Fort fan James in search of Lochaber football stories
James Burns, who recently produced Fort William Football Club tartan and scarves, has another footballing project in mind that involves a book of stories and anecdotes about ‘the beautiful game’ in Lochaber and those who played a role in its development.
The idea came to him last year when he was helping out his nephew with a school project on famous footballers from Caol.
James realised just how little young people knew of Lochaber’s footballing heritage and decided to launch a project to put this right.
James, who now lives in Italy, said: ‘I had just finished reading Richard Gordon’s Tales from the Dugout - 10 chapters of the best anecdotes from Scottish football people.
It made me wonder why we couldn’t do this in Lochaber? This book isn’t about the exploits of the several locals who went on to make a career in the professional game, although their exploits prior to going on to success when developing in Lochaber would be great.
‘It is more about preserving stories that would otherwise be lost and a tribute to those whose actions inspired the tales – the Lochaber footballing characters.’
James has already had some input from former local player George ‘Pele’ Campbell from Melbourne, whose stories inspired tears of laughter as to how he inspired James’ older brother to get into football who in turn took him under his wing.
The ‘shy and retiring’ Colin Chico Shearer has also provided input which, James says, ‘has been a challenge to editorial skills’ and has also been at the forefront of encouraging input from others.
‘His stories reminded me of one of the best football stories I can remember from the Fort,’ James added. ‘As a student, I returned from Glasgow for the summer. Chico asked me to play for the Caol Youth Centre Boys Club - a great team of young players and a couple of older ones.
‘But their approach fell foul of the conservative welfare league committee. No doubt there are many opinions as to why. In typical student style, I didn’t have a pair of boots. No problem, I borrowed Roddy MacDonald’s.
‘After several games, I eventually asked Roddy why he wasn’t playing. His reply: ‘Suspended. Got sent off [not an infrequent occurrence] in a game against the shinty club’.
‘He was standing behind the goal speaking to Gerry Der MacLean when the shinty club broke free. Der rushed out from goal and the attacker chipped the ball over him. As it bounced towards the goal, Roddy ran back onto the pitch and cleared it off the line. He got a 10 match ban. That was 1986.’
No doubt there will be embellishment in many of the stories which is only to be expected after so many years, but James is asking everyone with a local footballing story or experience to send them to him. He will then collate the stories and hopefully publish them in a book to be released in time for Christmas.
While he appreciates there is not a lot of money to be made from book sales, all profits will go to football clubs in the area, helping in some way to keep them going and make more memories.