Goalkeeper talks about life at Pittodrie and his ambitions with home town team Elgin City
One of several loan spells Tom Ritchie enjoyed while he was at Pittodrie sowed the seeds of his move to home town club Elgin City.
The former Dons goalkeeper was so impressed with the professionalism of the training and match preparation while on loan at Huntly in the Highland League, it made his move to Borough Briggs his number one option when he knew the time had come to leave Aberdeen after 13 years.
Tom said: “I had options to stay full time but there was something about Elgin and I really wanted to work with the manager again.
“When I was playing for him week in week out I was full of belief and confidence.
“I went in (to Christie Park) and I just mind thinking ‘like this is so professional’. I didn’t expect it to be like that at Highland League level.”
The fact that the gaffer and Stefan Laird had moved on to Elgin City, his home club, made a move to Borough Briggs the perfect option for Tom (22) as he plots the next phase of his career.
Tom bowed out from Pittodrie in the best possible way by being part of the squad which won the Scottish Cup against Celtic and he has a cup winner’s medal to remind him of one of the greatest memories of his time at Aberdeen.
A succession of top class goalkeepers meant Tom’s first team appearances were limited and he never quite made the breakthrough, but he has no regrets about his time there.
He was spotted by Aberdeen aged 9 after playing for Ross County and one season in the Elgin Boys League at intermediate level, having played up from juniors.
“It was amazing (Aberdeen). I was so fortunate to be in amongst like loads of good times, loads of bad times.
“You’re learning how to deal with the good side of the game, the bad side of the game.
“It was obviously like the right time for me to leave. I wasn’t really in the manager’s plans and there was no point in hanging about.
“I wanted to play, and I wanted to have a career for myself.
“Somewhere where you’re comfortable it’s hard like to leave. I’ve been with some boys there for like five, six years, full-time with them.
“There was a few tears shed and it was sad.”
Tom was on the bench as the Dons beat Elgin 3-0 in the cup at Borough Briggs in January which started their run all the way to the final under Jimmy Thelin.
Tom had some first team experience under Derek McInnes but it was the arrival of Stephen Glass and Scott Brown which put him in the first team environment on a daily basis.
“Stephen Glass took a liking to me which was really nice because I was a young goalie, and he wanted me to train and involve me in the match days and he had no hesitation putting me on the bench.
“I was on the bench really young under Derek McInnes but I had to fill in because two goalies got Covid.
Tom was also in and around the first team under Jim Goodwin.
“My goal the whole time I was at Aberdeen was to obviously get a run of games and get in the team. Sometimes you need a bit of luck and I don’t think I got that bit of luck to sort of go on and get a few games under my belt.
“It was a good experience and it was my goal to play for Aberdeen. Never rule it out for the future.”
Tom moved back to Elgin in May after the cup final celebrations, which he described as one of the best weekends of his life.
“I want to be somewhere where I’m trusted, somewhere where the coaches believe in me and I know the manager’s got belief in me, the same way I have in him as a manager and Steph as a coach. They were really good to me when I was on loan at Huntly and I had a great relationship with them.
“I’ve kept in touch with him (gaffer) over the years and the fact I’m here and he’s my manager, I’m totally buzzing.”
After the recent KDM Evolution Trophy game against Inverness CT, when both sets of fans were in good voice and taunting each other, a friend reminded Tom that they used to be in that crowd in the covered enclosure as young boys.
“I didn’t think about it in the game, it didn’t even cross my mind and then my mate said it to me after the game, he was like ‘we used to be the ones in there’.
Looking back on his time at Pittodrie, Tom is proud of his career and the only regret is he didn’t get more regular game time.
However, to bow out with a Scottish Cup final when he knew he was leaving was a great memory.
“I was third choice so I travelled to every single game with them, did the warm-up in case a goalie got injured. I liked being in among the boys and had a good relationship with all the boys.
“I knew I was leaving, it was a special game (cup final), it was my last game and the boys ended up winning and it turned into the best weekend of my life.”
Now Tom wants to make new memories at Borough Briggs after signing a two year deal.
He is focusing on football right now, and will take his time to look at his options off the pitch as a part-time footballer.
He still has ambitions to return to full-time football but at 22, feels he has time on his side as a goalkeeper.
And he has struck up a good bond with fellow goalkeeper Tom McHale.
“Training’s been really good he’s a great lad on and off the pitch. We’re supporting each other. I’ll support him when he plays and I know he’ll have my back when I’m playing so it’s such a healthy relationship but at the same time we’re obviously pushing each other to be better.”
Away from football, Tom enjoys going to the gym every day, and a regular round of golf and the odd game of tennis.
And he has slotted in to the City card school on the bus to away games.
Tom has learned from many of the goalies during his time at Pittodrie and admired former Rangers and Scotland keeper Allan McGregor.
“My dad’s a massive Rangers fan so when I was younger he would drag me along to the games.
“Aberdeen had some top top goalies when I was there. Joe Lewis was my earliest memory, he was amazing and then Kel Roos came in and he was totally different to Joe but still amazing, and Mitov obviously came in last season and was so good and won us the cup by saving the penalty.
Tom aims to carve his own successful path now at Elgin and help the club achieve success.
