Whats your
connection with Amateur Football and when did you first become
involved? Have been with the legendary Cambusbarron Rovers for
10 years.
What team or
teams and leagues have you been associated in and in what capacity
? Was at Cumbernauld United juniors for 3 years then on to
'The Rovers'.
Do you feel
amateur football has changed much since you were first
involved? I think with the amount of amateur teams these days
it's more quantity rather than quality.
What amateur team
is your favourite and why?
What is your best
personal memory in amateur football? Putting on the Rover's
jersey every Saturday.
Apart from
yourself (if you are or were a player) who is the best player you've seen and /
or played with? Best keeper: Alan Joyce (IDIOT), Player: Too
many to list but they have all played for 'The Rovers'.
If there was one
thing you could do for the Rovers - what would it be? Make
Gary Grahamslaw, Auld Scunner & Auld Jimmy younger by about 20
years.
What do you think
the future holds for a/ the Rovers? b/ the Caledonian League? And c/ amateur
football in general? The future is orange for 'The Rovers'
(sorry Mastie!). The Caley league has lost its way over the years, it has to
take a step back and have a good long hard look at itself before the respect
that it once had has completely gone.
What would you
like to see in, or how could we enhance, the Rovers
website? Squad photo for the coming season, player & coach
profiles each month?
Whats the best
thing you've taken from being involved with your club or amateur
football? The many characters that I have met, played &
drank with over the years.
Name: Bill Copeland - well known to many amateur football clubs, this renowned after dinner speaker is a huge football fan and is a great start to our summer feature.
Whats your connection with Amateur Football and when did you first become involved? My connection is as an interested spectator who follows Junior football. Pollok is my team and i have followed them for over thirty years. Through my after dinner speaking I met the boys at Milton and went to see them play Newmilns Vesuvius in the Scottish. I enjoyed the committment and skill and started to go to amateur games when Pollok were not playing. I have picked games by Bannockburn, Dalziel, Cambusbarron Rovers, Redbrae, Glasgow harp 'and I acted for Eddlewood when they purchased the lease of their park. I have met and got to know guys like Pat Griffin, Gary Grahamslaw , Rab Beaton, John Paul Kerr and many more and admire their efforts to maintain the game at amateur level. In particular I was delighted to see Eddlewood win the Scottish as I first met them when they had just started and John Paul was so instrumental in getting many young players back into the game that he was like a probation officer.
What team or teams and leagues have you been associated in and in what capacity ?
Do you feel amateur football has changed much since you were first involved? The most recent games I've seen and there have not been many this season due to my Pollok Commitments were quite impressive. Bannockburn looked good against Dumbarton Acad early on, and I would have fancied them for a run in the Scottish. Also liked Redbrae last season when they cuffed Dalziel in the cup. Like in all grades football people tend to look at the past through rose tinted glasses. Things don't change too much if you can get a good goalie, centre half and centre forward ( sorry gave my age away there) striker.
What amateur team is your favourite and why? Soft spot for Milton mainly due to Pat Griffin's irrepresible faith that " this years going to be the year". Must say although I am a Weegie I like the Stirlingshire teams such as Rovers, Bannockburn and Doune Castle
What is your best personal memory in amateur football? Some years ago I was at the semi between Milton and Post Office (aka Liberton Cropley) at Linlithgow. Milton played well but John Watson (redheaded ex Dunfermline ) thwarted them with a magnificent display without breaking sweat. Not my best memory but certainly most memorable performance.
Apart from yourself (if you are or were a player) who is the best player you've seen and / or played with? "Sheep" of Dalziel. Also particularly liked Jim Rambo Ramsay who unfortunately I did not see at his peak
If there was one thing you could do for the Rovers - what would it be? Speak at their dinner again!
What do you think the future holds for a/ the Rovers? b/ the Caledonian League? And c/ amateur football in general? Difficult one. I am not invovlved nor ever have been in running a team, but speaking to boys all over the country form Echt in Aberdeenshire to Dumfries it does not seem to be getting easier. Attracting young players seems to be a problem but when you see the success of Eddlewood not long established and the amount of local enterprises running teams from 8 years old upwards, if thes lads interest can be kept then its not all doom and gloom. I feel strongly that local authority facilities should be accessible at minimum cost. Lots of teams are essentially taking boys off street corners and giving them an interest and good habits for future health. Is it too much to hope that the Methadone budget be reduced and some of the money channelled into the amateur game.
What would you like to see in, or how could we enhance, the Rovers website? Updated
Whats the best thing you've taken from being involved with your club or amateur football? The people I have met. I cannot over emphasise the respect for the guys who keep amateur football going at the grass roots level. Every year through my travels I meet more eg this year Campsie Minerva, last year Hurlford Thistle, Buchananan Thistle. Roll on next year.