The sun shone on Blantyre on the weekend, even if the Old stars rested in the shade and the result barely warmed for those who worked on the field for the club they love.
There is history at the KG stadium. The vics were trained in 1890 and won 40 major trophies, including three Scottish junior cups. A photograph of a Vics team from 1957 a Billy McNeill in the rear row.
“There are not many junior teams who can say that a European captain winner of the Cup and a European manager winner of the Cup played for them,” said Jack McGilvray, referring to the Lion of Lisbon and his manager, Jock Stein.
The vics are unique in this regard, but they share a lot with the rest of the junior world. It is a club that survives the hard work of fans and the kindness of sponsors. Both categories are regularly included in one person.
McGilvray, Managing Director, points out that Joe Jordan, the Future Star of Scotland, also played for the vics. “I think he was the youngest goalscorer of all time here,” he says. “Jimmy Johnstone was on the other side of the road with Blantyre Celtic. They left now but this rivalry was great.
He adds: “We have always been here. It is an old -fashioned land. It is a good balance between spending on players and the soil. Money is the problem at all levels of football.
Blantyre Vics hopes that a new partnership with the community will lead to ground improvements
Thorviewood visitors score their second goal in a 3-0 victory against Vics at the KG Stadium
Billy McNeill (top right) played for Blantyre Vics before becoming a Celtic legend
McGilvray tackles part of this challenge by putting the overalls. At 67, he retired as a painter and decorator, but fishes the brushes for the KG stadium.
“I have painted this land at least five times in the past 20 years,” he says. “It takes me most of the summer, but that is part of being at the club. We have a good committee and they all work hard.
“We are suffering a bit this season,” he said about life in the first division of the western league of Scotland where the vics are in second position. A deduction of points for an administration error and the departure of manager John Gibson – and thereafter players – also made things more difficult.
But the vics are fighting. The club is now in partnership with a community club and which could see improvements on the ground and a new blood infusion.
“We are proud of history, but we are only club guards and we have to continue,” said McGilvray. “We are a bit of an army of father, but we have younger people who will help us move forward.
One of the old guards is in the clubhouse, reflecting on a family story with the Vics. Ian Borland, 72, says: “My father was involved in the vics and I am here man and boy.”
He had a flirt with Hibernian after looking at them as a boy when a game vics was postponed, but he returned to Blantyre to help when the social club “ was a little disturbing ”. This problem was solved but Borland works.
He smiles and says with regret: “Once you have entered a committee, it is very difficult to get out of it.”
He adds: “There is a sense of duty that keeps you here. I am here three times a week at least, cleaning the dressings or the ground. There are clubs with a financial influence behind them, but we don’t have this.
“We have our land, which makes us rich in active but poor in cash. We plan to renovate the field through the community project with the Boys’ Club “.
Former engineer of Rolls-Royce, Borland has a particular memory of glory days. In 1982, when the vics won the Scottish Junior Cup in Ibrox, beating Bailliston 1-0, Borland was on vacation on the Scottish islands.
“I was on an island that observed the Sabbath,” he said. “When I asked the owner if everything was good to look at football, she said,” Oh, no “. It was obviously the days before mobile phones, so I had to call the house that night to get the result.
One of the old guards manages the door before his match against Thorviewood. George Fulston takes the money from the entrance to the shadow of the Saturday sun.
During his 80th year, he had a complete life in business and football. Indeed, he had a full day. “I have a lifting trolley business,” he says. “I build them and we have one in Oban Harbor on Monday.
“There was a little electronic fault and it bored me overnight, so I got up this morning at five years old and went to fix it. Once done, I went home, I took a shower and came here.
His lifting trolleys are on the front of the Vics jersey and the family taxi company is in the back. “I also have a small construction business,” explains Fulston. “I was once digging roads and all that.
He had spells on the board of directors of Hamilton Academical and Falkirk, but eight years ago, he returned to the vics. “I lived in a house there,” he said, pointing a stand.
One of the stands is dedicated to his mother, Jean. “There are a few families who have a long tradition with the vics,” he adds. “My mother would help wash the jerseys in a building there. You met them through the spinner and suffocates them. The site is now occupied by the stand bearing its name.
Fulston admits that he is considering retirement but only of the “semi” variety because he still has ideas for his businesses and the vics. He transformed the containers into a stands and would like to see a business club built for hospitality and meetings.
“The other day, the ground welcomed the school cup finals,” he said. “It was so good to see so many young people in the ground. It would be great if it continues. We simply continue the story here.
Kenny Gormley is held under the sign that bears his name. He puts the kg in the KG stadium.
“I came here after the last victory of the Scottish Junior Cup final,” he said. “I started sponsoring the club shortly after and joined the committee a few years later.”
At 62, he was a young businessman when he started to put money in the club. He never stopped. His office supplies company is just at the top of the road and Gormley is a constant supporter, not just financially.
“I came here to Blantyre at nine years old from Easterhouse,” he said. “So it’s very at home for me now. I love the club. It’s a hobby but important. I met so many people and I had a good time. We have won a few titles and won promotion, so it’s always something to celebrate.
The interview is over. The players are ready to play. McGilvray has the raffle money, Fulston leaves the turnstile and Borland takes care of the match problems.
Gorman – Sponsor, fan and businessman – progresses on the ground, flag in hand. He is the regular line judge.
The young cavalry may come to help, but dad’s army still holds the fort at the KG stadium.