AN AUCHINLECK Talbot stalwart says the club's future success is closely tied to the prosperity of the community it represents.
For many years, match secretary Henry Dumigan has been one of the key figures behind the scenes of Talbot's many success stories.
On any list of local organisations in East Ayrshire that fly the flag for their communities on a wider stage, the Beechwood Park club would be right at the top.
Their roll of honour boasts more than 70 trophies, including 14 Scottish Junior Cup wins, more than any other club, as well as 11 Ayrshire league titles, seven West Super Leagues, 13 West of Scotland Cup wins and a huge list of other league and cup triumphs, along with several notable runs in the senior Scottish Cup in more recent years.
In the last half-century, those successes have all been achieved in the face of a steady decline in the area's population - something that, according to current projections, is forecast to continue for the next few years at least.
Auchinleck and neighbouring Mauchline and Muirkirk, are expected to see a drop of nine per cent, or 1,250 people, by 2028.
Henry says he would welcome any measures to reverse that decline.
He said: "Obviously if that is going to be the case, it will affect every club in the area, not just Auchinleck, and it would be a concern.
"We try to get involved in the community as much as we can.
"If the population is down, then your crowds are down and also your finances.
"We don't want to see the area go into a decline, that's a certainty."
In more recent years, big-spending rivals have risen up the west of Scotland football ladder to challenge Talbot's long-standing supremacy.
The fan base at Beechwood Park, though, remains strong, with no shortage of younger supporters coming along to cheer the team on each week.
Henry added: "Like every football club we rely on a new generation of young fans.
"I would like to know what the government's plans are to reverse the decline and get more work into the area.
"It might help if the local transport was better and encourage the young ones to stay and travel to their work."
Henry's years of service to the club were marked in 2021 when he was named Auchinleck's Citizen of the Year.
He told the Chronicle at the time that he was determined to "promote all that is good about the village and people of Auchinleck".
Henry added: "There is a lot of industry that used to be here providing jobs, like the mines, that has never been replaced.
"There needs to be investment, definitely.
"The more people you have in the area the better chance that you have of sponsorship for example.
"There is no doubt that is what is good for the village is also good for the club.
"But the reverse is also true."
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