John McGlashan

John McGlashan featured for us as a player in the 90s and early 00s before leaving the club in 2005 to become manager at Dundee Violet. After the clubs poor start to the 05-06 season, and Harry Cairney's subsequent resignation, McGlashan was brought back just months after departing, this time as manager.

In his first season, he took the club to the play offs, but failed to gain promotion losing the two leg match to Alloa by 1-2. His second season was a very exciting affair, with the Lichties and Berwick Rangers going neck and neck for the title. The tussle wasn't settled until the penultimate Saturday, when Arbroath travelled to Berwick, and despite a large travelling support willing the club to succeed, the Wee Rangers had enough to win the match and secure the league title. Arbroath were again to fail at the first hurdle in the play offs, losing to an in form Queens Park. The Spiders would ultimately win the play off final and achieve promotion to the Second Division.

The next season saw the Lichties again reach the play offs, finishing fourth in the league. Their first task was to play Cowdenbeath, who had finished second bottom of the second division. After a home draw, Arbroath won the second match at Central Park after extra time, and followed up with a 2-1 victory over Stranraer to reach the second division. The first season in the Second Division was a real tussle, but the Lichties came good to finish 7th and secure another season at the same level. After a reasonable start to the new campaign with some good away results, a string of home defeats culminated in John's resignation in October.

Both before, during and after his time as manager at the club, John McGlashan was well known throughout the town and community of Arbroath for the work he did with street football and other community projects. John very sadly passed away in January 2018 aged 50 after battling Motor Neurone Disease.