Category: Committee News

New Management Announced

Camelon Juniors Football Club is delighted to announce the appointments of Andy Colley and Dave Strathie.

Chairman Gary Clark commented; “Their combined depth of experience and qualifications coupled to an established and impressive reputation now provides Camelon Juniors Football Club with an excellent opportunity to develop and move forward. Once approached we had little hesitation in reaching a decision to appoint. Both Andy and Dave are highly focused, professional and possess an unrivalled attention to detail. They are aware of the job they have on their hands going forward and I wish them all the success in trying to achieve this.”

The club will also be announcing the new management teams back room staff over the next few days as well.

Welcome to the Mighty Mariners guys.

Chairman’s Statement March 2021

Hello to you all,

First let me start by saying that these last few weeks since stepping into the Chairman’s role has probably been the most testing and frustrating time in football for myself and my family and indeed, you, the supporters of our club. It truly was an honour to be named Chairman of the club which has now turned into a nightmare.

There have been several rumours and allegations made towards certain members of the committee over the past three weeks. They still are being investigated by the club and the authorities and are very sensitive and could be damaging to the club going forward.

In my previous role as head of youth development my integrity has never been questioned and I have always tried to do what is right and now it looks like my name is being brought into question without the full facts being known. It should be noted I have only been in the position of chairman for 14 days.

You the supporters deserve answers and I hope you realise at the end of this why I have been unable to provide any until now due to the authorities being involved and an ongoing investigation taking place.

Once these allegations had been brought to me and other committee members three weeks ago by the management team, they have been taken seriously and investigated. The appropriate authorities were called to help with the investigation and this has all been documented by the club. The club has dealt with these allegations over the last three weeks in what we think has been the best way to do things to get the truth for all parties. The allegations being made must still give those accused their presumption of innocence.

We will say at this point some of these serious allegations being made by the management team and other individuals loyal to the club were not a “smoking gun” as all evidence needs to be corroborated. We have taken time to seek advice and tie all the information together. We are not trained lawyers or accountants and we have been working with multiple sources of information to try and find the truth. It has been 10 hours a day on calls trying to listen to all sides of the story. Whilst investigations were progressing things became very frustrating for everyone involved has been under a massive amount of pressure to conduct ourselves in the correct manner. This has led to a number of broken relationships and things being said that have caused those relationships to be unresolvable.

I can assure you that the reason behind the management team being dismissed isn’t what is claimed as everyone has the right to ask questions but this must be done in a certain manner without pressure or prejudiced and threats of violence and must be done in conjunction with any investigation, the club and authorities and protocols.

We have diligently completed this procedure to the best of our abilities whilst retaining our integrity. We as a club are looking to rectify these and move forward with a more traditional look to the committee structure and complete transparency in the future to put the club on solid foundations which will safely guard the club for the next hundred years and get by the challenges the club face regarding covid and other challenges in the future.

The alleged people who have been targeted by these allegations has a right to defend themselves and the decision was made not to suspend this person or people until all the facts have been presented, something which didn’t sit right with the management team. I have followed the letter of the law while doing this process which was; suspension should never be an automatic approach for an employer when dealing with a potential disciplinary matter even where there are reasons to consider suspension in most situations a temporary adjustment to the employees working arrangements can remove the need to suspend. I have kept myself right through all this process and can hold my head high since becoming the chairman.

Yesterday morning I have accepted the resignation of a committee member who has had enough of allegations made against him and for legal reasons I cannot go into this further which I hope everyone will understand that this person is fully cooperating with the financial authorities and should be presumed innocent pending the completion of the investigation.

This whole situation has become very unsavoury and has questioned if I even want to be involved in football full stop after many years coaching and trying to do the right thing by many people over the years. Any one that knows me knows that I have always tried my best and tried to do what’s right and to be even questioned in this way is massively disrespectful. For people to question my integrity on social media without knowing me and the facts and only hearing one side of the story is incredibly hurtful.

Unfortunately, I can’t go into any more details at this moment in time but one thing I can assure you that I am working tirelessly with the authorities and lawyers at this moment in time and if these allegations are true then the people behind this will face justice with my full support.

I have been in the position for two weeks and have inherited the club’s position and am trying my best to get to the bottom of all of this to try and save the club.

I will finish by saying sometimes the hardest thing to do is follow the due process in difficult circumstances. All I have ever asked for is time to do the right thing, something that certain people are unwilling to give me for one reason or another.

Kind regards,

Gary Clark

Chairman

Camelon Juniors FC

New Chairman Appointed

Camelon Juniors FC are pleased to announce that, following a committee meeting this week to ensure the club continues to be as strong off the field as it is on, Gary Clark has agreed to take on the role of Chairman.

Gary writes: “I have been at the club for very nearly three years now in my position as Head of Youth Development, during which time we have managed to build a successful and ever growing player pathway. I have also witnessed some fantastic moments with the First Team that will live long in my memory, and seen the squad grow and develop into something very special. I have seen the club go from strength to strength on and off the park culminating in the club attaining its SFA licence.

I wish to continue to grow in all aspects with the help of everyone at the club. It truly is a fantastic club to be a part of and a honour to be the new Chairman to continue the hard work already done.

As everyone has felt the effects of the covid-19 pandemic, Camelon officials and players have shown their community spirit and that this is a family orientated club, by delivering school lunches in conjunction with Camelon Community Hub, taking part in the Elf Run for Maggie’s Forth Valley, and continuing to host and support the food pantry and wider community support led by Love Falkirk, the outreach of Falkirk Vineyard Church. This highlights how grateful the club is for local support, and its desire to give something back whenever it can.

While I understand that there will be challenges ahead that we as a club will need to face due to the pandemic – some of which aren’t going to be easy – the club will strive to continue for excellence on and off the park and give the community a football team they can continue to proud of.

I will finish by saying that we hope to get back to playing football as soon as it is physically possible and safe to do so, as well as seeing fans who are the life blood of the club back at Carmuirs Park, cheering on the mighty Mariners on a Saturday afternoon – something I know that I have missed.

Thanks for your continued support.
Gary Clark, Chairman

Commitment to Equality

Camelon Juniors Football Club endorses the principle of Equality and is committed to ensure that everyone who wishes to be involved with Camelon Juniors, regardless of their role, current or potential:

have a genuine and equal opportunity to participate to the full extent of their own ambitions and abilities, regardless of their age, sex, gender identity, disability, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, religion, race, socioeconomic status or sexual orientation; and
can be assured of an environment in which their rights and dignity and individual worth are respected and valued, and in particular that they are able to be involved and participate without the threat of discrimination, intimidation, victimisation, bullying, harassment or abuse.

Executive Committee
Camelon Juniors Football Club
August 2024

Committee Member Board Involvement

We’ve been meaning to share this news for a little while, but the eve of a Scottish Cup Second Preliminary Round match seems as good a time as any to do so.

As well as working hard to ensure Camelon Juniors FC keeps going through these challenging times, two of the Club’s committee members have been helping shape the wider picture of the game.

Firstly, Club Secretary Tony Smith has been welcomed onto the East of Scotland Football League board and has a responsibility for Sponsorship and Events. He is also on the working group for planning the safe return of fans back into grounds.

Secondly, Under 20s Secretary Allan Morrison has been welcomed onto the Scottish Lowland Football League Under 20 Sub Committee. This is a further step in the work undertaken to obtain Club Academy Scotland Lite accreditation last year and recognises the commitment of Camelon Juniors to ensuring the strength and success of our player pathway.

It is great to see our committee members gaining these seats at the higher level, recognising just where Camelon Juniors FC has come and where it can go to in the future.

#weareCJFC #itswhoweare #since1920

Club Statement – Fans at Games

Camelon Juniors FC are fully supportive of the Government efforts to combat Covid-19 and have a great appreciation of how difficult a job the Scottish Government have to balance health and the economy, and the sacrifices that people are making to fight this disease.

The club is proud to have played its part in suppressing the first wave of the virus however in simple terms we are facing a fight for our very survival if fans are not allowed into watch games.

Football at the level Camelon play, faces the biggest crisis since the second world war. Our industry sector is being denied the right to trade, due to the refusal to let fans watch games, whilst just over the border in England clubs at equivalent levels are allowed supporters into the match, properly physically distanced with fans wearing face masks.

It is hard to see how going to the football is a higher risk than the pub or the supermarket, when it’s outdoors, distanced, tracked and everyone is temperature checked.

It is our hope that the current restrictions on us are simply out of a lack of appreciation of the challenges football faces at this level. There is no Sky TV deal and no generous benefactor in the form of Mr Anderson as our friends in the SPFL received. Match day income is fundamental to being able to trade solvently. Without it, through no fault of clubs at this level, many won’t be here in three months time.

People may say there are too many clubs anyway. Our response to that is that their view would be different if it was their own club and there won’t be many clubs anywhere in Scotland that are safe, and almost none are at tier five.

Clubs are not asking for a 1,000 fans. All we’re asking for is 200 in a 14,000 square meter site, in a controlled, secure environment.

This week the club has written to local MSP Michael Matheson, who we’re pleased to say has responded to arrange a telephone meeting next week. We look forward to a discussion on what we hope is a lack of understanding of the sector, and the economic benefits it has to the local economy. While Camelon might not be a big club, we still employ twenty people and purchase many products from local suppliers who in turn employ local people. Multiply this by the number of clubs and it’s an economic generator worth, according to a recent study, over £500 million to the Scottish Economy.

The fiscal benefit aside, the community and mental health benefits that football brings to players and supporters alike should be reason enough to re-consider fans in football, providing it’s in a secure and safe venue.

We’re not asking for a moonshot on this one. Either the ability to run our business and trade, or for some assistance to replace the trade that has been denied to us.

Tony Smith
Club Secretary
Camelon Juniors Football Club

Partnership with Player Data Ltd

Camelon Juniors FC are delighted to partner with sector leading analytics company Player Data Ltd.

Every first team player will be tracked and monitored during training and games using the very latest GPS technology.

This will take us to the next level in terms of professionalism, injury prevention and player accountability.

This is a hugely exciting development and a clear indication of our on pitch standards moving forward.

#weareCJFC #itswhoweare #supportlocal #since1920

New Main Sponsor Announced

Camelon Juniors FC are delighted to announce that Express Taxis will be the clubs main sponsor for next season. Their logo will be proudly displayed on the front of the home and away shirts in our centenary season.

Club Secretary Tony Smith commented “We’re delighted to announce this new exciting partnership and are really grateful to Express Taxis for their support. This is really massive for the club in the current times that we’ve been able to partner with such a well known local business that shares our community values.”

Andrew Buchanan, Manager of Express Taxis, said “It is with great pleasure that Express Taxis can announce that we are now the main sponsors of Camelon Juniors Football Club. Covid-19 has presented an unprecedented and unforeseen challenge to our business, but when the opportunity came along to be able to sponsor a club that has done so much good work for the local community, it seemed like a perfect match for us to get involved. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our fantastic drivers that have continued to work at this time and of course all our loyal customers that have stood by us. We hope it won’t be too long until we can all enjoy getting back out to support our local teams.”

Express Taxis
Driving the community for over 60 years.
More than just a taxi company.
01324 638000

#weareCJFC #itswhoweare #since1920

Camelon Juniors announce new Charity Partner

Camelon Juniors are delighted to announce that our official Charity Partner will be Maggie’s Forth Valley. The partnership will see Maggie’s take pride of place on the back of our strips for what is a very special season for the club, as we mark our centenary year together with it being 25 years since our famous Scottish Junior Cup win.

The club will be donating a percentage from sales of this season’s replica shirts to help raise funds for the centre along with other fundraising activities during the season.

Tony Smith, CJFC Club Secretary, commented “I don’t think there is anyone at the club who hasn’t been inspired by Cammy (Cameron Shanks) with the journey he’s been on and the fantastic fund raising he’s done for the Centre. It’s really opened our eyes to the work that Maggie’s do and the difference it makes. As a club we want to help raise further awareness of Maggie’s and do what we can to help raise valuable funds for them.”

Speaking for Maggies, Cristina Pouso, Centre Fundraising Manager Forth Valley said “We are delighted and proud that Camelon Juniors have chosen Maggie’s Forth Valley as their charity partner. We wish the team all the best for the next season. This partnership will help us raise the money needed to provide our free programme of support to anyone affected by cancer especially through this difficult time. We have moved our support online to adapt to the current situation, but our centres are now open as people need us more than ever. Partnerships like this help us raise the funds we need but also to raise awareness that we are here with you when you need us.”