Gala Fairy Dean
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Gala Fairy Dean
FOOTBALL CLUB
Stronger Together
Despite having a long and rich history of football it would be fair to say
that in the national conscience the Scottish Borders town of Galashiels is
better known for the endeavours of the 15 men on the Netherdale rugby
field rather than the 11 plying their trade on the pitch next door.
However, there is growing evidence
to suggest that things may be about to
change. A quiet revolution has been
taking place in the town as football begins
to emerge from the shadows of rugby to
challenge the position the oval ball game
has long held as the dominant sport in the
town.
In June of 2013, the difficult but
necessary decision to combine the two
traditional rival clubs of Gala Fairydean
and Gala Rovers has proved to be a game
changer in the development of football
within the town. The merger has proved
that the clubs are stronger together and is
reflected in the new club’s motto, Unitas
est Fortitude, In Unity there’s Strength.
Prior to the merger, the two teams of
the Fairydean and the Rovers combined
contained around 40 adult players.
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Neither had a junior or youth pathway and
no community engagement programmes.
The Fairydean played in the second tier
of the East of Scotland League whilst
the Rovers participated in the Border
Amateur League.
The new club has gained an SFA
License and participates in the Scottish
Lowland League, part of the pyramid
system North of the Border. The club
plays on a new 3G surface that is used by
the community seven days a week in front
of the famous Historic Scotland A-Listed
Netherdale stand designed by architect
Peter Womersley.
Over 350 players are spread between
junior and youth sections, a ladies and
girls section, an over 50’s Walking Football
Team and a Disability Football Squad.
Next season the club will re-establish a
team in the Border Amateur League to
help develop young players progressing
through the club pathway. In addition the
club has an award winning community
engagement programme and works hard
to place itself in the heart of the local
community which in turn has led to some
of the healthiest home attendances in the
Lowland League.
The club ultimately has ambitions
to become established in the Scottish
Professional Football League. The Scottish
Borders is the one part of the country
that does not have a side in the SPFL
and everybody at Netherdale is working
hard to rectify that situation. Galashiels is
bigger than many towns that have teams
in the Scottish Leagues.
Ross County for example, who have
achieved magnificent things despite being