Peterhead player/ coach Simon Ferry will play his last game at Balmoor today when the Blue Toon host East Fife. The 34-year-old former Celtic, Swindon Town, Portsmouth and Dundee player has advised manager Jim McInally that he will not be taking the field for Peterhead next season.
Chairman Rodger Morrison said: “Simon has been an immensely popular player during his near seven years at the club. I think it is only right that our fans get the chance to acknowledge that in his last home game.”
“He has been a tremendous influence on our younger players on the pitch. He returned to playing recently after a back problem and it has been no co-incidence that we have played well and won those games.”
“Simon, who has very much become part of the Peterhead Football Club family, will end his playing days with us with our very best wishes after the Airdrie game next weekend.”
The midfielder or defender has however one piece of work outstanding on the playing front as Rodger added: “Despite playing so well for us in nearly 200 games Simon has never scored for Peterhead. In fact, his last goal was for Dundee against Peterhead in a League Cup tie. It would be good to end that run today.”
Simon said: “If it were not for the people at Peterhead I would not have played for as long as I have. It is no secret I was disillusioned with football when the manager Jim McInally and his assistant David Nicholls persuaded me to come in. Those two and everybody else at the club helped me fall back in love with playing.”
“Everyone at Peterhead is a bit special and does their best to help. Behind the scenes, on both the footballing side and non-footballing side, there are tremendous teams and I do not think I have come across people more determined to provide support for players than these guys.”
“On the eve of my last home game I want to thank everyone starting with the chairman Rodger, his daughter Mandy and the rest of his family for making me so welcome during my time as a player. I also want to thank former board members Ian Grant and Harry Fraser as well.
“The manager and his assistant have been great with me over the years and our fitness coach Stuart Hogg is a legend as the BBC showed to a huge audience earlier this year. ”
“Our players have worked and trained hard. They have more than matched some full-time sides in games in terms of fitness and that is to their great credit and to the credit of ‘Hoggy’ and our physio Gregg Smith.”
“As the chairman said I am part of the Peterhead Football Club family now, and I am delighted to be so. I am a fan of the club and whilst I will not be playing for it anymore, I will still be wanting it to win every week.”
Simon added: “A lot of other people who are not as visible but make the club tick and deserve thanks as well. Our groundsman Stan and his wife as well as Jason are heroes as are Jock and Marco who look after the kit.”
“Sharon who welcomes us to the club works hard to make sure the players enjoy their match day as does everyone involved in the catering and hospitality led by Mary and Paula. There are a good number of other staff to thank and I will do that after the East Fife game.”
“Last but not least the fans of the club. You are a good crowd to play in front of and thank you for your support especially over the last couple of years. The vast, vast majority of supporters stuck tightly with us during a couple of times this season when results were not as good as our performances and that was appreciated on the pitch.”
“As for scoring I am sorry that has not happened, yet. We will probably get a penalty in this game and the manager will take me off so I cannot take it just to wind me up.”
