Don Kitchenbrand

Rangers Football Club announced the death on Sunday in his native South Africa of their former centre forward Don Kitchenbrand at the age of 91.

Kitchenbrand who to say the least was a feared powerhouse of a player with an immense frame, hence his nickname the ‘Rhino’ had been one of the top footballers of his era in South Africa before moving to Glasgow in the mid fifties.

Leading the line for the Ibrox club in their 1955/6 league title winning side, he scored at nearly a goal a game, including five in one match against Queen of the South.

In 1958 he headed south of the border to Sunderland making 53 appearances for the then Roker Park based club, netting 28 goals. From the north east he headed back to Johannesburg in 1960 playing for a couple of top flight clubs.

Many ‘Loons’ fans reading this will be asking what has this all to do with Forfar Athletic?

Well during his time with Sunderland, Don married an Irish girl he had met on a trip to Dublin. In 1962 his in laws who were in the hospitality industry moved to Forfar to take over the running of the Queens Hotel in the town. The remarkable story continues when the exciting news spread like wildfire in the ‘toonie’ that Don Kitchenbrand and his good lady Jo were heading from South Africa to assist with the running of the business, a move that was not to be without at least one controversial moment which thankfully is now despatched to local folklore.

The Athies committee of the time got in touch with Don prior to his arrival back in Scotland more in hope than expectation that he might be willing to assist the club at the time and pardon the pun ‘don’ the green number nine jersey. Amazingly he accepted the invitation, remember he was still only 29 years of age and after a fair bit of red tape had been overcome, signed a short term deal and made his debut at Station Park on December 22nd, 1962 in a 6-2 defeat from Ayr United. He did however score both the ‘Loons’ goals in the fixture.

It was a major sports story at the time, not only locally, but indeed it hit the back pages of most of the national newspapers. This at a time when Forfar Athletic were languishing towards the bottom of the then 19 club SFL Second Division.

He went on to play in the ensuing next three league fixtures, then a home Scottish Cup tie against an excellent Hearts side of the time managed by Tynecastle legend Tommy Walker, the ‘Jambos’ winning 3-1. Don got injured in that match and did not play again until the last five games of the campaign, the Athies finishing in second bottom spot in the table, only Brechin City below them.

His final record as a ‘Loons’ player, ten appearances and six goals.

Club officials decided not to offer him a further contract at the conclusion of the season and he went on to play a handful of games the following season for Highland League side Keith before bringing his career to a close. Not long after he returned to the warmer climes of his homeland.

Current Club President David McGregor though only twelve years old at time he wishes to emphasise, remembers the ‘Rhino’ well, not only his appearance in that cup tie on a pitch that resembled Broughty Ferry beach but also around the town where his hugely imposing figure even in everyday attire was a sight to behold and almost eye watering!

It is rumoured that Don was perhaps the oldest surviving Rangers player until his passing, but that is not confirmed.

One thing is for certain at the time he was the biggest name in football to adorn the ‘Loons’ colours by far back in those ‘swinging’ sixties.

Rest in Peace Don