A disappointing
start in rugby
I’ll never forget my first involvment with the Trades. I was
actually playing for the Quins aged 16 at the end of season 71-72.
I’d played two games for the Quins at No 8 and was picked to play at
hooker against the Trades; the game was important for
the Trades as they had to play all postponed games to win the
League. It was my first big local derby on a midweek evening in
April. The stand was full to capacity and it was the biggest game of
my career. I was also playing against a Trades stalwart in Jim
Irvine, a wiry old player with loads of experience. Sad
to say we lost that game although narrowly it was a great occasion
and one I’ll never forget.I
must have impressed so much in that game that no Junior side
approached me through the summer to play in their trials, so it was
back to the Wands to play for a few months in season 72-73.
My move to the
Trades
I suppose it was inevitable that I would end up with the Trades as
my dad was a pale blue player back in the initial days when the
Trades started. So following in dad’s footsteps, as I seemed to do
through the whole of my careers, I was selected to play for the
Trades on Saturday, 16th December 1972, the opposition being
Selkirk.
I was a wee bit frightened of
stepping up into the big time but my first training session put that
to rest: that was the first meeting of my other fatherly
figure Norman Pender. Then a lightweight at 17stone I knew if I
befriended Norman i could hide behind him when things got tough on
the pitch. To this day I owe Norman a great deal as he was very
influential in helping me achieve greater things.
Great players
Apart from big Norman there were other players who would nowadays
grace any National League team, players like Cameron Thomson;
John Auchinleck; Ronnie White; brother-in-law Colin
Turnbull; Brian Lauder - a superb scrum-half (lost to Rugby
League); in the pack as the other corner of the front row Doug
Aitchison; Addie Hogg (how could I miss such a big guy when
throwing in the lineout?); Rob Broatch; and of course
one of the Trades' most loyal servants Kenny Douglas, to me one of
the most underrated No 8 to grace the Hawick game.
The brief five months I played with
the Trades we amassed over 1,000 points which was a dream to me. I
was small and fast in those days and the Trades open style of rugby
suited me down to the ground. I had to drag Pender around on
my shirt tail, but he even relished running with the ball, something
which makes the game special.
Friendship in Wales
One very important issue that to me spurred me even more to achieve
the famous Green jersey was the visit to Glynneath. the famous
fixture I was looking forward to immensely as I was told that this
as the fixture to end all fixtures, Scotland against Wales at the
Volunteer Park. When the team was picked my world ended; I had
been left out as I was told by the selectors (not dropped) for the
more experienced Jim Irvine. Shattered at being dropped I took it on
the chin and proved the selectors wrong by progressing a little
further in my career.
I’m still told today that Jim
Irvine was a better hooker than me, but the proof of the pudding’s
in the eating and I think I ate a bit more pudding than Jim. The
same season I was privileged to be part of the Trades winning seven
in the SDU sevens, a medal I treasure today. We played some great
rugby that day and deserved the cup
Netta Young
I could not close and not
mention that great Trades Superstar Netta Young. I was lucky to
visit Darvel at the end of that season to try to drink the Turf
Hotel dry but none of us achieved it. After that meeting, I always
tried to get scross to see Netta and Sheila at their car after an
international, there were always smiling, happy faces whether we won
or lost, always a hot cup of soup or can of beer and always loads of
Trades people. Wherever you go you’ll always bump into one! Thanks
for the memories |
