Sad passing of Alex ends Rutherford Keith FC Dynasty
An amazing footballing family dynasty lasting 94 years has come to an end as Keith FC mourn the sad passing of their Honorary President Alex Rutherford at the age of 80 years. His late father Alex senior played for the Maroons as a 15 year old on 23 October 1926 against Buckie Thistle, and went on to become Club President in 1957, becoming the cornerstone of the Kynoch Parkers great success of the late 1950's and 1960's until his untimely passing in 1973. Alex junior's late mother Ina also carried out the Boardroom half-time tea duties for many years.
Alex junior had been assisting administratively for a couple of years before being officially invited onto the Management Committee at the AGM in March 1958. He moved on to become Secretary, and was in that post during the Highland League Cup three in a row as well as the title winning three in a row. Stepping down from the post he held with the utmost integrity and distinction in 2000 he became Honoray President for the next 20 years. He quite simply lived and breathed Keith FC with the greatest of passion for so long.
Alex is the last remaining administrative link with the marvellous 1961-62 championship winning side, as well as the first ever Qualifying Cup winning team of 1960-61, and first ever Highland League Cup winning side of 1964. In all he actively served the Club for over 40 years and in his time saw an incredible 7 titles, 10 League Cups, 4 Qualifying Cups, 6 Aberdeenshire Cups and 5 Aberdeenshire District Shields.
I will be forever indebted to Alex, for it was he who recognised my love and support of the Maroons and took me under his wing in 1978. I learned so much from him, including how to conduct myself as a Keith FC Club Official. So many adjectives suitably describe the man, who was honorable, shrewd, meticulous, thoughtful, generous, appreciative, kind and diffident. He also brought the late, great Sandy Stables into the Keith FC family, they worked together at Chivas, as well being close friends.
Alex was the finest footballing administrator I ever came across, be it in signing players, or checking the minefield of player registrations. He was an incredibly capable organiser, who never seemed to flap, He masterly organised Club Burns Suppers for many years with his trademark aplomb. Although not one to seek the limelight he was not afraid to pick up the phone and in that very distinctive voice would say "Yes, Alex Rutherford Keith Football Club here, we have space for a sponsorship table at next week's match, would you like to take it up". More often than not, the phonecall was a success.
He was a main instigator of Keith FC becoming the first team in Scotland to wear sponsored shirts in 1977, and he also played a major part in the Maroons employing a full time Commercial Manager a year later. It was also Alex who came up with the idea of the Club motif KFC interwined.
Of course Alex wasn't a complete saint, let's face it who is, and I have so many happy memories of, shall we say, harmless shenanigans. One episode that stands out was in 1980, we were staying at the Dunblane Hydro the night prior to our famous Scottish Cup win at Hamilton - this also coincided with Alex's 40th birthday. The Jim McLeod Band was the resident Band, and that night we managed to gatecrash the private function, after all as Alex stated in his usual precise manner "I'm Alex Rutherford Keith FC secretary, and it's my 40th birthday, and these are my friends".
So many stories and tales to recall, but above all Alex was a good friend to me and so many others, and was highly respected throughout the Highland League, and beyond, when there were Scottish Cup ties or pre-season friendlies to organise.
It's players who make the headlines, but without Club Officials there would be no Clubs to play for. To me Alex Rutherford epitomised the term "Unsung Hero". This may be the end of the Rutherford Dynasty, but one that will always be remembered at Kynoch Park.
Alex, my great friend and colleague will be sadly missed and the Club's thoughts are with the family at this very sad time. They can perhaps take comfort in the fact that their brother, brother-in-law and uncle is held in the highest esteem at Keith FC. He is now in the great celestial Keith FC Boardroom with the likes of his late Dad and Sandy Stables.
By Charlie Simpson