Sporting visitor plays for Bannockburn... in Australia
Bannockburn Amateurs recently received a visit from a player on a whistle stop tour from his home in Bannockburn, Australia.
Nelson Chen plays as a forward for Bannockburn Rovers, a club based in a north shore suburb of Sydney.
A medieval history student at home, Nelson was on a tour around Scotland. During a visit to Inverness, he specially sought out the original Bannockburn amateurs and drove from the Highlands to visit the club on his way to Edinburgh.
The Amateurs set up, history and facilities impressed Nelson as the pavilion thronged with Saturday morning activity.
The club committee presented him with club merchandise, including a fiftieth anniversary coin, club video, football strip and tie.
At the club’s Ladywell home Nelson enjoyed the famous Tartan Arms’steak pie and the company of Amateurs supporters, including previous top scorers David Grant and David Flynn.
The young Australian also had his picture snapped with the West of Scotland trophy.
Bannockburn Amateur Football Club was founded in August 1968.
Australian side Bannockburn Rovers was established in 1962. The club crest features a football with a thistle, which is said to due to Bannockburn being a pivotal place of battle during the Wars of Independence.
Rovers play in distinctive black and gold strips.
The club is run entirely by parent volunteers and caters for Minis and Juniors (under 6-11), through to youth (under 12-18) to men’s teams.