New Elgin City goalkeeper Tom Ritchie admits he was left feeling mixed emotions after leaving Aberdeen.
Having been with the Dons since he was nine years old, he thought he might have been given the chance to show what he could to at first-team level in recent seasons. That opportunity never came his way.
However, after now departing Pittodrie, he’s grateful for learning from a clutch of top-class goalkeepers – including 2025 Scottish Cup shoot-out hero Dimitar Mitov.
Ritchie, 22, was on loan at Buckie Thistle in 2023-24, helping the Jags win the Highland League.
The 6ft stopper, who never made a first-team appearance for the Dons, has also been on loan at Huntly, Queen of the South, Peterhead and Bonnyrigg Rose.
Working under Elgin’s management of Allan Hale and Stefan Laird when they bossed Huntly was enough of an insight into why he believes they are the perfect pairing to help kick-start his career.
‘To get my career on track, I need to be playing games, to get exposure’
Ritchie told The Press and Journal securing a permanent two-year deal with Elgin is the ideal pick for him to show weekly what he can do – if he gets the nod over experienced City keeper Tom McHale.
He said: “I just felt I didn’t have a future at Aberdeen. I had been on loans and I was getting pulled back when there were injuries.
“I felt I was quite unlucky not to get regular game-time. I decided I would have to get away from Aberdeen and build my career from there.
“I was at Aberdeen for so long. I felt so comfortable, so I knew to get my career on track, I need to be playing games, to get that exposure that you need.
“But I leave with loads of happy memories. I’ve worked with so many amazing people, including staff and players in some brilliant changing rooms over the years.
“Every day was a total joy to be working there. I loved being part of it.”
Cerny ‘was a similar build to me’
And he explained how the Dons goalkeepers over the years were always within earshot to assist the younger players.
He said: “I learned from pretty much all of the keepers at Aberdeen in recent years.
“Big Joe Lewis was an amazing goalkeeper and I learned a lot from him. Tomas Cerny was his back-up and he was a similar build to me, so he was a really good help to me.
“Kelle Roos came in and he was brilliant – very good with young goalies. He always gave us a helping hand.
“Last season was Dimitar Mitov, who obviously pretty much won us the Scottish Cup, so he was brilliant as well.
“It was unfortunate that I could not get a game ahead of these lads, but I was also fortunate to have learned from them – they were all so different in their own ways.
“I will 100% value learning from them all. They proved themselves week in, week out. Just things like how they recovered away from the pitch and dealt with various things were all lessons I take away with me.”
Emotional cup final turned ‘best weekend of life’ for Ritchie
Even before Aberdeen lifted the Scottish Cup in May, Ritchie knew he was leaving. Yet, seeing the Dons defeat Scottish champions Celtic in Glasgow felt like a fitting sign-off for him.
He explained: “I knew I’d already played my last game at Aberdeen when I was at the Scottish Cup final.
“It was emotional, having been there for so long. So, for the last game I was at (as an Aberdeen player) was the Scottish Cup final and beating Celtic was the perfect way to bow out. I couldn’t have picked it any better.
“It was the best weekend of my life.”
Ritchie tipped Mitov to save penalty
Mitov’s penalty saves from Celtic skipper Callum McGregor and Alistair Johnston – allied with four perfect spot-kicks from Graeme Shinnie, Dante Polvara, Oday Dabbagh and Ante Palaversa – helped Aberdeen win 4-3 after a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes at Hampden.
And Ritchie explained it was the Bulgarian hero’s preparation which led to the glory.
He added: “Big Mitov is very good at pens. He does loads of homework.
“We always sat down ahead of every weekend game and looked at the (opponents’) penalty-takers and where they go.
“As soon as Callum McGregor stepped up, I knew Mitov was going to save it. He had missed two penalties the other way and scored his last one by going the other way. I thought ‘he must be going that way again’, so when that happened and Mitov saved it, I knew we were going to win.
“To be fair, all the boys hit unbelievable penalties – they were unsavable.”
‘Weird’ signing for a different club
Ritchie will cherish the memories at Aberdeen, with it all kicking off with trips from Moray as he chased his dream of being a professional footballer.
He said: “I went into Aberdeen really young. Mum and dad used to drive me through to Aberdeen (from Elgin) three times a week when you include matchdays.
“I could not have done it without their massive commitment.
“When I turned 16, I got offered my pro contract and I was in digs for a couple of years. I got my own place at 18 and I’ve been there since then.
“It’s been weird signing for a different club after all these years with Aberdeen.
“It’s nice to be out of my comfort zone. It’s a new challenge I can’t wait for.
“Teams are all waiting for who they want to sign at this time of the year. You can be waiting until the very end of the transfer window, so I’m glad mine has been done fairly early.”
Elgin management impressed Ritchie with their attention to detail
Ritchie, meanwhile, is thrilled to return home to Moray and he explained how a loan stint at Huntly in 2021-22 opened his eyes to the qualities of his new management team.
He said: “I’m buzzing to join Elgin. It’s something I always wanted to do. I’m from Elgin, so it means a lot to me to get the chance to join the club.
“The manager spoke about what I need in my career and what the club needs and everything matched. I was set on Elgin from the get-go.
“When I went to Huntly – when Allan Hale and (assistant manager) Stefan Laird were there, I didn’t know what to expect, but I was so impressed with their attention to detail in terms of games and analysis. They were miles above Highland League level.
“It’s such a positive club to me. Tuesday this week was my first day and everyone was speaking about the football. There’s a real togetherness. That was the first key thing that I noticed.
“I already knew Jack MacIver and Lyall Booth, who were at Aberdeen with me, and I was with big Jack Murray at Buckie Thistle last year, and I knew the goalkeeper Tom McHale, so it was nice going in and already knowing a few of the players.”
Can Elgin City make history in 2o26?
Elgin finished fourth in League Two last season, reaching the play-off semis when they were edged out 5-4 by Annan Athletic, despite a 2-1 win at Galabank.
The aim within Borough Briggs is to make history and take City out of the fourth tier for the first time since they joined the Scottish league set-up 25 years ago.
Richie is ready to help his home town team deliver something special.
He added: “I won’t shy away from it. We’re wanting to win the League Two title and, if not win the league, win promotion at the very least.
“The manager feels I can help him do that. He believes he can help me take my career further.
“I won a Highland League title with Buckie Thistle, so I can maybe help in that way. It takes a lot to win a title, including the mental side of it, so I feel I can help.
“If I can help my home-town club get out of League Two, it would be brilliant. It would be one of my favourite achievements.
“It would mean that little bit more because I’m from here. My mates and family all live here, so it would be the best feeling ever to win the league with Elgin.”
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