Fraser Ogston | St Andrews United FC | October 2026

Dear Supporters,

As we approach the end of October, I wanted to take the opportunity to provide an update on everything happening at St Andrews United, both on and off the pitch.

It has certainly been a busy and challenging period for the club, with mixed results on the park, changes to the playing squad and some really positive developments behind the scenes.

Remembering Two Members of the Saints Family

We have also been saddened recently by the passing of two people with strong connections to St Andrews United.

Jock Wallace was a dedicated committee member between 2003 and 2010 and a well-known and respected figure in the local community. Daren Baillie, a former Saints player, made 63 appearances and scored 20 goals for the club between 1998 and 1999, before going on to enjoy a successful career in football and education.

Both made valued contributions to St Andrews United, and on behalf of everyone at the club, I would like to extend our sincere condolences to their families and friends. They will both be fondly remembered by the Saints family.

Football Matters

Turning to matters on the pitch, there is no hiding the fact that results this season have been very mixed and, at times, disappointing.

We started the season with some encouraging performances, including convincing victories over Edinburgh South and Hutchison Vale, as well as an excellent cup win against Jeanfield Swifts. Those results demonstrated what this group of players is capable of, but unfortunately we have struggled to find the consistency needed to build on that early promise.

We all want to see St Andrews United competing strongly and delivering performances and results that our supporters can be proud of. We fully recognise the frustration that comes when results don’t go our way.

I want to reassure everyone that manager Fraser Duncan, the committee and I are working extremely hard behind the scenes to improve the situation. We remain committed to supporting the management team and doing everything we reasonably can to strengthen the squad and turn our fortunes around. There are no quick fixes in football, but we are determined to get things moving in the right direction. Supporters can expect further squad updates over the coming week as we continue working to improve our options on the park.

Player Arrivals and Departures

There have already been some changes to the playing squad. We are delighted to welcome 22-year-old goalkeeper Liam Campbell, who joins us from Musselburgh Athletic. Liam is the son of former Saints defender Willie Campbell and arrives with experience at clubs including East Fife, Kelty Hearts, Berwick Rangers and Bo’ness United. We wish Liam every success and look forward to seeing him in a Saints shirt.

At the same time, Rian Dempsey and Owain Clark have both moved on to Kirkcaldy & Dysart. Rian leaves having made 41 competitive appearances for the club, and I would like to personally thank both Rian and Owain for their efforts, commitment and contribution during their time at St Andrews United.

We wish them both every success in the next chapter of their football careers.

Supporter Enclosures – A Fantastic Step Forward

Away from the pitch, there has been some much more positive news. I am absolutely delighted that work on our two new supporter enclosures has now been completed at the Clayton Holiday Park Recreation Ground.

This is a significant improvement to our facilities and something that we can all take real pride in. Projects like this are vital to the long-term future of the club and demonstrate what can be achieved when the club, local businesses and supporters work together.

I would particularly like to thank Skye Sands for their generous sponsorship of one of the enclosures, along with every supporter who has purchased a seat and helped make this project possible.

The commemorative slates and pledge board are due to be completed over the coming weeks, providing lasting recognition of those who have supported the development.

There are still a few seats available for anyone who would like to be involved. Please contact our Vice Chairman, Eric Gillespie, if you are interested.

My sincere thanks go to everyone who has contributed. It really does make a difference.

Building Stronger Links with St Andrews

Another encouraging development has been our new relationship with a group of students from the University of St Andrews, who are supporting the club with marketing, social media and strengthening our links with the town. It is fantastic to have young people bringing fresh ideas, enthusiasm and energy to the club, and I am very grateful to them for volunteering their time.

One of our ambitions is to make St Andrews United an even bigger part of the local community, and that includes building stronger relationships with the student population.

Hopefully, over the remainder of the season, we will see more students coming along to the Clayton Holiday Park Recreation Ground, enjoying the football and becoming part of the Saints family.

Supporters may also have noticed our club merchandise stall on Market Street earlier in October. This was another positive opportunity to raise our profile in the town and engage with the wider community.

I am also pleased to confirm that replica St Andrews United strips are now available to purchase, giving supporters another way to show their backing for the club.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

As always, the continued support of our sponsors and local businesses is absolutely essential to the running and development of St Andrews United.

I would like to give special thanks to Scottish Building Society, who are generously sponsoring both our home and away shirts this season, as well as our dugouts. Their support is hugely appreciated and helps us continue to operate and improve as a football club.

We are extremely fortunate to have businesses willing to invest in what we are trying to achieve, and I would encourage all our supporters to support our sponsors whenever possible.

Finally, Thank You to Our Supporters

I want to finish by thanking every single supporter who continues to follow St Andrews United, whether that is at home at The Rec or travelling to away matches. I know that the results have not always made for enjoyable Saturday afternoons recently, and I fully understand that everyone wants to see us doing better.

But your support means an enormous amount to the players, management team and committee, particularly during the more difficult spells.

While results on the pitch remain our immediate priority, we must also recognise the progress being made off it. The new supporter enclosures, our growing community relationships, the support of our sponsors and the continued hard work of our volunteers are all important steps in building a stronger and more sustainable football club.

There is a huge amount of work going on behind the scenes, much of it unseen, and I am grateful to everyone who gives their time to St Andrews United. We have challenges to overcome, but I remain confident that by sticking together, continuing to work hard and supporting one another, we can move the club forward.

Thank you once again for your loyalty, patience and continued backing.

Fraser Ogston
Chairman
St Andrews United FC