John Raises Funds for Fraserburgh RNLI by Playing in a Marathon Football Match
John May who has just recently stepped back from his role as Launch Authority at Fraserburgh RNLI will be taking part in a 12 hour charity match on Friday 8 August to raise funds for several local charities including Fraserburgh RNLI.
John, along with fellow RNLI volunteers Ricky Morrice and Billy Watson have been regulars at the popular twice weekly Fraserburgh Walking Football games since they were started in 2019 by ex Highland League players Martin Buchan and Lewis Mckenzie.
“It’s a great way to keep fit and active” said organiser ex Fraserburgh FC player Martin Buchan. “We started off playing Walking Football indoors, but after Covid stopped us for a while regular player Alex Whyte helped us get started again and we took the game outdoors. We kept the name Walking Footballers although some of us do run about a bit, nobody minds and everyone is happy. We’ve been playing twice a week ever since in all kinds of weather and we’ve got a great bunch of lads who turn up and help each other out. Some days we’ve had nearly 11 a side where the average age is around 70. In the summers holidays we get some youngsters coming along, grandkids and their friends and its a great mix
‘A few months ago we thought of doing something for local charities and came up with the idea of a 12 hour marathon football match. We formed a committee and decided on which charities would benefit and Fraserburgh Lifeboat was chosen. Everyone knows how much the lifeboat means to the town so it was an easy choice to make.”
John is the only one of the Fraserburgh Lifeboat trio available to play in Friday’s match as Ricky will be working in the North Sea and Billy has a long term injury.
“I’m very disappointed to be missing the match” said Ricky ‘At one point I thought I would be home for it and then my rota was changed and I flew out offshore a few days ago. I’ll be thinking of the lads though and pleased that the lifeboat will benefit from their efforts. I’ll be there with them in spirit.’
John who is an ex-fisherman and lifeguard has given Fraserburgh Lifeboat great service over the years and has served as a volunteer crew member, deputy coxswain, and Launch Authority and has been on some memorable shouts.
In 2012 John was on the crew of Fraserburgh Lifeboat when they rescued a kite surfer who had got tangled in his lines and was being dragged out to sea. It turned out to be a landmark rescue for the RNLI, the 140,000th life saved by the charity since records began back in 1824.
He was also on the crew in 2014 when the lifeboat arrived in time to save a boy and a girl at Fraserburgh beach.
John also played a key role in a service to the Northern Eagle in August 2019 which was filmed and featured in an episode of BBC’s popular series about the RNLI ’Saving Lives at Sea’. The fishing vessel
Northern Eagle had lost power in horrendous weather and was drifting helplessly in high seas. In a tricky manoeuvre Coxswain Vic Sutherland had to get the lifeboat close enough to the fishing boat so that a line could be thrown aboard but not too close so that the waves could dash the boats together.
John was filmed by fellow crew member Martin Runcie’s helmet go-pro using his 45 years of experience at sea on the rolling and pitching lifeboat to get the timing right, and throwing a line aboard with his first throw and establishing contact with the boat and easing a lot of pressure on everyone.
One viewer was so taken with this memorable scene when it was broadcast that he was moved to produce an oil painting which now hangs in John’s house.
John and all the walking footballers are looking forward to the game “It should be a lot of fun and all the money raised will be going to good causes”
The Fraserburgh Walking Footballers Marathon Charity Football Game will be played from 9am to 9pm
at the Old Putting Green, South Road Fraserburgh on Friday 8th August 2025.
Come along and show your support and have some fun.
Notes to editors
Fraserburgh lifeboat station has been operating since 1858. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/fraserburgh-lifeboat-station
RNLI media contacts
Billy Watson, Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]
Stuart Fenty, Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]
Natasha Rushby, RNLI Regional Media Officer for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Media Manager for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.
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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.