IT was a step back in time for one special visitor at Musselburgh Grammar School prior to the break up for the summer holidays.
Former deputy headmaster Walter Roy was guest of honour at a ceremony to mark 20 years of dedicated work by school football coach and volunteer, Scott Robertson. In 1988, Roy invited school prefect Robertson to assist him with the school's senior fo
otball team, a talented side that included Robertson's younger brother, Mark.
Memories of that time are still vivid for Robertson. "They were a very good team and Mr Roy had a firm manner with the players. We reached the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup but we were beaten away in Glasgow."
The following year, Mr Roy retired and it fell to Robertson to run the side. He added: "It was my very first time taking a group of players, being a team manager.
"All the boys knew me and there was only a year or two between their age and mine. I felt nervous as no-one told me how to be a team manager.
"It was a difficult season but, looking back, I think it did me good, being dropped in at the deep end."
As the years went by, Robertson grew in confidence and continued to run school teams, gaining coaching qualifications and sponsorship deals on the way. Most notably, local businesses ZOT Engineering and Calum Grant Hairdressing were long-term supporters and donated regularly to the school teams.
Robertson continued: "I have had a terrific time and met some great players and some real characters.
"Sadly, schools football no longer has the best players as the professional clubs in this area refuse to allow them to play.
Some are missing the opportunity to have the time of their lives."
Over the years, Robertson has worked with some of the finest players in the country, either through his involvement in the East & Midlothian Schools' Select or coming up against them in local school leagues.
He said: "Darren Fletcher is the obvious one to mention, as he was in the East & Midlothian School side when we won the Scottish Cup in 1998. But that team also contained Kevin Thomson, Steven Whittaker, Kieron Renton, Adam Neilson, Darren Dunn and Chris McLeod, who were also very good players.
"It really was the Rolls-Royce of football teams. There have been many, many good players at the school and I am delighted that one former player, Colin Nish, is doing so well with Hibs FC.
"More recently, Kevin Smith, who signed for Leeds United when he left the school, was a standout player.
"I have great memories of schools football and made a lot of friends on the way.
"Walter Roy was the man responsible for getting me into football and I have never really looked back since.
"I looked up to Walter and the manner in which he handled his players and ran his teams. He had a great sense of humour, but tolerated no nonsense from his players. He managed to balance the relationship just right."
Mr Roy added: "
I can't be too bad at recruiting, as Musselburgh have got 20 years out of this lad (Robertson]!"
The visit brought Robertson's journey in school's football full circle and, with his current squad winning the league championship, it concluded a very memorable 20th season as coach.
SCOTT ROBERTSON is also the chairperson of the huge Musselburgh Windsor youth football club.
The full article contains 582 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
