Highland League twin brothers and former Deveronvale pair Liam and Ross Archibald speak about their long football careers and testimonial match against former club Elgin City
Lossiemouth twins Liam and Ross Archibald want their testimonial match to be a step down memory lane.
The 33-year-olds have been rewarded for over a decade of service to the Grant Park outfit with a benefit match against former club Elgin City on June 28 - hospitality is still available.
They’re planning on taking some of their former Coasters’ team-mates out of retirement for their big day.
“I’m looking forward to it,” said Ross. “It’ll be good to see boys I’ve not seen in a while.
“I just hope we get a decent crowd and a good day out.”
The brothers have played the vast majority of their careers at Lossie, having come through the youth ranks of home town Elgin.
Both left Borough Briggs to sign for the Coasters in 2009 under then-manager Charlie Charlesworth, who also took them under his wing as a youth coach at City.
Both have had brief spells at Deveronvale, while Ross has also featured in loan spells in the juniors as well as a stint at Forres Mechanics.
Liam will head out on the Grant Park pitch with his two young sons and said it will be a proud day for the Archibalds.
“It adds up to well over ten years for me,” he said. “It’s good to get that bit of recognition but it’s pride more than anything else to represent Lossie for so long.
“We’ve given 100 per cent for the club and it’s good to get a day for it and something to look back on.
“I’ve got two wee boys now so it’ll be good to show them one day as well.”
The twins are best friends with Elgin City’s long serving stalwart Brian Cameron, who will play against them next Saturday but is also rumoured to be lined up for a possible stint in a Lossie shirt alongside his close pals.
Liam admitted he will enjoy rubbing shoulders with some of the players he looked up to when he was a youngster first breaking into the Lossie team.
“There’s plenty of boys, some in their 40s now who are coming down to play.
“We feel like we’ve played with two generations. When we first came through when we were younger, there were older and experienced players who we loved playing with and learning from them.
“Then since 2017 onwards it’s been a different generation and we’ve watched boys come through and gave back a bit, so it’ll be good to mix the two squads together.
“Some of the older boys say they are fit so we will see how they get on, because Elgin are a good side.”
Ross added: “A lot of our family will be there, and some probably haven’t been down to see us play before, so it’ll be good for them to see what it’s all about and why we’ve been so committed to it over the years.”
Lossie may not have been the most successful of Highland League clubs, with resources that are streets behind many of their rivals.
The twins did help their club to a North Cup final and Ross said: “We’ve enjoyed every minute of it.
“That’s what football has been like for us at Lossie, enjoying our football.”
