As well as being a keen supporter of the game, and going to many matches every season, i also play football (well, turn up and put a kit on at least), and now as i approach 30 i have just joined another team - Queens Park Supporters FC. Now, i am not a Queens Park fan, though i like them, and have had a good relationship with their gaffer and players over the last 3 or 4 years.
Having left Ormond Saints after 3 years i am looking forward to the fresh challenge on offer in Glasgow and made my second debut (having guested for them in October 2009) for them in August 2011, though we were on the wrong end of a 5-0 scoreline.
Playing football at Social level is something of a joy - some weeks you end up on the wrong end of a horror scoreline and some weeks you have the unbridled joy of winning when you least expect it. Whatever the score, there is a multitude of good people who 'get it' and meeting these guys, and sometimes women, is a pleasure, as they know what you know, and understand what you do and why!
Sunday football has brought me the opportunity to play on a few proper grounds, namely Stirling Albion's Forthbank, Alloa Athletic's Recreation Park, the famous Lesser Hampden and Troon Juniors ground. These might not seem illustrious but that many average folk get the chance to do it, and that is always something i will hold dear. Hopefully there is more chances like that in the months and years ahead.
My love of playing football has always been there, but my desire to play organised football has been on and off.
It all started back at the tail end of 1990/91, with a few games for Letham Athletic. To be honest, back then i was more interested in what i looked like in my kit rather than how i played!
From there it was another 18 months before i would play again, this time with Tulloch Thistle Under 12's, remarkably as a keeper after their manager had seen me pull off a few saves while having a kick about in the park. It was during that period, in May 1993, that i won my first ever trophy - the St. Johnstone Soccer Sevens, and during our run to the final, i think we conceded only once in 6 games.
In the summer of 1993 i left Tulloch to play with a new team - Grampian Colts from the very north east edge of Letham. This was to prove a mistake and i lasted just a few months before realising i was out of my depth in a higher age group. Trials later that season followed with the well known Perth Celtic and Tay Thistle, but neither came to much, and to be honest at that time i was becoming dis-interested in playing regular organised football.
So dis-interested in fact that it was 1997 before i was back playing again! Letham Caledonian - one of my proudest achievements. As a 15 year old, along with a few mates, we started the team up and managed to last two seasons with moderate success at under 17 level.
Into the early 2000's and i didn't really have much time to play football, my girls had been born, and along with work they took up most of my time. I played in the Perth Summer League in 2000, 2001 and 2002 and had a short spell with St. Johnstone Supporters AFC in 2000/01.
Again i had just got out the habit and wasn't that bothered until 2007 when i got an unexpected call from Gav Stewart asking if i fancied a game for his 'Fat Gav Select'. Why not i thought, can't do any harm. That select team quickly became Ormond Saints. The first game as Ormond Saints was in August 2008, and despite a 3-1 defeat from Queens Park i had the honour of scoring the club's first ever goal.
That first season we didn't play too often. On a personal level i played 9 times, scoring 4 goals. The second season we played much more, and now i was being deployed mainly at centre half, much to my annoyance! i played 30 times in 09/10, netting twice from the back, both ironically against Queens Park!
2010/11 saw a a similar amount of appearances, but i played a few in my preferred position up front and managed a respectable 15 goals, though this should have been much more had it not been for a barren spell at the end of the season. The highlight of that season, on a personal level, was scoring our goal at Forthbank Stadium, home of Stirling Albion.
As well as the Sunday football, we played in a few small sided summer tournaments which are always great fun, especially the parties afterwards. The Queens Park 6's are held every year and since 2008 i have been looking forward to the next years tournament and wishing my life away! We also travelled to London in 2010 for the Leyton Orient Chaos Cup and that was a blast where many friends were found and good times had.
I also help run a wee sideline called FC Scotspurs, and from time to time we play an elevens game or are involved in small tournaments.
