Everyone at Peterhead Football Club is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of local football legend and great friend to so many at Balmoor, Charlie Duncan.
One of the most exciting and talented players Peterhead has ever produced, Charlie went on to enjoy a distinguished career both as a player and in management, earning enormous respect throughout Scottish football.
Charlie’s contribution to the game, and particularly to football in the local area, leaves a lasting legacy and he will be remembered with great fondness by generations of supporters and all those fortunate enough to have known him.
Charlie was a player with Peterhead in 3 separate spells in the 1960s/1970s winning 2 Qualifying Cups and 1 Aberdeenshire Cup in his time at Recreation Park.
Born in 1948 in Peterhead, his early playing career took him to London where he had trials with Wimbledon, Chelsea and Crystal Palace in the mid 1960s. Returning North as a 19 year old be signed for Peterhead in 1967, he then had a short spell at Montrose before returning to Recreation Park once more in November 1968. He then signed for Inverness Thistle in the summer of 1970 and he won the Highland League with them in 1972 & 1973. A feat that was so much sweeter as the Kingsmills side had not won the league title since 1936.
He signed once again at his hometown club in the summer of 1977 from Inverness Thistle for a four figure sum and in his first season made 40 known appearances scoring 7 goals. That season he won the Scottish Qualifying Cup defeating Caledonian 2-1 in the final at Borough Briggs. The following season he made 35 known appearances scoring 2 goals and again he was in the side that retained the Qualifying Cup beating his old team Inverness Thistle 2-0 in the final. Towards the end of that season he also played in the Aberdeenshire Cup Final beating Deveronvale 2-0 in a replay.
A fine midfielder in his day he was considered by many of his peers as the best in the Highland League. He was able to dictate play and controlled the midfield with his skill and energy. He was a strong player that often found himself in the referees notebook. On one occasion against Deveronvale in November 1977 at Recreation Park the Buchan Observer picked up on his humour. They said “a touch of the Charlie Duncan histrionics served to entertain the quiet spectators in the 50th minute. He took a wild swipe at Archibald and the referee called him over, obviously to book him. Charlie – arms out in an appeal of innocence – went through various stages of disbelief as Mr Macrae took his name in his wee black book”.
He moved on in the summer of 1979 to Buckie Thistle for a fee believed to be in the region of £2,000 and then subsequently returned to Inverness Thistle. He was then transferred to Fraserburgh and in November 1984 he became manager of the Bellslea Park side a position he kept until 2011. Still with that strong determination he steered the club to the Highland League title in 2002. His unwavered service to Fraserburgh Football Club speaks for itself.
He still came to watch Peterhead until recently, his face was well known to many such was his personality and friendliness and he will be very much missed.
The thoughts and sincere condolences of everyone at Peterhead FC are with Carol and all of Charlie’s family and friends at this very sad time.
Photograph caption – Charlie Duncan in 1977 seen here in the front row, third from the left.
