Family crossfire
Sport can split family loyalties, cause endless quarrels and
initiate many a feud - and nowhere more so than in Hawick Junior
rugby.My late grandfather
was caught in the crossfire of such troubles in the Oliver
household. He didn’t care though. Tom Borthwick would support “The
Dean” one week with my brother Derek in the line-up and the next
he’d be a true “Sky Blue” with me involved. Despite the ribbing from
Wullie Gray and such like, he came up with the solution that he was
a Volunteer Park supporter. It was ironic (and lucky for my
brother!) that the Olivers didn’t come face to face in local
derbies.
My big break
After a stint in the “Peeski” I received my big break just after one
New Year, and being a former Linden ball-boy it came as a surprise
to some. My father, however, encouraged me as he had a
tremendous admiration for Mr Trades himself, Tam Reid, and he said
he would look after me! I cut back on the festivities for my
debut at Dalkeith, nervously stepped onto the bus at “The Tech” and
sheepishly sat down in the first vacant seat past Jock Elliot and
the rest of the committee.
The bus had to wait on one late
arrival….. one Neil McDonald, my half-back partner.
Robbie Broatch introduced us, but instead of talking about the game,
“Nell” described (in detail) the extent of his New Year frivolities.
To say I was gobsmacked was an understatement and if that was some
of the spin-offs of junior rugby well I maybe could get to like it.
Taking in every word said during the 50 or so miles up the A7, I was
amazed to hear that “Nell” had lost a stone during the festivities
while “Skull” Halliday had put two on (I was to find out later the
reason why).
A new minder causes
trouble
After a successful debut (I must have done alright as Tam Reid
punched me in the stomach a few times) Robbie Broatch didn’t trust
”Nell” to be my guardian angel (I wonder why?) and insisted Rob Bell
look after me. Later on in my career, Rob (a real party animal)
received national fame as my favourite singer along with Joe Cocker
when my likes and dislikes appeared in “The Pink”.
However, he nearly landed me in serious trouble one night on the
town. Arriving late home after an away match on my birthday, we all
staggered from the Waverley down Baker Street and into the No 10.
Up at the bar Rob was shouting it was my birthday to one of the
owners, Moira Bell, only to be promptly kicked in the shins by me
with Terry Scott whispering “Rob, it’s Greig’s 17th birthday!”
Great guys
Rob, Terry, Tommy Smith, Graham White and “The Rascal” himself Kenny
McAllan were all great influences on me as well as all the Trades
committee. They all had the right recipe to achieve greater things,
train hard and play hard, both on and off the park. The Trades
always encouraged their players to progress to the ultimate honour
of representing the “Robbie Dyes”, while at that time the other
junior clubs were inclined to possess a bit of tunnel-vision and
think only of themselves. The coaches, in particular Kenny Douglas,
insisted that all the players should express themselves out on the
park and try to enjoy the game. I never forgot that and I hope
that philosophy comes through in my coaching with the players of
tomorrow.
The Welsh trips
Rugby is also about experiences and my first visit ot the
Principality of Wales was a “never-to-be-forgotten” one.
Despite losing to Glynneath in the annual fixture (in the mudbath of
all mudbaths) the biannual trip was highlighted with Scotland’s
first victory at the Arms Park for many a year. What a
whipping the Scots gave them, with Hawick’s favourite son Jim
Renwick simply world class.
Noggin entertains
The hero of our trip, however, was Brian “Noggin” Murray.
“Noggin” single-handedly enetertained the packed hotel for nearly
two hours and I'm sure that “Deebs” was taking an admission fee at
the door!
I encountered “Noggin”, the
ultimate leg-puller, during the inaugural Wiorld Cup in New Zealand.
Relaxing in a Christchurch hotel two days before the quarter-final
with the All Blacks, the telephone rang. “Hello, Mr Oliver, this is
the New Zealand immigration”, the man said in Kiwi talk, “sorry to
disturb you but you have some false information on your passport.
You must come down to the airport immediately”. Taken in, I
pleaded that I couldn’t leave the hotel and this was met with
sniggers on the other end. Hook, line and sinker... it was
“Noggin”.
A Knees-up in New
Zealand
The post-match knees up followed the official dinner and there in
the hotel foyer were two typical Scots, navy rugby jerseys, kilts
and one wearing hideous ankle socks. “Noggin’s” ears were easily
recognisable while no-one on this earth had sparrow legs like
“Nell”. As it was the Common-Riding back home, we decided to have
our own to cheer ourselves up from our departure from the World Cup.
“Nell” was Cornet, Colin Deans acting father, with “Noggin”
impersonating Chuck Whillans – it was some night, I think!
The Trades
philosophy
These kind of things epitomise this sport of ours, and the Trades
can be proud of never losing the sheer enjoyment from rugby. Tam
Reid’s addiction to rugby enjoyment has rubbed off on many an
individual over the years, so let’s hope his memory and philosophy
continues for another 50 years at the Volunteer Park. Happy 50th
anniversary Trades and thanks for all the memories. |
