Many individuals have given significant input into the Sunshine Appeal since its beginnings. The organisation was fairly informal although a group developed which began to be known as the Steering Group. The group consisted of those who had volunteered to do the initial decision-making and organising of delivering donations.
It was and is greatly assisted by the ideas, support, fundraising, advice and practical help from many footsoldiers of the Tartan Army.
Membership of the group can change as a result of people`s time commitments or availability. Our thanks go to all those who have been involved in a “Steering” role in the past – near past or long ago. If the Sunshine Appeal is successful in its aims and ambitions – and it is – it is because of the hard work and dedication of those who have been here before us.
As at Feb 2023 those on the Steering Group are:
Office Bearers
Chairman – Neil Forbes (Trustee)
Neil is Managing Director of Saltire Executive Travel which organises tours throughout Scotland in particular whisky golf and history. Neil retired from Lothian and Borders Police in 2009 and started his tour business in 2013
He joined the Sunshine Appeal in 2010 and has served as vice chair and chairman for the last 10 years
Neli is an enthusiastic follower and sponsor of Haddington Athletic Football club in tier 6 of Scottish football, currently playing in the East of Scotland Premier League
First Scotland Game – Scotland v England 1970
First away Game – Wembley 1977
Fav Scotland goal -Archie Gemmill world cup 1978
Favourite modern day player – Scott Brown
Bets away trip: Has to be Mexico City 2018 and seeing Scotland play in the iconic Azteca Stadium
Vice Chairman – Paul Smith (Trustee)
Paul joined the Sunshine Appeal in April 2014.He works for Aviva in the Commercial Product Development team, which in plain English means – he constructs the policy wording you love to hate!
Started off going to Scotland games with my dad, then with my pals, then with my dad in his later years and now with my nephew – so I think I’ve got a few more years left in the tank!
First Scotland Game – Scotland v England, Hampden Park, 1982
First away Game – Netherlands v Scotland, Stadion Galgenwaard, Utrecht, 1994
Fave Scotland goal – Richard Gough vs England March 1985 cause it was my first win vs England!!
Fave trip: Winning 1-0 in Austria during Covid due to the effort in getting there. The team seemed to respond in kind!
Financial Officer – Ally Dunlop
I joined the steering group in 2019 after attending the donation presentations in Lima and Mexico City in 2018, which left quite an impression on me. I’ve met a lot of great people through the Tartan Army and been lucky to have visited so many new places. I’m pleased we can ‘give something back’ to deserving causes on our travels. I work as an accountant and my club teams are Ayr United and Tottenham Hotspur.
First Scotland game: Netherlands at Hampden in 1994.
First away game: Euro 96, and then Morocco in Saint Etienne at the 1998 World Cup. I thought World Cups would be a regular thing…
All time fav Scotland player: Christian Dailly
Fav Scotland goal: James McFadden in Paris
Fav away trip: Both trips to Macedonia in 2008 and 2013. Great atmosphere in a compact city centre, met lots of new friends and did a great hiking trip in the mountains.
Secretary – Clark Gillies (Trustee)
Clark joined the Sunshine Appeal in April 2016 and is a construction and project manager for a family run business in Ayrshire. When not supporting Scotland home and away at various level he follows Aberdeen FC, with the occasional jump over the border to watch AFC Wimbledon.
First Scotland match – Scotland v Cyprus 1989.
Fav Scotland player – (current) Ikechi Anya (all time) Jim Leighton
Fav Scotland goal – James McFadden v Lithuania 2007
Members
Micky Ross (Website Administrator and Assistant Financial Officer)
Micky is a database developer with Mott MacDonald in Glasgow, and has been involved with the Sunshine Appeal since its inception in 2003.
Currently a committee member at Buckie Thistle football club although tends to watch any match in the Central Belt which takes his fancy.
First Scotland match – England 2 Scotland 0, Wembley, 1988.
Fav Scotland player – (currently) Kieran Tierney; (all-time) Davie Cooper
Fav Scotland goal – McFadden vs France, Parc des Princes, 2007.
Favourite Trip: Macedonia 2008 – we stayed with friends from Skopje who gave us a gold-plated tour of the city and environs
Graeme Baxter
Graeme joined the Sunshine Appeal in Jan 2011. He is a part qualified Accountant, working for BSkyB. and is also treasurer of the Dunfermline Tartan Army. His club team is Raith Rovers.
First Scotland Match: Scotland B 3-0 Northern Ireland B, Easter Road, Feb 95.
Fav Scotland Player: (current): Darren Fletcher; (all time): Colin Hendry
Fav Scotland Goal: Mcfadden vs Holland, Hampden, 2003
Dod Hislop
Dod describes himself as a Scotland fan. Which shows how much he has in common with the rest of the Steering Group. “It’s not a team, it’s a drug – best fans in the world”. He’s also a big Dons fan and member of the Cloverleaf Tartan Army based in Bucksburn, Aberdeen.
Diane Doig
I joined after being inspired by the work done by TASA after attending the donation in Peru in May 2018. Work as a Shop Manager for St Columbas Hospice in Stockbridge Edinburgh. In a previous life I worked for Waverley Wines and Spirits and have a Wine &Spirits Education Trust diploma so for me having a beer or a gin is an educational experience. I love going to Scotland games for the people we meet (many of whom I’m still in regular contact with) and visiting places I’d never normally go, Kazakhstan in minus temperatures in March for example! Lifelong Dons fan although I don’t go to as many games now I live in Edinburgh.
First Scotland game: (I think) v Wales at Hampden at what was the home internationals in 1980.
First away game: Belgium v Scotland September 2001
Favourite Scotland player: Super John McGinn
All time favourite player: Tricky but I’ll go with Jim Leighton for the Dons connection
Favourite Scotland goal: again tricky so I’ll say any goal that wins us the game.
Favourite trip: Tricky! Either Peru & Mexico as it was a whole new continent to visit or Kazakhstan & San Marino, a double header of complete opposites and epic proportions. I definitely like trips where the fewer supporters the better!
Dejan McBrigand
In 2012 lots of TA came to Zagreb ahead of playing Slovenia in Kopar. At the Bulldog pub, I got the famous “I’ve met the Tartan Army” badge from Heppy. The rest is history as they say.
Attended Scotland games ever since and in Dec 2021 joined the steering group. In 2016 I moved to Scotland. Great decision! I studied event management and used it to organise fundraisers for TASA. I now live in Edinburgh & work in hospitality where frequent topics of conversation cover
football, away trips and how fantastic Scotland fans are.
First Scotland game: Croatia v Scotland 2013 (but followed since 1998 WC).
First away game: let’s say Croatia v Scotland 2013 despite living in Zagreb at the time!
Fav goal: not an actual goal but David Marshall’s penalty save against Serbia
Fav trip: Moldova 2021 (especially the return via Bucharest with Clark Gillies) and Slovenia 2017 (don’t ask me about the price of a vignette)
The Tartan Army Sunshine Appeal is a registered Scottish charity SC041455
The Steering Group never forget – and should never be allowed to forget – that they are simply the custodians of the funds, goodwill and friendliness of Scottish football fans.