the most traditional of ways – by meeting in person many who join their local Young Farmers’ Club have cheekily described the organisation as a “rural dating service” Want proof the so-called “service” works after joining Forfar JAC (Junior Agricultural Club) Kara, who is in her sixth year at Forfar Academy, works part-time at her mum Kim’s business, The Gin Bothy “It’s thanks to Young Farmers (YF) that I’ve met my boyfriend and made best friends for life,” she says But they didn’t get together as a couple until last year “We started seeing more of each other outside the club at birthdays and dances with mutual friends from YF and then were seeing each other from around July,” she explains who recently joined Forfar JAC’s committee is keen to get across the message that you don’t even need to be a farmer to join – anyone aged between 14 and 30 can While Kara is not from a farming background as her mum’s business started on a monitor farm and she’s had horses since she was young she hopes to study rural business management And they don’t all have farming themes Kara agrees that getting stuck into club events is a fantastic way for members to combat loneliness and rural isolation – major themes in the farming industry “Farming is an isolating industry,” she says “I know lots of friends that during busy times like harvest don’t have time to see anyone “So events through YF are the only chance they have to socialise.” He also works as a reporter for The Scottish Farmer He’s completed several pea and bean harvests for East Coast Viners and has worked for his family’s timber contracting business since he was a wee lad Glen started going along to YF when he was 15 attending dinner dances and sport-related meetings and moved to Aberdeen to study journalism at Robert Gordon University so it was 2022 before he came fully immersed in YF “I’ve thrown myself into everything!” he says “This year I’ll take up the mantle of district chairman and hopefully vice-chairman of the national communications and marketing committee.” “Growing up being involved in the rural sector many of my friends were from farms,” he elaborates “Both branches of my own family came from farming stock my paternal grandfather grew up on a farm at Finzean and my grandmother grew up on a farm near Montrose “My maternal grandmother’s father was a well-known grower of berries in Kirriemuir.” Glen’s most memorable moment with YF An exchange he organised with fellow young farmers from Ballyclare in Northern Ireland “This saw 15 of our members engage in a weekend of farm tours social events and sporting competition with our counterparts across the water,” he says “When they returned to Scotland for the reverse exchange it was like we’d all been friends for years.” Glen says the sense of community that The Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC) offers is invaluable “within an industry where isolation and loneliness can become incredibly prevalent” “There are few professions that could see you working 12 to 14 hour days for months straight where the only people you see are your workmates,” Glen muses “Young farmers’ events can fill your calendar as much or as little as you like “These are a chance for a change of scenery – and sometimes a good news is all you need to turn the dial on a downward spiral YF offers a kind of camaraderie that joining a sports team does and the education of a school or college.” Glen competes in as many events as he can – but found doing cabaret really pushed him out of his comfort zone He laughs: “Singing and dancing isn’t really me “But that’s part of the modus operandi of SAYFC pushing you to become a better version of yourself.” There’s no doubt that YF do a lot of good in the community Forfar JAC members have organised donations to a foodbank and church and crafted 120 baby hats and comfort squares for the neonatal ward at Ninewells Hospital their annual Christmas Eve tractor run raised almost £11,000 for the Angus Toy Appeal Glen has made close friends through YF – and he agrees that the organisation can act as a rural dating service “Looking back at the lists of former members who have married started families and built a life together that’s incredibly evident,” he adds a family – one with open arms that can change your life.” The 25-year-old works full-time at Newton of Idvies Farm near Forfar as the stockman and tractorman He reckons the public “do not have a clue” what young farmers face “behind closed doors” especially during lambing and calving season – and “A farmer always thinks they need to do more to save an animal or get more things done – and in some cases they have done all they can but it sometimes isn’t enough,” he laments “They can hold on to that in their heads for ages.” His most memorable YF moment was winning a calf overwintering competition and preparing it for show and sale time in April What does Robbie make of the stereotype of young farmers – some imagine it to be a testosterone-fuelled He is well aware of the reputation they have of getting “a bit rowdy” when out drinking But he says the reason things can get “wild” is because they work stressful jobs and are maybe meeting friends they haven’t seen in a long time And who doesn’t do that once in a while the subject of inheritance tax is something that troubles Robbie “I fear it’s going to squeeze farms beyond breaking point,” he says “The profit margins are sometimes tight enough to make a living off never mind reinvesting back into the business to produce food for the country.” He reckons the organisation not only has a “vital role” to play within rural communities but that it’s a support network and a “release” for those working in the rural sector “I know how important it’s been for my own mental health,” he reflects “Young farmers face a difficult stereotype within the public “But what we’re trying to show is that it’s a safe place where you can grow as an individual and gain a network of friends you can rely on “And even if you’re not from farming there’ll always be a place for you and something that will interest you.” and the European Rally in Estonia last year you feel a sense of responsibility to give back,” he says after progressing up through the club committee “The same year I went on as National Agri and Rural Affairs chairman “I also got involved with Yellow Wellies and we established a farm safety training programme delivered by SAYFC members “I realised SAYFC can have an influence on the industry and that we’re shaping the next generation.” A major highlight for Ally was meeting Prince William at East Scryne Farm near Carnoustie in February The Duke of Rothesay discussed rural isolation and mental health with young farmers “We also launched our Respect campaign – to encourage every young farmer to play their part in helping make SAYFC a safe inclusive and fun environment,” says Ally “And there’s also our ARE EWE OKAY this aims to raise awareness about mental health and well-being within the young farming community A one-man crimewave who accelerated away in a test drive car before taking part in a midnight raid on a Forfar garage has been spared jail who has been in and out of detention for stealing Range Rovers from driveways in Dundee pretended to be interested in buying a man’s Fiat Punto before he jumped into the driver’s seat and sped off he smashed his way into a repair centre in Forfar’s Carseview Road and drove away in a customer’s Ford Focus The 21-year-old appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court for sentencing having previously pled guilty to the thefts in April and May 2023 The court heard how one of Mill’s victims had advertised his Fiat Punto for sale online Mill answered the advert and made an appointment to view the motor When he met the car’s owner at his home in Yarrow Place Mill wandered round the car as if he was carrying out an external inspection He then jumped into the vehicle and drove off was originally charged with assaulting the seller forcibly pushing him and robbing him of the Punto He pled guilty to a lesser charge of stealing the car on April 24 2023 The court heard how the vehicle was later found abandoned with Mill’s DNA on the steering wheel and handbrake A pair of socks was also recovered from inside the car Mill struck again less than two weeks later, this time targeting Forfar repair centre JM Automotive in the early hours of May 6 Detectives found a window at the Carseview Road office had been smashed and several keys inside were missing A Land Rover from inside the yard had been used to ram open the gates It was found about 40 feet away from the exit Mill made off in a customer’s Ford Focus ST The vehicle was caught on CCTV leaving the yard at about 2.50am At 3.35am, it pulled into the Shell garage on Cairnie Road, Arbroath Mill filled it with £36.46 worth of fuel before leaving without paying JM Automotive posted a statement on Facebook following the raid The company’s spokesman wrote: “As a small business owner in these tough times I am absolutely gutted “So much hard work that has gone into this place over the past two years to make it what it is today only to have the place trashed and valued customers’ cars stolen so some wee idiots can have a joyride is absolutely disgusting.” He added: “Can’t even imagine the time and money this is going to take up “Extra security measures will be taken from now on to ensure the safety of our tools equipment and any vehicle on the property.” Mill pled guilty to breaking into the repair centre as well as stealing fuel later that morning He further admitted driving while disqualified The court heard he could not do unpaid work because of a leg injury Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown imposed a restriction of liberty curfew ordering him to stay home between 9.30pm and 7am each night for seven months and two weeks He was banned from driving for five months Mill was jailed for 17 months for stealing Range Rovers from driveways in Dundee But he was freed following a successful appeal against his sentence weeks later Appeal court judges quashed his jail term and imposed unpaid work He has so far been spared jail for a catalogue of offending, including causing serious injuries to two schoolgirls in a major A90 crash and having sex with underage girls – one of whom he impregnated A twisted Angus shooting enthusiast planted poisoned pheasants at an estate he wanted to frame for crimes against birds of prey Clive Burgoyne sought revenge against bosses at The Guynd near Carmyllie when they revoked his family’s right to shoot there The spiteful 38-year-old and his late father Antony returned to the Angus estate in early 2023 where dad-of-three Burgoyne planted four gamebird carcases laced with rodenticide Forfar Sheriff Court heard that estates can be docked grants and suffer from bad publicity if their workers are convicted of offences towards raptors A veterinary pathologist who studied the toxic bait concluded that none had been feasted on by any birds Prosecutor Karon Rollo said landowner Elliot Ouchterlony had been in dispute with the Burgoyne family and had told them to keep off his land a farmer at Milton Farm noticed a car with two or three people inside heading towards Dusty Drum Farm another worker saw a man near Guynd Lodge “behaving shiftily” and trying to hide his face Half an hour after the vehicle was first spotted the estate manager noticed it on the B9127 He spotted the late Antony Burgoyne in the driver’s seat the manger messaged Burgoyne to say his party had been seen but it wasn’t until 40 minutes after that that the offender’s handiwork was discovered Another estate worker stumbled upon a dead pheasant with its breast cut open He photographed this and posted it on an online agricultural workers forum The estate manager arrived ten minutes later and photographed then bagged up the bird Three other identical poisoned pheasants were discovered 30 feet away Ms Rollo said: “The witnesses believed the blue liquid to be a type of toxin to have been on the dead pheasants as bait in attempt to poison wildlife in the area All were sent to the Scottish Government Agency SASA (Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture) for examination The blue substance was found to be an anticoagulant rodenticide with active ingredient difenacoum Ms Rollo added: “It is toxic to birds and if consumed causes haemorrhaging “A single feed from a carcase would have proved fatal to a raptor.” A veterinary pathologist confirmed that thankfully the laced bait hadn’t been fed on Ms Rollo added: “Birds of prey can be regarded as problematic on estates as they can kill smaller animals “There are well-documented examples of them being poisoned by estate workers to combat this “Estates can receive government grants which can result in withdrawal and adverse publicity for the estates.” She said the crown believed this was the accused’s bid to “discredit” the estate Clive Burgoyne’s DNA was found on the legs of all four pheasants He told police: “I don’t use none of that,” then gave a mostly no comment interview Burgoyne admitted that between 30 January and 3 February 2023 specifically pheasant carcase birds covered with a rodenticide formulation He admitted these carcases could be likely to cause injury to any wild birds coming into contact with the contaminated pheasants he’d laid out in open for consumption by other birds Burgoyne’s father Antony was also been charged with the same offence but died after the case first called in court Solicitor Billy Rennie said: “He accepts what the crown have narrated in terms of a long-standing feud because of prior rights in this area “His father was the co-accused but sadly passed away earlier this year he’s off work due to mental health issues “He accepts the reference that this was done in a way to cause problems for the estate will be sentenced on June 5 once reports have been prepared For more local court content visit our page or join us on Facebook Firefighters spent nearly four hours at the scene of a Forfar house blaze Emergency services were called to South Street just after 9pm on Sunday Crews from Forfar Kirriemuir and Dundee were all sent to the scene Residents on neighbouring streets described seeing thick smoke as flames shot into the air Firefighters tackled the blaze until around 1am The cause has not been confirmed but there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances One resident told The Courier the roof of the home appeared to collapse He said: “There were a lot of emergency services at the scene “The blaze started small and grew – fire crews were spraying it with water which allowed the crews to go up on extended ladders or in a basket and get water into the attic area “That helped them put the blaze out after a few hours.” A woman who lives nearby said: “I do feel for the people that live there after seeing the extent of the damage “The street was closed off for a few hours “Firefighters had cut a hole in the roof to get the water straight in “There was so much smoke at the time.” A gang which mounted a cross-border raid on Tayside care homes left booty submerged in the River Tay After hitting the homes in Dundee and Forfar where they hid stolen watches and other items one of the group has finally been brought to justice Anthony Cahill was told the misery he caused care home residents would go on to be compounded by the coronavirus lockdown after jurors at Forfar Sheriff Court convicted him The Ballumbie Court and Harestane care homes in Dundee and Benholm care home in Forfar were all struck in the dead of night on February 6 in 2020 Cahill and his gang travelled 300 miles in a sporty Audi S3 and made off with almost £12,000 A sheriff labelled his offences “particularly mean-spirited” who hit headlines for trying to steal an ATM in a fluffed ram-raid at a Cornish Co-op six months earlier was locked up for more than three-and-a-half years It was the second trial after one started in February only for proceedings to collapse when a juror made online inquiries about the crook’s extensive criminal past the staff administrator had locked the office just before 5pm on February 5 when she finished work petty cash tin and comfort fund tin were left in a desk drawer it was noticed the office window had been opened within the previous 10 minutes a brooch and three watches had all been stolen Probing police later found money tins and receipts stolen from Benholm in Forfar discarded on a grass verge nearby the care home manager at Harestane had locked the office at 7.30pm on February 5 another person noticed the door was unlocked the safe was open and the large window had been removed and placed inside the office Cahill’s gang had made off with baskets of paperwork They also took £9,489.48 in cash and a wallet containing another £560 wallet and £560 were all found later that day Also targeted was Benholm care home on Forfar’s Glamis Road The manager there locked her office door at 6.30pm on February 5 When she arrived at 8.20am the next morning a fan and £1,240.94 in cash had been stolen Two tins and one iPad were found by police dropped in the grounds A day after the raids, Cahill’s DNA was found on two cigarette butts and a black snood recovered from a rural cottage 50 miles away at Bolfracks Estate near Aberfeldy The Audi was recovered by police three days after that it was not until June 13 that year much of the gang’s loot was discovered nearby An angler was out fishing when he stumbled upon Cahill’s sunken treasure dumped in the River Tay a short distance from the entrance road to the estate cottage Jettisoned there was a bank card in the name of a Ballumbie Court resident keys for the care home on a lanyard and keys for the care home’s staff lockers The angler also found two sets of keys for Harestane care home Harestane care home is run by Priority Care At the time, its director Andy Prior said he was “shocked and saddened individuals could carry out such a heartless act” He said: “The most sickening part is that most of the money taken was from the client comfort fund “This money has been raised with great effort by relatives staff and volunteers through numerous events and activities.” A spokeswoman for Ballumbie Court care home said management were “deeply saddened and angered” Cahill denied breaking into the homes and stealing from them Jurors deliberated for around an hour before convicting him by majority of all three charges Cahill had been hoping to be released from the sentence he is currently serving in HMP Durham on April 17 After Cahill, 39, had been led away in handcuffs, the sheriff told jurors: “There was a time around about 2021 where there was a spate of people arriving in Scotland from the Liverpool, Birmingham and London areas committing serious offences” with the view that sentences would be lighter than in England The sheriff noted things went from bad to worse for Cahill’s victims as the first Covid lockdown was imposed just a month later prosecutor Sarah Wilkinson explained Cahill was once jailed for five years – for a drugs offence In 2021, Cahill was jailed for another four years for his role in a botched bid to steal an ATM from village shop in Cornwall his gang stole heavy-duty slings from a crane hire firm then took a pick-up truck and car from a dealership forecourt They used the plunder to ram-raid the store hooked slings to the cash machine and tried to drag it out with the pick-up so instead fled with booze and vapes A year earlier, Cahill was fined after hurling his shoes at his local police station In 2016, he received an 18-month prison sentence when he ran over a five-year-old boy in an uninsured BMW 5 Series in his hometown two days after Christmas The boy was left with a huge gash on his ankle and suffering nightmares Cahill first appeared in court in August 2020 His trial began earlier this year but collapsed after the prosecution had led all its evidence when a juror began googling Cahill’s previous convictions Juror Chanel Hogg admitted being in contempt of court during the trial in early February She was later fined £750 On what is the penultimate Saturday of the William Hill League2 campaign the ’Loons’ head to the Capital City and a clash with Edinburgh City The ‘Citizens’ are more or less assured of an end of season spot in the League One play-offs but mathematically still need a point to make certain an excellent achievement for a side who were many people’s favourites to end up at the wrong end of the table back at the commencement of the campaign For the players who will don the Forfar Athletic shirt in Edinburgh this weekend They must equal or better any result Bonnyrigg Rose achieve eight miles to the south of ‘Auld Reekie’ where Spartans will be the visitors to New Dundas Park Anything less and the battle to avoid the dreaded League Two play off and a clash with the winners of the pyramid play off between Brora Rangers and East Kilbride will go to the last day of the season on May 3rd ‘Loons’ supporters should note that admission to the Meadowbank Stadium is by pre-purchased ticket only They are available to purchase on the official Edinburgh City website Prices are as follows;Adults £15Concessions £10Under 12’s £5 Away fans are allocated sections A&B of the stand with access also available to a hard standing area at the east end of the seated area kick-off and a full preview of the fixture will appear on the FAFC social media channels on Friday Our site uses cookies. If you're not happy about that please hit your back button. © 2025 Forfar Athletic Football Club. All rights reserved. This website, and its component parts, are the property of Forfar Athletic Football Club (unless otherwise stated), and are protected by the copyright laws of the United Kingdom and under international law. The website may not be copied, duplicated, stored or otherwise reproduced, in whole or in part or parts, without the express written consent of the Site Managers. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made Young Match OfficialsReferee: Duncan NicolsonAssistant Referee 1: Brian ChristieAssistant Referee 2: Liam DuncanMatch StatsKey Craig Slater (Forfar Athletic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner Marc McCallum (Forfar Athletic) is shown the yellow card Olly McDonald (Elgin City) wins a free kick in the defensive half Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time Kieran Inglis (Forfar Athletic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal Brad Rodden (Forfar Athletic) is shown the red card Russell Dingwall (Elgin City) wins a free kick in the defensive half Craig Slater (Forfar Athletic) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner Brad Rodden (Forfar Athletic) wins a free kick on the left wing Kyle Fleming (Elgin City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul Finn Robson (Forfar Athletic) wins a free kick in the attacking half Here are the teams through to the fifth round of the Scottish Cup we have Falkirk v Raith Rovers and Rangers v Fraserburgh with a Dundee derby to finish things off on Monday night 223Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'This gives us something to be happy about'published at 17:42 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January17:42 GMT 18 JanuaryFT: St Johnstone 1-0 Motherwell St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari tells BBC Scotland: "It's a big win for the players "The most important thing was to win the match and get to the next round but the first half performance was very good and in the second half we showed the character to defend there's no hiding but you cannot control the results You can control the performances and I thought the players put in a good performance today "When we have lost matches we have been down but we've known what we needed to do We can't stop doing the things we're good at We can't think we've turned a corner From that point on our game looks more complete 267Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingThelin 'saw some good things' from Donspublished at 17:40 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January17:40 GMT 18 JanuaryFT: Elgin City 0-3 Aberdeen Jimmy Thelin praised fourth-tier hosts Elgin but expressed relief that his Aberdeen side were able to end a 12-game run without being able to celebrate a win with their fans "We have been through a difficult time," the manager tells BBC Scotland it was important everyone knew the importance of the game to us "Allan Hale [opposition manager] and Elgin had a lot of energy and had a good performance in the first half and pushed us a lot It was a difficult game and all credit to them - they didn't give up "The first half was not strong and they were good They were almost through our back line tow or three times and we can't give those kind of chances in this type of game I saw some good things from our team also." Thelin has previously expressed his desire to sign a new striker during January "At least we are creating chances," he adds 5410Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingFULL-TIME ROSS COUNTY 2-3 LIVINGSTON (AET)published at 17:39 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January17:39 GMT 18 JanuaryAndrew Shinnie's late late strike proves to be the winner in Dingwall with 10 yellow cards dished out and chances at either end it was Livingston who would spare us all penalties as they caught Ross County on the counter Cristian Montano was on target for Livingston 3517Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingFULL-TIME QUEEN'S PARK 3-2 MONTROSE (AET)published at 17:36 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January17:36 GMT 18 JanuaryThe Spiders flirted with an upset at Hampden but Zak Rudden found a stoppage-time equaliser and Josh Scott hit the winner in extra-time 2721Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'Job done' for Hibspublished at 17:32 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January17:32 GMT 18 JanuaryFT: Hibernian 3-0 Clydebank Hibernian manager David Gray tells BBC Scotland: "I'm happy job done in terms of getting into the next round "Massive credit to Clydebank to keep going the way they did It was a great day for them and their supporters they supported their team right to the end and encouraged them to keep going "The message before the game was to try and maintain the standards we've set in recent weeks We became a bit sloppy in the first half but the second half was miles better "Everybody came through the game which was important "We're delighted to be in the hat we'll see who we get and go from there." Jack Iredale celebrates with 16-year-old debutant Lewis Gillie 3115Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingGOAL Ross County 2-3 LIVINGSTONpublished at 17:30 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January17:30 GMT 18 JanuaryAndrew Shinnie Meshack Ubochioma's cross is nodded down to Andrew Shinnie in the box and he has all the time in the world to take a touch and fire home It was like the County keeper and defence had resigned themselves to losing that goal All the miles in the buses and cars will be worth it now To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.This video can not be played Watch: Livi's late winner against County 16097Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingGREAT SAVE!published at 17:28 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January17:28 GMT 18 JanuaryRoss County 2-2 Livingston curling County free-kick comes to Kacper Lopata and he sidefoots on the volley - but Jerome Prior is down well to make a brilliant save and tip round the post 409Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingPostpublished at 17:28 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January17:28 GMT 18 JanuaryQueen's Park 3-2 Montrose They probably won't add to their tally this season but Queen's Park remain third on the list of most successful clubs in this competition They lifted the Scottish Cup for the 10th time in 1893 237Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingPostpublished at 17:20 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January17:20 GMT 18 JanuaryRoss County 2-2 Livingston Meshack Ubochioma is also on for Livingston and he's gone into the book for a high boot almost immediately The players are starting to look pretty tired out there 179Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingGOAL HAMILTON 3-1 Musselburgh Athleticpublished at 17:18 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January17:18 GMT 18 JanuaryOli Shaw Sincere apologies to Oli Shaw after we missed his 95th minute strike amid the flurry of final whistles.. with the Musselburgh keeper up for a corner That's 13 in all competitions for the former Hibs Watch: Shaw scores a late third for Accies 1712Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingPostpublished at 17:16 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January17:16 GMT 18 JanuaryRoss County 2-2 Livingston and David Martindale has finally rolled the dice He's brought Andrew Shinnie on for Stevie May Feels like this one is heading to penalties.. 1318Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingHALF-TIME / EXTRA TIMEpublished at 17:15 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January17:15 GMT 18 JanuaryQueen's Park 3-2 Montrose Callum Davidson's side have been well on top after falling behind to the League One visitors 219Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingHALF-TIME / EXTRA TIMEpublished at 17:14 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January17:14 GMT 18 JanuaryRoss County 2-2 Livingston The first half of extra-time comes to an end as Jamie Brandon launches a shot miles over the bar Ross County made their fifth substitution just before 181Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingWell fans fumingpublished at 17:11 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January17:11 GMT 18 JanuaryFT: St Johnstone 1-0 Motherwell Kheredine IdessaneBBC Scotland at McDiarmid Park Some of the Motherwell fans around me were absolutely furious with what they've seen but were let down by a poor showing from their injury-depleted side Home boss Simo Valakari celebrated on the pitch at the end of a potentially big win It's a first victory in 10 games and a place in the fifth round draw with Makenzie Kirk and new signing Victor Griffith causing Motherwell all sorts of problems The 1-0 score probably flatters Motherwell They huffed and puffed but rarely troubled home keeper Andy Fisher Is this the turning point Valakari was hoping for 6411Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingGOAL QUEEN'S PARK 3-2 Montrosepublished at 17:07 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January17:07 GMT 18 JanuaryJosh Scott The Championship side hit the front in extra time 3833Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingStarting XI still going for Livipublished at 17:06 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January17:06 GMT 18 JanuaryRoss County 2-2 Livingston Livingston boss David Martindale is yet to bring on a substitute 2523Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingPromising Dunfermline debut for boss Tidserpublished at 17:03 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January17:03 GMT 18 JanuaryFT: Dunfermline Athletic 3-0 Stenhousemuir Jane LewisBBC Sport Scotland at East End Park This was a comfortable afternoon for the Pars with new manager Michael Tidser in the dugout and new owners perhaps watching stateside the Championship side will take confidence from their display They were good on the ball with some lovely link play between the midfield and out wide They'll be hoping this result can be used as a springboard for the league But right now they'll just be enjoying the fact that they're through to the next round of the Scottish Cup 398Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingFULL-TIMEpublished at 17:01 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January17:01 GMT 18 JanuaryQueen of the South 1-3 St Mirren Caolan Boyd-Munce's late goal makes sure of St Mirren's spot in the Scottish Cup last 16 4717Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingExtra time at Hampdenpublished at 17:01 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January17:01 GMT 18 JanuaryQueen's Park 2-2 Montrose thanks to a late leveller from Spiders' sub Zak Rudden Highlights: Cove Rangers 2-0 Forfar Athletic Taylor Match OfficialsReferee: Duncan WilliamsAssistant Referee 1: Chris RaeAssistant Referee 2: Chris GentlesMatch StatsKey Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Firefighters were called to tackle a blaze in a Forfar park Locals reported seeing smoke coming from the site just after 7:30pm Firefighters tackled the blaze for just over half an hour The cause of the fire is unknown at this stage A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “We received the call at 7:42pm that hedges in Boyle Park were on fire “One appliance was dispatched to the scene “The call to stop came at 8:18pm.” Police Scotland has been contacted for more information It comes as firefighters tackled a blaze at a Forfar home for nearly four hours on Monday morning Meadowbank Stadium in the Capital City is the venue for the ‘Loons’ travelling support on Saturday Edinburgh City the opponents in yet another vital William Hill League2 contest for all concerned with Forfar Athletic Following last week’s disappointing display against Bonnyrigg the Athies though within striking distance have still not managed to get over the finishing line in regard to the confirming their SPFL status for next season Manager Jim Weir though trusts his players to put last week’s ninety minutes behind them for what he admits will obviously be a tough encounter against a home side seemingly set for League1 end of season play-off action Jim and his management team are hopeful and confident that the performance against Bonnyrigg though a major blip so strange in nature after an excellent run of results was a one off The ‘Loons’ players have two massive games in front of them and the manager is confident that despite their opponents fine form all season a positive result and performance can be achieved with the right end product tomorrow Naturally the squad and the backroom staff not to mention the fans are feeling the pressure but Jim has full confidence in his players to get the task in hand completed Stuart Morrison with his hamstring problem is the only definite absentee though Jim may well decide to ‘shuffle his pack’ for the ninety minutes ahead The Capital City outfit sit third in the table despite a 2-0 reverse at Stranraer last week that lofty league placing made almost certain with victories earlier in the month at home to Elgin and Clyde former ‘Loons’ striker Ouzy Zee amongst the goals for Michael McIndoe’s side The ‘Loons’ have failed to pick up a point so far this campaign against Saturday’s opponents so no better time to ‘break the duck’ and alleviate any last day nerves The referee tomorrow will be former SPFL player Jamie McCunnie who will be handling a ‘Loons’ competitive fixture for the first time Forfar Athletic supporters should note that admission to the Meadowbank Stadium is by pre-purchased ticket only Saturday’s other League2 fixtures;- Bonyrigg Rose v Spartans but windy & chilly start to our Easter parkrun this morning with 3 people doing their first ever parkrun 26 first timers to Forfar Loch and despite the mud © parkrun Limited (Company Number: 07289574) No part of this site may be reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the permission of the copyright owner. Frameworks, 2 Sheen Road, Richmond, TW9 1AE Mylchreest at 69 minutesSubstitutesNumber 25 Whatley Match OfficialsReferee: Joel KennedyAssistant Referee 1: Ross NelsonAssistant Referee 2: Kevin BuchananMatch StatsKey Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time Dajon Golding (Elgin City) wins a free kick in the attacking half Stuart Morrison (Forfar Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half Foul by Jackson Mylchreest (Forfar Athletic) Lyall Booth (Elgin City) wins a free kick on the left wing Delay in match because of an injury Stuart Morrison (Forfar Athletic) Ryan Sargent (Elgin City) wins a free kick in the defensive half Mitchell Taylor (Forfar Athletic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul Kian Leslie (Elgin City) wins a free kick on the right wing Parton Match OfficialsReferee: Gavin DuncanAssistant Referee 1: Alastair TaylorAssistant Referee 2: Robin TaylorMatch StatsKey Kieran Inglis (Forfar Athletic) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right Blair Malcolm (Forfar Athletic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul Fin Allen (Elgin City) wins a free kick in the defensive half Kieran Inglis (Forfar Athletic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high Lewis Hyde (Elgin City) wins a free kick in the defensive half Cammy Logan (Forfar Athletic) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left Josh Skelly (Forfar Athletic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner Stuart Morrison (Forfar Athletic) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high following a corner Cammy Logan (Forfar Athletic) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner Terracing - Adults £15, concessions £10, under 17’s £1 Payment on the day is by cash at the turnstile only. Tickets are available for online purchase now, here https://forfarathletic.ticketco.events/uk/en/m/e/forfar_athletic_v_bonnyrigg_rose_athletic_0425 Forfar Athletic season tickets are of course valid for this fixture Angus Council has admitted a deal agreed five years ago to unlock a new future for The Gables in Forfar was never signed Images from the aftermath of a recent fire there have revealed the shocking state inside the Arbroath Road centre But the blaze sparked confusion over who the site actually belongs to – before council chiefs confirmed they still own it generations of adults with learning disabilities called The Gables home but said the premises were past their sell-by date This led to the council moving the service to the former Beech Hill residential home in Forfar And the empty Gables property has become a magnet for vandals and firebugs The latest deliberate blaze in the building – adjacent to Forfar fire station – caused significant damage at the end of February plans were drawn up to transform the site of Forfar’s 19th-Century poorhouse into supported housing Two years later, Angus councillors approved the transfer of the land and title to Caledonia Housing Association The deal was agreed to help the Perth-based charity unlock vital funding for the £3.5 million development However, in 2022 the project was scrapped after cost estimates soared to almost £6 million The Courier can reveal the transfer deal was never concluded Both CHA and the council said the other was the site owner when asked for comment on the latest fire the local authority confirmed it still owns The Gables A spokesperson said: “The site and property features in our Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) 2025-26 to 2029-30 which was approved by our Communities Committee on November 26 last year “Our Policy and Resources Committee previously approved the transfer of land to Caledonia.” The transfer was based on plans for a modern purpose-built supported housing complex for adults with a learning disability at The Gables “This project was subsequently cancelled and residents housed elsewhere,” the council added the transfer of land did not complete and future land transfer as part of any new project would require committee approval.” The council said it is still in talks with the housing association over the future of the site “We are currently developing the options for the redevelopment of this site with Caledonia Housing Association in accordance with our SHIP,” the spokesperson added “When plans for the new project are available they will be submitted to a meeting of housing committee for consideration.” CHA added: “Caledonia Housing Association has been working with Angus Council and Angus Health and Social Care Partnership to deliver a viable plan for affordable homes on the site The council has condemned what it described as “wanton” vandalism to The Gables Police Scotland say enquiries into the latest fire are continuing Home   Sport   Article Bottom club Forfar Athletic grabbed a crucial three points to see off ten-man Elgin at Borough Briggs A 79th minute Brad Rodden header won the contest for the Loons after City had Kyle Girvan shown a straight red card for a tackle just before half time Kane Hester wasn’t fit enough to start for the home side and was on the bench with Dajon Golding playing as a central striker managed by ex-Elgin boss Jim Weir with Gavin Price as his assistant started in bottom spot but were lifted by a midweek win at Stranraer The first half had one or two talking points but very little high notes for the home side Play was scrappy from the start but Forfar looked more confident in possession and carved out the better of what precious few chances were created Josh Skelly saw a back post volley deflected into the side net for the visitors on eight minutes The same player fired over after Brad Rodden dispossessed Elgin defender Jack Murray and slipped the striker in with a pass on 15 minutes Things got worse for Elgin when left back Lyall Booth went off with an ankle on 24 minutes to be replaced by Owen Cairns The home team was struggling to create anything in the first half but both keepers were given nothing to deal with City’s challenge was further hampered when Girvan was shown a straight red card on 42 minutes for lunging in on Craig Slater after taking a heavy touch on the halfway line referee Duncan Nicolson deeming his challenge to be dangerous Elgin keeper Aidan Glavin made the first save of the game in first half stoppage time Moments later a Forfar raid led to Cammy Logan teeing up Blair Malcolm 12 yards out but his drive took a slight deflection and skipped wide for a fruitless corner as the first half ended goal-less Craig Slater wasn’t far away for the visitors with a 35-yard attempt on 49 minutes and two minutes later Skelly fired into the side netting after Elgin again gave away possession in their own half Glavin saved well from Rodden as the away side pushed for an opener and the Elgin keeper then denied Forfar sub Finn Robson Skelly squandered a great chance heading wide on 65 minutes and Rodden fired wide six minutes later but the feeling was that the ten men wouldn’t be able to hold out Forfar broke the deadlock on 79 minutes when Rodden rose to head home a fine Reuben McAllister cross from the left There was no doubting that Forfar deserved their lead and Glavin saved again from Slater before the numbers were evened up on 89 minutes when scorer Rodden saw red for another challenge deemed dangerous by the ref Two more Glavin saves from Kieran Inglis and Slater denied Forfar a second in stoppage time but the visitors picked up a deserved three points in their fight to stay away from the relegation play-offs Staff at the Strathmore Water plant in Forfar have been informed the site is set to close Owner AG Barr said it intends to discontinue the Strathmore brand this year The Irn-Bru producer said Strathmore has “struggled to compete in recent years” The closure of the West High Street site is subject to consultation with employees AG Barr acquired the Strathmore Spring water business for £15.5 million in 2006 from Constellation Brands of the US Employee numbers have dwindled over the years. After the impact of the Covid pandemic, 13 job losses were made in August 2020 A spokesperson from AG Barr said: “We have announced a proposal with our Strathmore Water colleagues in Forfar which could see the closure of the site and 23 roles becoming redundant “The Strathmore brand has struggled to compete in recent years and we believe we have now reached a point where the Forfar site is no longer sustainable “The proposals are subject to consultation and we intend to fully support our employees through this period of change.” Strathmore Water is sourced from Scotland’s largest underground aquifer North East Scottish Conservative MSP Tess White has called for the Scottish Government to take action to try to prevent the closure She said: “Strathmore mineral water has been synonymous with Forfar since the 1960s “If bottled water has a top-shelf brand “I am urging John Swinney to instruct ministers to meet AG Barr ahead of the employee consultation on closure The firm looks to be in good health financially “Bosses must ensure there will be an opportunity to keep local staff in work and to keep the name of Strathmore Springs alive “Shutting down such a well-loved and historic product will leave a bad taste in the mouth.” Angus North and Mearns SNP MSP Mairi Gougeon added: “This news is incredibly disappointing for Forfar and the wider Angus area “To hear that such a highly regarded employer as Strathmore Water is potentially facing closure especially when the parent company is reporting strong financial performance “I have already taken action and written to AG Barr and the minister for employment and investment to understand the full implications of this announcement and to ensure that all available support is offered to the affected workforce “We need to explore all possibilities to minimise the impact of this potential closure.” saw its sales increase by £20m in the last year The update to the stock market reported sales of £420.4m for the financial year ending January 25 2025 Pre-tax profit was £53.2m compared to £51.3m in the previous 12 months Forfar’s minor injury and illness unit is facing closure in a shake-up of Angus-wide services The Whitehills Health and Community Care Centre facility is one of two remaining district MIIUs But it is now under threat after health chiefs identified a centralised Angus service at Arbroath Infirmary as their preferred option in a major service redesign They say the new plans would bring enhanced Community Treatment and Care (CTAC) services for long-term conditions wound care and blood sampling across the district However, the return of an MIIU to Montrose – closed in 2022 – has been ruled out The centralisation option follows an initial round of public consultation over Angus-wide MIIU services In February, Angus integration joint board (IJB) considered a strategic vision report on MIIU provision It agreed to an initial round of public consultation One of the main themes was in relation to extended opening times Angus Health and Social Care Partnership say that over a seven-day average 21 people a day require MIIU treatment at either Forfar or Arbroath Most have a limb injury that is likely to need an X-ray And on average a person goes to MIIU once every 10 years A new survey has now been launched to gauge opinion on the preferred option AHSCP says it will look at whether the centralised Arbroath MIIU and enhanced CTAC plan is workable and meets local needs It rejected the idea the changes are all about saving money “The proposed review is clinically driven and aims to deliver high-quality “Enhanced collaboration between minor injury and CTAC services aims to optimise the use of resources and ensure the long-term sustainability of services.” A final decision on the changes is expected to be made by Angus IJB in June PREVIEW All connected with Forfar Athletic hope that as predicted the remnants of Storm Eowyn which to be fair has not hit Angus to date as bad as other areas will have passed on by tomorrow and that the vital home William Hill League2 game against Stranraer at the Alpha Projects Stadium @ Station Park will go ahead in reasonable weather conditions Certainly at present no inspection of pitch or overhead conditions is anticipated or planned It is without doubt a very important game for both sides who there is no hiding that fact as they sit currently in the bottom two places in the league table A victory for Stuart Morrison and his colleagues will see them reach the same points tally as their opponents whom they meet again at Stair Park on Tuesday week and the home side will go into the game with the knowledge that Stranraer are one of two teams that they have defeated on home ‘turf’ during this league campaign to date Max Guthrie gave Chris Aitken’s side a first half lead Nathan Cannon netting a deserved equaliser before the break Blair Malcolm the scorer of the second half counter on the day which secured a 2-1 win for the ‘Loons.’ Manager Jim Weir acknowledges as always that a tough ninety minutes awaits for his side He is delighted that Russell McLean will return from injury but the game will come a week too early for Craig Slater Adam Hutchinson will also require a pre-match fitness check Jim is working hard behind the scenes to augment the Station Park squad but as many other managers who have also been quoted in a similar vein is finding the current open registration window a tough one with it would appear few of the type of player he is looking for readily available He was delighted to bring in Marley Sweenie-Rowe this week on loan from Dundee the left sided defender having impressed on loan to Highland League Fraserburgh in the first half of the campaign that stint at Bellslea ending with an accomplished performance in the glare of the television cameras at Ibrox on Sunday past The other new face in the ranks to date this month Mackenzie Lemon will also be in the squad for Saturday’s clash Stranraer who have brought in goalkeeper Scott Kane on a temporary transfer from Queens Park this month have only been in January match action on two occasions before being on the wrong end of a 2-0 score line at home to league leaders East Fife last weekend The ‘Loons’ will certainly go into the contest keen to quickly put the memory of a disappointing cup performance at Cove firmly behind them and the management team hope to see a return to the pre-Christmas home league form when we blew Bonnyrigg away and came so close to what would have been a deserved win over a strong Peterhead side Jim is also keen that the players put on a show for the watching Brash family and a few Station Park legends of the past who will be in attendance as the club officially recognises just prior to kick-off Alex’s sad passing and contribution over a 12 year period to the Forfar Athletic cause Hopefully the Forfar faithful will turn out in numbers and in good time both to pay their own tribute to Alex and then get right behind the current Station Park squad as they have done to such a healthy degree throughout the campaign despite results not being as many would have hoped for the first time he has handled a ‘Loons’ league fixture this season C’mon the ‘Loons’ Match Sponsor – Milnbank Developments Ltd Hospitality Guests – Craig Fotheringham & Friends Jane Rae & Friends 1984 Lounge Hospitality – William Pirie & Friends Saturday’s other William Hill League 2 fixtures;- Clyde v Elgin City PREVIEW On Saturday the ‘Loons’ play their penultimate home game in their William Hill League2 campaign when they entertain Bonnyrigg Rose There is no hiding from the fact that it is a huge game for both clubs Simply put if Forfar Athletic avoid defeat in the contest they secure their SPFL status while the visitors require a victory to continue their fight to avoid the dreaded 42nd spot in the current league ladder That placing as all know brings with a two legged play-off against either the Highland or Lowland League champions a winner take all tie over 180 minutes in May Manager Jim Weir and his players go into tomorrow’s match in confident mode on the back of a four game unbeaten run that has yielded eight points They have also recorded three victories to date this campaign against the Midlothian outfit However Jim knows that their opponents will be well prepared and fired up for the occasion as they enter what is for them ‘last chance saloon.’ The ‘Loons’ management team have already warned their players to take nothing for granted and have in fact set the squad a target of winning their last three games as the season reaches its conclusion on current form not a task that should be beyond them The home side will disappointingly have to play those last three games without the services of influential skipper Stuart Morrison sidelined following a hamstring injury sustained in the dying embers of last Saturday’s hard fought draw away to Clyde Youngsters Sam Young or Adam Hutchinson are two of the potential replacements available That apart the remainder of the squad who have had such a great run of performances and results since the 2-1 midweek win at Stranraer in early March to eradicate a ten point gap at the foot of the table all took a full part in training this past week and are fit and ready for action Bonnyrigg head north having not managed to win a league fixture since early February when they defeated Clyde 2-1 at home During that period they also changed the man at the helm former player Jonny Stewart recruited from Tranent taking over the reins from Callum Elliott He will not be able to call on the services of Ryan Porteous for the Station Park clash after he was sent off in last weekend’s 2-0 home defeat from East Fife for two yellow card offences It is hoped that the home support will again turn out in numbers to back their side as the players attempt to get over what is the ‘final hurdle’ in what has been their quest since the turn of the year and ‘put to bed’ with no disrespect to others intended the nightmare scenario hanging over the club for a large part of this season tier five football in either the Highland or Lowland League next season Alastair Grieve is the man in the middle for Saturday’s clash C’mon the ‘Loons’ Match Sponsor – Lee Hutcheon Painter & Decorator Limited Hospitality Guests – James F Stephen Architects 1984 Lounge Hospitality – Jim McDevitt & Friends Saturday’s other William Hill league 2 Fixtures – East Fife v Stirling Albion Police are hunting a gang that set fire to a car bodyshop in Forfar is offering a £1,000 reward for information after being targeted just before 9pm on Thursday Two fire engines were sent to the scene and spent more than an hour extinguishing the blaze and securing the area According to a Facebook post from the company The post was accompanied by snapshots from CCTV cameras showing four people who they believe were responsible A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 9.20pm on Thursday February 13 officers received a report of a fire at a premises on John Street “The fire is being treated as wilful and enquiries are ongoing.” A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “We got a call at 8:54pm reporting a fire at premises in John Street a hose reel jet and a thermal imaging camera “They left the scene at 10.20pm.” Elder and Paton declined to comment when approached by The Courier Drivers are facing nearly 12 weeks of roadworks on the A90 near Forfar The £1.3 million project takes place to the north of the town between early May and late July That will include a series of 24-hour lane closures on both sides of the carriageway while new safety barriers are installed along the central reservation The work will also include drainage improvements at the A90 crossover between the Birkenbush and Bogindollo junctions The following restrictions will be in place: A temporary 50mph speed limit will also be in place Junctions and turning boxes will remain open during the lane closures Amey says the work – which is weather-dependent – will benefit more than 21,000 vehicles that use the route each day For the second week in a row the Blue Toon were on their travels this time taking a trip to Station Park to face Forfar Athletic Peterhead started the weekend top of the league following last week’s away win against Stirling Albion and looked to leave Forfar in the same position Their opposition had a huge away victory of their own the week prior lifting themselves off the foot of the table with a 1-0 win in Stranraer moving up to 9th above Bonnyrigg Rose.  Peterhead decided to stick with last week’s winning formula going with the same lineup that started at Forthbank last Saturday.  The last time the two sides met at Station Park was in December and ended in a 1-1 draw with Peterhead playing the second half with 10 men after Andy McCarthy was sent off just before half time The Blue Toon found themselves down to 10 men against Forfar once again with Kieran Shanks being shown two yellow cards for similar challenges on 3 and 11 minutes giving the hosts a man advantage for the best part of 80 minutes Both bookings came as a result of Shanks challenging with Allan for a header and was deemed by referee Jordan Curran to have jumped into the header with his elbows out This of course meant Peterhead were without their top scorer or with any striker on the pitch and the hosts had their tails up with their man advantage Forfar started to send more bodies forward to make their momentum count but the Peterhead defence stood firm and Stuart McKenzie had barely a save to make in the first half Jason Brown and Scott Ross put in their fair share of blocks one of which from Brown stopped McLean from getting an effort away at what was near enough an open goal.  Peterhead looked to counter whenever possible with the majority of their good play coming down the right hand side Danny Strachan and Cammy Smith combined well on a number of occasions but without a focal point in attack shots were few and far between Arguably the best Peterhead chance of the game was a shot from Seb Ross in the 25th minute who cut in from the left wing and worked himself a half yard inside the Forfar box before shooting straight down the middle and into the arms of McCallum Max Barry almost managed to catch out McCallum just before half time with a similar chance to Seb Ross but on the opposite flank but the unsighted Forfar goalkeeper managed to get down just in time to parry the shot away.  The second half for the most part was a similar story with Forfar having more attacking opportunities but the Blue Toon back line defending resolutely hoping fresh legs could help them break down the defence The hosts looked to aim for McLean up front putting as many crosses as they could into the Peterhead area but still rarely threatening McKenzie’s goal.  Having seen their opposition make two more changes the Peterhead bench decided on 74 minutes to make two changes of their own seeing Oli Colloty and Jack Brown on for Seb Ross and Andy McCarthy who had who had been playing on a yellow card for the entire second half The choice to send on Colloty showed the Blue Toon hadn’t settled for a draw and that they still felt they could take all three points from the game the subs would have little opportunity to have the attacking impact they would have hoped with Forfar managing to keep them pegged back for the most part Despite playing almost the entire game with an extra player Peterhead have now kept 5 clean sheets in their last 6 games and still returned home again at the top of League Two.  Forfar Athletic supporters especially of the seventies and eighties a golden era in the club’s history will be extremely saddened as are club officials by the news of the passing earlier today in a Dundee nursing home of Alex Brash at the relatively young age of 69 after a lengthy battle with alzheimer’s The sympathies and best wishes at this time of all at Station Park are extended to Alex’s wife Jan and sons Mark and Kris in particular Those sympathies are also extended to many within the Forfar Athletic ‘family’ and especially the still very close knit group of former players and officials from Alex’s time at the club It is unbelievable that two of the larger than life members of our first ever league title winning squad in 1984 have passed away this season Jimmy Liddle having been laid to rest only two months back Alex was a proud Dundonian and was employed in the construction industry in his native city throughout his working life Alex was what could be described as a ‘no nonsense’ central defender and that would be putting it mildly At the age of twenty he was signed by then manager Jerry Kerr in the spring of 1975 from the now defunct Elmwood Juniors Jerry a legend for the way he had built Dundee United up both on and off the park over a lengthy period in charge had come out of retirement to take over a struggling Station Park outfit at the time and it would be fair to say his tenure was not the most successful period in the club’s history However what a signing he made on that March evening Alex made his debut for Forfar Athletic against Alloa Athletic in late April of ’75 realising at the time that he was to make his final appearance for the club nearly eleven years later He was in fact to go on to make 441 competitive starting appearances for the club a record only beaten by another two players both from that same generation Ian McPhee and John Clark Alex also contributed 42 goals to the Sky Blues cause Alex and Doug were like so many devastated to hear the news of his passing During the period he was with the club he played a major part in the success story that was played out on and off the park over a decade and more he missed out on our epic 1978 League Cup semi final joust with Rangers at Hampden having picked up an injury at Stenhousemuir the previous weekend However he played a major role in the two Scottish Cup semi final clashes with the same opponent four years later scoring the ‘Loons’ goal from the penalty spot in the midweek replay The ‘icing on the cake’ for all connected with the club at the time especially Alex who was the longest serving member of the squad by then came with the clinching of the club’s first ever league title in early April of 1984 The joy on Alex’s face in many of the after match photographs of that success summed up the feelings of many Forfarians from far and wide that day although of course Alex was only an ‘adopted’ one himself Alex was part of the squad on both trips undertaken by the club in 1980 and 1985 to Canada a special occasion for all who took up that amazing opportunity at the time Just under two years later Alex was to play his last game for the club moving on with some reluctance from both the player and the club to Raith Rovers Alex wore the colours of Brechin City before a spell as manager of Tayport Juniors the captain of the title winning side of ’84 Ian McPhee who also went on to manage the club paid the following tribute to Alex ‘Although I was the captain on the day we finally got our hands on that silverware and Billy Bennett amongst others held that role during Alex’s time at the club the true leader in the dressing room was always ‘Brasher.’ You could always count on Alex to be leading from the front You could always be sure that if you were the victim of a rash challenge from an opponent Alex would make every effort to exact retribution in the nicest possible way of course.’ On behalf of his fellow players and coaching staff of the time Ian also passed on sympathies of them all to Alex’s family at such a sad time Club President David McGregor rates Alex to this day as one of the most committed players he has ever witnessed in a Forfar strip ‘I probably saw the vast majority of the 400 plus games that Alex played for the club He never gave less than one hundred per cent in the ‘Loons’ cause but woe betide any player even in some of the club’s darker days in the early part of his Station Park career who did not do likewise.’ ‘Mind you the way yellow cards are dished out in the game today he might have become the first player in history to be sent off in the warm up!’ Alex returned to Station Park for a handful of reunions of the various sides from his time with the club always enjoying the camaraderie of his former colleagues It would also be fair to say that when the players were introduced to the support on those occasions one of loudest receptions was always reserved rightly so for Alex a true Forfar Athletic legend in every sense of the word The club will officially mark Alex’s passing and his immense contribution to the ‘Loons’ prior to kick-off at the home fixture with Stranraer on January 25th By a twist of fate and coincidence it was Stranraer who were the defeated visitors back on April 6th Let’s hope the current Forfar Athletic management and players can repeat that feat and pick up three points on Saturday week as a fitting tribute to the man himself 1984 LoungeThe 1984 Lounge at the ground will be open to supporters from 12.30pm PREVIEW The ‘Loons’ welcome Edinburgh City to the Alpha Projects Stadium @ Station Park on Saturday with the focus fully on recording a first competitive victory since mid December Manager Jim Weir and his players were so frustrated when the re-scheduled midweek fixture at Stranraer was postponed as they were keen to build on the undoubted positives from the second half display in particular at Peterhead last weekend They now get the opportunity to do that on home ‘soil.’ The Station Park squad will go into the fixture therefore with a positive attitude the Stranraer fixture apart has been been pleasing to the eye since Jim took over the reins in mid November but turning these performances into victories is now becoming an essential ingredient The manager reports that the squad put in a hard training session on Thursday evening in preparation for the visit of the Capital City outfit and the mood in the camp is as ever optimistic Adam Hutchinson and Josh Skelly are ruled out through injury but Mark Whatley returns to the match day squad Jim did not manage to do as much business as he had hoped in the January registration window but further temporary transfer deals remain an option till the end of the current month Nevertheless he is delighted with the calibre of player he has brought in Forfar fans know the quality that a fully fit Craig Slater will bring while Marley Sweenie-Rowe has fitted in well to say the least in the left back role Declan Byrne marked his debut from the bench last weekend by netting the equaliser with some aplomb while youngster Reuben McAllister certainly in his late cameo appearance showed skill aplenty Edinburgh City who sit fourth in the league table won a seven goal thriller at home to Stirling Albion last Saturday Innes Lawson netting the 88th minute winner.They will certainly miss the prolific scoring talent of Connor Young in the remainder of the season following his move to Dunfermline but one of their two January recruits Malik Zaid a Hibernian loanee was also on the score sheet against the ‘Binos.’ Another tense afternoon lies in store for the home support who hopefully as ever will turn out in reasonable numbers for what will be as all know a vital ninety minutes of action in the context of the fight to get away from the bottom of the table It is also the ‘Loons’ last home game of the month with away trips to Stirling The referee on Saturday is Sean Murdoch who will be making his Station Park debut as the man in the middle C’mon the ‘Loons’ Match Sponsor – MMG Chartered Accountants Hospitality Guests – Darren Crockett & Friends 1984 Lounge Hospitality – Scott Davidson & Friends Saturday’s other William Hill League 2 fixtures;- Bonnyrigg Rose v Peterhead AG Barr announced that 23 jobs will be subject to redundancy at the distribution site on West High Street, Forfar. Global drinks company AG Barr announced the proposed closure of the distribution site after revealing their annual results for the year ending January 25, 2025. The proposed closure of the factory on West High Street will see 23 jobs subject to redundancy. It comes after the Cumbernauld-based drinks group – whose brands include Irn-Bru, Rubicon, Boost and Funkin – reported a 15.8% increase in adjusted profit before tax to £58.5m. This was driven by strong growth in 6.4% growth in soft drinks including a “standout performance” from Rubicon. AG Barr also stated its position of £63.9m net cash in the bank. A spokesperson from AG Barr said: “We have announced a proposal with our Strathmore Water colleagues in Forfar which could see the closure of the site and 23 roles becoming redundant. “The Strathmore brand has struggled to compete in recent years, and we believe we have now reached a point where the Forfar site is no longer sustainable. “The proposals are subject to consultation, and we intend to fully support our employees through this period of change.” The business is holding a capital markets event in London on June 3 to share further details of the refreshed strategy, with the next scheduled trading update on July 29. Chief executive Euan Sutherland said: “Looking forward, we have a refreshed strategy centred on growth and are committed to our long-term financial targets. “I am confident that successful execution of our plans will see another year of positive progress towards our long-term goals.” STV News is now on WhatsAppGet all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Follow STV News on WhatsAppScan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country '+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text+' "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title+" "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text+" The total amount donated to the Forfar Fighting Fund has today reached an incredible £15,000 All donations will be made available to Jim Weir to strengthen the playing squad Donations can still be made here ➡️ https://gofund.me/824caf5e Full details about the Fund are here ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/47hfzmua without the express written consent of the Site Managers.