Gayfield

The Gayfield Pitch is 105 x 65.

Thomas O’Brien Contract Extension Arbroath FC are delighted to announce Club Captain Thomas O'Brien has signed a new five-year contract extension that will take his time at Gayfield up to the Summer of 2028 and make it a total of 11 years-service with the Club. 31-year-old Thomas signed for Arbroath in the Summer of 2017 and to date has made 218 appearances for the Club, scoring 18 goals as well as becoming our Club Captain. Thomas spoke at the announcement "I am delighted to commit my long-term future to Arbroath, there are a lot of special and exciting things happening here and I am desperate to be part of it. I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank the Management team and board of Directors for the faith shown and I am looking forward to repaying this and also help bring more success to everyone at Arbroath." Manager Dick Campbell said "This is a significant announcement for everyone at Arbroath FC and real intent shown by both the Club and Thomas. He quite rightly recognises the strong foundations already put in place in recent years and not only wants to be a part of our exciting future plans, but he'll play a hugely important role in helping shape the Club going forward." We know this news will really excite our supporters to know their Captain has committed his long-term future to the club. To celebrate Thomas’s new 5 year extension supporters can come down to the Club Shop in the Abbeygate this weekend and for just £5 can get the Number 5 and O’Brien printed on the back of their existing or new strips! C’mon the Lichties!

Inverness Caledonian Thistle vs Arbroath - New Date Tuesday 11th April, 7.45pm kick off. Our match away to Inverness Caledonian Thistle which was due to be played on Saturday 11th March but was postponed due to their involvement in the Scottish Cup will now be played on Tuesday 11th April, with a 7.45pm kick off.

Lewis Banks Arbroath FC are delighted to announce the signing of 25-year-old right back Lewis Banks until the end of the season. The English defender, who hails from Stoke-on-Trent played for his home town team at both U21 and U23 level, where he was also Captain. He helped the young Stoke City side lift the Staffordshire Senior Cup, and was named their U23 Player of the Season at age 21. In August 2018 Lewis moved to Stafford Rangers, a semi-professional team from Stafford who play in the Northern Premier League Premier Division for a season, but then was snapped up in February 2019 by Sligo Rovers, who play in the Premier Division in the League of Ireland. At Sligo, Lewis played prominently at right back, but also played at left back if needed and scored some important winning goals for the Rovers. Lewis was voted the club’s Player of the Year in 2019, and nominated again in 2021. Making over 118 appearances for the "The Bit O'Red", Lewis also gained experience playing European football with Sligo Rovers competing in the Europa Conference League over the past few seasons and was in the side that knocked out Motherwell earlier this season. We look forward to welcoming Lewis to the Club! C'mon the Lichties

Toyosi Olusanya Arbroath are delighted to announce the signing of 25-year-old striker Toyosi Olusanya on loan from Premiership side St Mirren until the end of the season. Toyosi signed for St Mirren on a two-year-deal in the summer from English Championship side Middlesbrough and actually played against Arbroath in the League Cup at the start of the season. Having made his professional debut for AFC Wimbledon in 2016 at the age of 18, Toyosi scored on his debut before trials followed in 2017 with Chelsea, Wolves, Reading and Cheltenham Town. Further experience came with Gosport Borough, Cheshunt, and Billericay Town. It was then that Middlesbrough Manager Neil Warnock stepped in and signed Toyosi in the summer of 2021. In June 2022, he became Stephen Robinson’s 4th summer signing for St Mirren. Dick Campbell said “He is strong and very quick and as a striker can play across the front three and will help bolster our attack.” Unfortunately, Toyosi suffered a broken toe in early August which kept him out of action until November 2022, but is now back fit and raring to go. We would like to thank St Mirren and Manager Stephen Robinson for allowing Toyosi to join Arbroath. Toyosi will wear the number 17 shirt for Arbroath. We look forward to welcoming Toyosi to the Club! C’mon the Lichties

Welcome Scott Bitsindou Arbroath FC are delighted to announce the signing of 26-year-old defensive midfielder Scott Bitinsdou on loan until the end of the season from Premiership side Livingston. Scott, who can also play in central defence signed a 2-year-deal with Livingston in the summer after joining from Belgian side KSK Lierse Kempenzonen. Born in Belgium, Scott is a product of the Anderlecht Youth Academy and has played for FC United Zürich in Switzerland, FC Javor Ivanjica in Serbia and had a loan spell with Lommel SK in Belgium, whilst also having represented Congo at International Level. Arbroath FC have formed a fantastic relationship with Livingston, and we would like to thank everyone at the Club, especially Manager David Martingale for making this loan possible. If you would like to sponsor Scott’s Home, Away or Third Kit please get in touch with Paul@arbroathfc.co.uk Welcome to the Club Scott! C’mon the Lichties

Dylan Tait Arbroath FC are delighted to announce the loan signing of 20-year-old Dylan Tait midfielder from Hibernian on a season long loan. Arbroath fans will know Dylan from initially his time at Raith Rovers where he came up against Arbroath, before he was signed by Hibernian on a long-term contract before being loaned back to Raith Rovers until January. At the start of 2022 Dylan joined Kilmarnock on loan and played against the Lichties at Gayfield in February before his season was cut short due to an injury. With experience in the Scottish Championship and a real natural skill we look forward to seeing Dylan playing for Arbroath. We would like to thank Hibernian for allowing Dylan to join Arbroath on loan for the season. Welcome Dylan!

Kareem Isiaka Arbroath FC would like to give a warm welcome to 21-year-old striker Kareem Isiaka who has signed for the club until January. Kareem came through the youth levels (2013-2020) at Charlton Athletic before signing for Welling United in October 2020. Kareem has recently played for UMF Víkingur Ólafsvík in Iceland. We hope our supporters give Kareem a very warm welcome and we look forward to seeing him in action very soon! Welcome Kareem

Marcel Oakley We are delighted to announce the loan signing of 19-year-old right back Marcel Oakley who joins the club on loan from English Championship side Birmingham City. Coming through Birmingham City’s Academy, then academy manager Kristjaan Speakman said, “Oakley has the flexibility to play centre-back or right-back and is a very robust defender who excels in one-v-one duels in either position. His athletic qualities are improving and in possession as a right back he has the physical and technical qualities to join play in high areas of the pitch." Marcel scored the only goal of the game in his senior debut for Birmingham in the EFL Cup against Colchester United and made his Championship debut against Reading. We would like to thank Birmingham City for allowing Marcel to make the move to Gayfield, and Loan Manager Martin O'Connor for his assistance. We look forward to welcoming Marcel to Arbroath! Welcome Marcel! C’mon the Lichties

Scott Allan Arbroath FC are thrilled to announce the signing of 30-year-old creative midfielder Scott Allan on a two-year deal. Scott is a naturally gifted footballer whose creativity, work-rate and personality have seen him become a fan favourite at every club he has played for and well known in the Scottish Top Flight Having joined Dundee United at just 10-years-old in 2001, it was Dick Campbell who took Scott on an emergency loan to Forfar Athletic in 2010, before Scott made the move down south signing for West Bromwich Albion. Not only has Scott played Club Football but represented his country at both U17 and U21 level. Scott returned to Scotland and signed for Hibernian in the 2014 season. Scott would go on to have three separate spells with Hibernian playing 129 games, scoring 17 goals and making 39 assists for the Hibees. In his first spell with Hibernian, Scott was named Scottish Championship’s PFA Player of the Year, with 17 assists, 2 goals and helping Hibernian finish second in the Championship. His outstanding season seen Celtic swoop for his signature and whilst at Parkhead, Scott also had lots at Rotherham United and Dundee before joining Hibernian again, this time on loan in 2018 before making the move permanent at the start of the 2019/20 season. Four goals and three assists in his first 7 games of the season, and Scott didn’t stop with two for Martin Boyle in the Boxing Day Edinburgh Derby at Tynecastle. As the pandemic hit, Scott had made 40 appearances and scored 10 goals in the 2019/2020 season. Having been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes after joining Dundee United, Scott has never let it get in his way and is a proud ambassador for Diabetes UK. Last season Scott played 23 games for Hibernian, before departing Easter Road in the summer. We are absolutely thrilled to have such a gifted, experienced footballer join our Club, and with a work ethic which matches that of our own team, we are delighted to welcome Scott to Gayfield. Arbroath FC Chairman Mike Caird said “Having had offers from both North and South of the border Scott has decided his future lies at Gayfield and this is a signing that we hope will capture the imagination of our supporters and show a real sign of intent as a Club. We were keen to sign Scott on loan back in January, so I’m delighted we have been able to capture him now on a 2 year permanent deal to compliment our already experienced squad of talented players.” Scott will wear the Number 23 Shirt at Gayfield and If you would like to sponsor Scott's Home, Away or Third Kit for this season please email Paul@arbroathfc.co.uk it will be on a first come, first served basis. Give Scott a warm welcome to Gayfield and be there on Saturday - Tickets can be purchased here https://www.arbroathfc.co.uk/match-day-tickets/ Welcome to the Club Scott! C’mon the Lichties!

Season Ticket Collection Supporters who have purchased season tickets but not yet collected them, will have the chance to pick them up tomorrow evening outside of Gayfield. There shall be a table set up outside the home turnstile with supporters able to collect their season tickets, and then use them to enter the ground for the friendly.

We will be releasing details later today!

Please email office@arbroathfc.co.uk if you don't live in Arbroath and can't get to the Abbeygate Club Shop to pick your season ticket up, and we can arrange to post it out to you. Joanna no longer works at the Club, so please don't email that address.

Would all supporters please be aware of the following information ahead of tonight's match. ENTRY AND STADIUM All supporters will access the game via Turnstiles at Gate 1 and Gate 2. Please have your ticket either printed out on ready on your phone to be scanned. There is NO Segregation in place for tonight's match so supporters can walk around 3/4 of Gayfield. The Coelbrew main stand is open to all supporters this evening at no extra cost, however section C is being used for Hospitality, and even though season tickets are not valid for this match, supporters who have purchased a season ticket in the Coelbrew Main Stand can sit in their seats. The far corner of Gayfield next to Ladyloan school is closed due to construction. This means the Harbour side kiosk, toilets and Harbour side Pie Stall will all be closed. Portaloos have been placed near the Pie Hut for supporters to use at that end of the ground. The Disabled Bay is still open at the Harbour end. The Pleasureland end toilets, kiosk and pie hut will all be open as is the disabled bay. There will be no cash gates so we must remind supporters to buy their tickets online.

Limited Edition 3rd Kit x Penumbra Mental Health The kit will be available to purchase from Friday 12th August 2022 from the Club Shop in the Abbeygate. Having enjoyed record sales of our home and away kits to date and continuing with the successful rebranding and relaunching of the merchandising range we have added what is sure to be another big hit with the supporters. Penumbra Mental Health is a pioneering charity supporting people on their journey to better mental health. The power of people’s lived experience enables the charity to provide pioneering services which transform lives. More: penumbra.org.uk/journeys. Go social and join the journey; Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PenumbraScotland Twitter - https://twitter.com/penumbra_sco Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/penumbrascotland Arbroath FC Commercial Director Paul Reid said: “We decided to add a third kit into our range this season for two reasons. Firstly we wanted to work with a charity partner that shared our values and for them to utilise our platform to further highlight their aims of awareness and objectives, Penumbra Mental Health were our first choice as the pioneering work they continue to do in supporting mental health within our society is truly amazing. We are very much looking forward to doing many things together throughout the season including a Penumbra awareness day at a match at Gayfield where there will be many opportunities to learn and indeed show your support to this amazing cause. Secondly, we have been overwhelmed by the sheer number of young fans attending Gayfield and we wanted to design a kit that very much was aimed at this age group showing an edgier look with this one and I am sure it will be another big hit.” Penumbra Mental Health Assistant Support Manager for the charity’s Angus services, Callum Troup, added: “We’re really excited to be partnering with Arbroath FC on their third strip. It’s not just a chance to highlight our work right across Angus, but it’s also a chance to open up important conversations around mental health and wellbeing. 1 in 20 people at any given time is experiencing thoughts of suicide so every new connection we make is a positive step in reaching more people and normalising the discussion around our mental wellbeing. What better way to do that through football, and we’re looking forward to collaborating with Paul and the rest of the Arbroath FC team.” We look forward to our new relationship with Penumbra Mental Health and hope our fans love this new 3rd kit! C’mon the Lichties