St Johnstone and Forres Mechanics fan Darren Bicket’s passing is marked on 10-year anniversary
Friends of a late sports fanatic visited Forres from Perth to enjoy a football match while marking the 10th anniversary of his death.
Darren Bicket passed away aged just 43 on November 20, 2014, after an illness and a lifetime of enjoying sport - particularly following his favourite clubs St Johnstone and Forres Mechanics.
Fellow Can-Cans supporters from Forres including close friend, Grant Macdonald, joined the visiting group of 21 pals from all over Scotland for hospitality at a friendly with Auldearn at Mosset Park, a decade after his passing.
Grant explained: “Darren’s friends at St Johnstone Supporters Club fondly remembered their away day football trips with Darren and knowing his love for Mechanics and Forres, they secured a hospitality package at Mosset Park for the date closest to the anniversary of his passing.
“They travelled from as far as the Outer Hebrides to make the trip, joining up at Perth for the journey north to Forres, such was their respect for Darren.”
Originally from Dollar between Stirling and Perth, Darren moved to Grant Place, Forres aged six and made lifelong friends at Applegrove Primary School. After finishing at Forres Academy, he moved to Perth but later returned to Springfield Court, Forres.
Darren worked as a fitness instructor, coach and a leisure attendant both in Perth and Elgin.
Darren's parents, now deceased, were well known in the area. His dad Dave was a rep’ for Famous Grouse whisky, as well as a swimming and water polo coach. His mum Betty worked in the Royal Bank on Forres High Street.
They are survived by Darren's brother Gary who lives in the States.
“For most of his life Darren was one of the fittest people you could meet,” said Grant. “Laterly we found out that he had been suffering from alcohol addiction. We could hardly believe it when we found out. It was hard to accept that such a healthy guy could suffer from this terrible disease".
Cans vice-chairman George Alexander booked the group in for a game against Banks o' Dee on November 16, however, the match was later postponed by the Highland League committee due to an Aberdeenshire Cup Final.
George said: “The group from Perth was determined to go ahead with their plans and asked if we could arrange any sort of match to mark the occasion. A friendly against the Auldearn welfare team was organised and the hospitality went ahead as planned.
“On the day, Grant delivered a fantastic speech which moved some of the company to tears. The visitors enjoyed the day and said they were grateful to us for agreeing to continue with the event despite the loss of the competitive match.”
During the match, the referee stopped play in the 14th minute (2014) when the supporters, players and staff joined in a minute’s reflection and applause. After the game the visitors presented a special man-of-the-match trophy in Darren's name.
Grant talked with the visitors about the history of Mechanics and told stories of Darren's life before Perth, including his schooldays and early life in Forres, attending Scouts, his sporting exploits as a triathlete and international water polo player, playing darts in pub teams and attending friends’ weddings.
“It was well received,” said Grant, “and very emotional. We exchanged stories and found similarities in Darren’s generosity, for example, we found that he taught various friends’ children to swim off his own back both in Perth and up North just out of kindness.”
Prior to the match the group visited Darren's grave at Clovenside Cemetery, where they laid a wreath.
The groups of friends, many who hadn’t met before, vowed to continue Darren’s remembrance in future.
“There will be a trip to Perth and a return to Mosset Park,” said Grant. “Mechanics pulled out all the stops to arrange the friendly. They also put on the full hospitality treatment with the tour, talk, a beautiful lunch and a day that will live with us all for many years. We can't thank them enough for making the anniversary such a special occasion.”
