Fifteen years at Keith Football Club earns long-serving defender Stewart Hutcheon a testimonial match against Aberdeen at Kynoch Park
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AN Aberdonian who has spent half of his life at Keith Football Club will enjoy a well-deserved testimonial match this Friday.
Maroons favourite Stewart Hutcheon joined the club’s youth ranks at 15, and now aged 30 he is about to embark on his 12th Highland League season in the Kynoch Park club’s first team.
Aberdeen are sending a squad west to Keith for ‘Hutchie’s benefit game and the player admits he is relishing the occasion.
“I’m really excited for it,” he said. “I’ve been waiting for it ever since it became apparent that I would get a testimonial. The game is the one I’ve been most looking forward to.”
Maroons boss Craig Ewen will use the match as a serious warm-up for the season, but will allow Hutcheon the luxury of giving his testimonial committee members some time on the park.
That means a return to the maroon and blue colours for club legend Cammy Keith and former team-mates Scott Whelan, Bruce Raffell and Gary McNamee.
Bridge of Don-based Hutcheon revealed why a Granite City boy became a one-club man at an outfit almost 50 miles away.
“It all stemmed from when I signed when I was 15 and Sandy Stables was the chairman,” he said. “Every youth player would come up and speak to you and it felt like a family club and that’s why I’ve stayed so long, because it feels like home.”
He recalls Darren Still handing him his debut in a 1-1 draw at Fort William in 2012, and going on to win the Highland League Cup the following season - his only honour so far.
Another manager Graham McBeath handed Hutcheon the captain’s armband when he was 21, and he remembers it took him six years to score his first goal for Keith at Strathspey Thistle.
He has played under eight bosses for the Maroons and made 284 appearances, scoring five goals. He won two player of the year awards in 2014 and was clubman of the year last season.
“I am known as the utility man. I’m a right back but I’ve played all along the back and every position in midfield. One game at Brora, our keeper got injured ten minutes in and dislocated his shoulder so I had to go in goal for that game.
“Up front is the only position I’ve not played., but as you can see from my record I’m not a very prolific goalscorer!
“Winning my first trophy so early on was a major high and being named captain at 21 was a great honour. There’s been a lot of ups and downs over the years.
“Football for me is not about money, it’s more about playing for the joy of it and playing for such a great club has given me that, It’s been a real privilege and I’ve never really wanted to play anywhere else.”
‘Hutchie’ will walk out onto his hallowed Kynoch Park turf on Friday alongside his nephew George, who turns two later in the month. A guard of honour will welcome a true Maroons legend out, and it is hoped that Highland League fans in general will attend the match to honour a great servant.
“I’ve had a lot of people saying they are coming along for it so hopefully it should be a good night and a real honour for my family.”
