OurAmbassadors
Ambassadors of the trust actively champion and promote the trust and the different programmes the trust oversees.
Jonny Hayes
First team star Jonny Hayes became the first ever official player ambassador for the AFC Community Trust in season 2022/23.
The influential winger has made over 300 appearances for the first team during two spells at Pittodrie since signing in the summer of 2012. The Irishman, who was part of the 2014 League Cup winning side, has again this season been one of the most consistent performers.
He is also a member of the AFC Youth Academy coaching staff. As the first AFCCT player ambassador Jonny champions and promotes the diverse programmes which the Trust oversee, using the power of football to help transform lives for the better.
Jonny works to encourage Dons supporters to engage with the Trust whilst raising awareness and inspiring participants to get involved. From those on active ageing programmes through to young people across the region, his profile enables the Trust to maximise the potential of the community across the north-east, improving physical and mental wellbeing.
He uses his position at the Club to become a role model for many youngsters who work with the Trust through its education and employability programming, as well as engaging in football and other activities.
Angus MacDonald
Since joining Aberdeen in the 2023 January transfer window on a short-term loan, Angus McDonald made an impressive start as an Aberdeen player. He played a key role in helping the team secure 3rd place that season and that all important guaranteed place in the UEFA Europa League qualifying stage.
In April last year Angus penned a new deal to keep him at Pittodrie until the summer of 2025. Since his arrival at Pittodrie Angus has been a key supporter of the Trust and as an ambassador works to highlight its work that providing support and opportunity to change lives for the better.
Angus has been involved in many activities including visiting schools that are a part of the Trust’s Alternative Academies programme. Angus acts as a role model for the younger generation that the Trust works with. By using the power of football and the love of AFC, The Trust is able to engage with pupils and play a significant role in improving the poverty related attainment gap.
Angus, however, shows a keen interest in all AFCCT activities including visits to the weekly Pittodrie Community Hub. This initiative provides a warm, safe place during the cost-of-living crisis and crucially helps to tackle social isolation. The Hub also offers additional support through the Trust’s partnership with a number of other local organisations.
Looking ahead Angus will continue to share the story of AFCCT’s work and its impact in the community across the North-East.
Iain Landsman
Local commercial property expert, Iain has been a passionate supporter of the Trust for a number of years and has been involved in a number of fundraising initiatives including the Cairngorm Challenge Walk. The efforts helped the Trust to raise over £100,000 for the Duncan Skinner “Brighter Futures” Legacy Fund.
Iain has spent his career based in Aberdeen, specialising in advising energy sector companies on acquisitions, disposals and rent reviews on their commercial property portfolios. He also advises institutional and property company clients regards to their property portfolios and single properties.
Iain started his career at local niche practice, Paul Gee & Co in 2007, prior to the firm being acquired by CBRE in 2008.
After 15 years at CBRE Iain left his role as a director in a corporate property company to set up the commercial property arm of Aberdeen based professional services firm Hutcheon Mearns Real Estate.
Lora Fachie
Lora Fachie’s hereditary condition led to her losing her sight at the age of five, leaving her with only light perception. But that did not prevent Fachie (née Turnham) pursuing a career in sport and joining the Great Britain Cycling Team in 2009.
Lora Fachie is a paralympic champion cyclist who competes in both tandem road and track events. Lora won her first World Championship title in 2013 and has since won another 3 titles. Lora won her first paralympic gold medal in 2016 in the individual pursuit race in in 2020 she made it gold again. Lora holds the world record in the 3km pursuit.
Neil Fachie
Fachie took up athletics at the age of 24 and ran for Great Britain in the 100 and 200m sprints at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing before deciding to make the switch to track cycling for which he won a gold and silver medals at the London Paralympics of 2012, further golds at the Tokyo Paralympics of 2020, the Glasgow Commonwealth Games of 2014, the Gold Coast Games of 2018 and Birmingham Games of 2022.
He has also won numerous medals at Track World Championships. Fachie was awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List of 2013, an honorary degree from University of Aberdeen in the same year and an OBE in 2022.