The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Memories of Hampden hero Borella
Romeo Borella, who famously scored two goals the day St Andrews United FC won the Scottish Junior Cup by beating Greenock Juniors 3-1 at Hampden in May 1960, has died at the age of 87.
Speaking on behalf of the St Andrews United committee and confirming Mr Borella died on Friday, club historian and secretary Donald Gellatly said: “The word legend is often used out of context in Scottish football but Romeo deserves to be remembered as a key figure in the history of St Andrews United.”
Born in Crail on March 1, 1934, Mr Borella was the grandson of an ice cream merchant from Northern Italy.
He gained his education at Waid Academy as well as playing football for the school team. Romeo worked in his father’s café and shop selling “the best ice cream in Fife”.
But he continued to play football with Crail Amateurs prior to earning a trial at St Andrews United.
The strong inside forward made his debut for Saints against Steelend Victoria at the age of 17 in April 1951.
However, he decided to join Thornton Hibs the following summer since the Memorial Park outfit was building a strong side capable of winning trophies.
Romeo quickly became a popular figure around Thornton by scoring goals on a regular basis and he continued to play football throughout his spell of National Service at RAF Leuchars.
Producing a terrific performance when Thornton Hibs beat Kilsyth Rangers in the Scottish Junior Cup, he agreed to join the latter for a nominal transfer fee in July 1955.
The strong attacking
midfielder appeared in the Wee Gers’ Scottish Junior Cup final defeat by Banks o’ Dee in May 1957 but he did not enjoy travelling to North Lanarkshire from his Crail home.
Borella consequently
quit football to concentrate on working at the family café, but was pressurised into joining St Andrews United by secretary Jimmy Spence at the start of the 1959-60 season.
He played a key role in
the team’s run to the Junior Cup final in 1960.
However, he nearly missed the biggest match in St Andrews United’s history because he suffered a broken jaw during the replayed semi-final win over Thornton Hibs at Stark’s Park.
But he made a swift recovery and played in the Hampden final against Greenock in front of a 34,603 crowd.
Saints were a goal down at half-time but two goals from Romeo and one from Willie Penman won the cup.
Romeo also helped Saints win the Fife League that spring.
He scored a total of 16 goals in 39 appearances for the club prior to hanging up his boots at the age of 26 to focus on work at the family café again.
Mr Borella and his wife Patricia decided to start a new life in Toronto with their young son midway through the 1960s.
Patricia died in 2010 so Romeo moved back to Crail.
He eventually donated his Scottish Junior Cup winner’s medal to the local museum.