Winger in town
“I’m a born and bred football fanatic. I didn’t necessarily come from a sporting family but I did come from an area where football was prevalent.
“I’ve been playing in teams since I was seven years old, so 50 years of playing and I still get the same excitement from it all.
“I’m as nervous today as I was then when the team is getting read out. You are just waiting for your name because you want to play.
“This season I’ve quite often been at right-back so that name is one of the first out. I absolutely get the excitement from that.
“I don’t like being substituted and always want to stick in until the death.”
Few would realise Alf is approaching 60 when matched up against him on the park - and this reporter is speaking from personal experience.
The opposition never bat an eyelid to his age but he remembers one particular weekend in the depths of Dundee.
“There was once a cup tie in Dundee and I will never forget it. This was my low point,” Alf explained.
“It was a penalty shoot-out and I came forward to take my kick. Just as I went to strike it, a boy shouted ‘antique.’
“And at that precise moment I just saw a grandfather clock, I don’t know why that was. But I crashed the ball off the bar.
“Thankfully we won in the end. It was unsportsmanlike but it was funny. He definitely got me and hit me where it hurts.
“It’s daft wee things that make you happy. I remember my first match against Ballinluig in a local cup tie.
“I came down with a bag with boots and shinpads in it, got on for the last 10 minutes and I played quite well.
“It was one of my proudest moments and it was in the Perthshire Advertiser the next week.
“It said that the trialist came on and had performed well. And also that it wouldn’t be the last time he’ll play in a Vale top. I’m still going strong.”
The Vale, formed in the 1870s and whose list of previous players includes Paul Sturrock, are getting set for a third round Ashleigh Cup tussle away at Auchterarder this weekend.
Alf is hoping the club can go from strength to strength, saying: “We haven’t had a particularly strong time of it recently.
“Vale of Atholl has a great history and we had the Paul Sturrock era. He has come and done some coaching sessions with us, which was nice.
“The catchment area is slightly limited and there are two other decent clubs in the area with Ballinluig and Breadalbane.
“But we’re starting to find something again. There is a wee squad appearing now but keeping it together can be hard.
“Pitlochry perhaps isn’t that fussed about its football generally. But if you’ve scored the winning goal and word has got out, you maybe puff your chest out a wee bit when going to the shops.
“You feel good because you’re representing a fairly smallish town against the bigger guns. It’s nice to play for a smaller town club.”
Beyond this weekend there is plenty more football to be played.
And Alf concluded: “My mindset is that I’m just one of the boys. Whether they pick me or the next guy, I really will give it my all.”