About Us

We are a group of men, mainly over 55 years old, in fact one member is 83, 'frustrated' footballers who meet up twice a week to play the greatest game in the world. However, it is not just for the football as there are numerous benefits that you will accrue if you partake. Firstly, there is the fun and enjoyment of being able to play football into your more senior years. There is also the wonderful camaradie that builds up after only a few short weeks. However, there are also the many health benefits that you gain, and that is not just an increase in stamina and fitness, but also the impact this participation has on your mental health too. And most important of all ; it is great fun.

 

The group is in its very early stages of progress, but over the coming months, and hopefully years, we hope to expand the club by not only participating in football but also by organising social events, and possibly some other activities.

 

  

Player  Profile No. 1

 

John (Johnny or Cass) Cassidy                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Married, with two girls and two granddaughters

D. of B. 11/09/45

Playing Career

a)        School team Holyrood

b)        Boys Guild good success, League and Cup wins

c)        Juvenile, no great success.

d)        Junior with Shettleston (provisional), Arthurlie, and Irvine Victoria, no success

e)        Welfare with Shanks of Barrhead, major successes 2 Scottish, 1 League, 1 Glasgow, 1 Rangers

f)         Church’s League with Westwood Parish, successes League and Cup

Industrial Experience                                                                                                                                         

Boilermaker by trade, College Lecturer by profession.

Worked in various jobs in the fabrication industry from Office Boy, Apprentice, Inspector, Estimator/Buyer, and Works Director.

Changed track into lecturing in the further education sector at James Watt, Greenock and Cardonald College for a total of 28 years. Initially it was teaching fabrication and welding, but through the years that changed to include supported learning needs, thermal insulation, sociology and B. Tech. Engineering.

Hobbies and Interests

Up until I was 40 my only sport was football, football, football. Not being too concerned with officialdom I would play for anyone who would give me a game. I was known to have played with 6 teams in the same week; 3 with my official team, often Junior, with another 3 from the many summer leagues e.g. the Hospital League, that were dotted throughout Glasgow.                                                                                                                                                                                                    Then when I reached 40’sh and moved to work at Cardonald College I discovered cycling and hill walking. I decided to join Duncanrig, Walking Club in EK, and went on a great walk every second week end for close on 15 years. It gave me the opportunity to see so much of Scotland.

The other new hobby that I took up was cycling in 1988, and since then I have cycled close on 250,000 miles. Initially I just took up cycling to travel to work, but after a year that was expanded out to touring taking in even more of the sights of Scotland taking advantage of the Youth Hostels dotted throughout the country, and Ireland. Nearing the end of my College career we ventured out into the Continent taking in France, Italy and Norway.

My new hobby spurred an interest in the Cardonald College Charity, an appeal I later inherited to coordinate for twenty years. It was a truly wonderful, humbling experience. In my second year of cycling I initiated a Charity Cycle that continued for a total of 25 tours, 2 years past my retirement. The annual tour was collecting over £1,000 .00. by the time I finished at the College. In total over the 20 years I was coordinator of the Cardonald College Charity, over £200,000.00 has been donated by Cardonald College staff and friends.

The other interest/hobby I had, which many may think strange, was the Trade Union. I was the Branch official for 21 years. I started as a Branch member and was elected through the positions to National President. This allowed me to experience sitting on many various Committees for the EIS and the STUC.

 

Player Profile No. 2

NAME: Russell Hamilton DOB 13/03/1954 BORN: Glasgow

PERSONAL DETAILS: Married three children and four grandchildren. I retired in 2014 – worked with British Rail and two subsequent private firms before leaving and joining a Facilities Management company.

HOBBIES: Sport but football still takes precedent. Tramping the hills with my pals and enjoying relaxing with a pint thereafter!

OK a bit of a liberty as I am over 60, but still like to think that I am just a boy. Playing with my fellow Gerihatricks takes me back to my youth.

Like most young boys of my era, football was the predominant sport and pastime. Every day and in all weathers I could be found kicking a ball. My youthful exuberance was just that as not one scout actually took any notice of me. No worries their loss, as long as I could have a kick about, I was happy.

I did play amateur football and honed my skills on red blaze and black ash parks, before grass was invented. My body still carries the scars (or trophies) of these days. Indeed I would have played on broken glass just for fun and in many games the parks did contain broken glass. Am I stirring memories?

My mum said, I was a brilliant defender, who although seldom crossed the half-way line, for fear of a nosebleed, but did score a hat-trick in one game. We lost 3-2 – you work it out. Although living in East Kilbride since 1957 I played most of my football in Glasgow. I also played a few times, as an amateur in The Ayrshire and Tayside Junior leagues. When I was 28 and when representing a Glasgow select, I suffered an injury that put paid to any real playing days.

Oh, how I missed playing. It was then I took up refereeing. I will not dwell on that too long but suffice to say, I enjoyed it and really kept me in touch with the game I love. I retired some 10 years ago from this.

About two years ago, I saw a news story on STV about walking football, I think in Motherwell and I turned to my wife and said ‘That’s for me, when I retire.’ Well, she came away with the classic put-down by saying, ‘Aye, right!’ Only in Scotland does a double positive make a negative!

In November last year (2014) I saw in the local East Kilbride News that a group of ‘lads’ had embarked upon this new game of walking football. I phoned Denny, went up, took part and the rest is history.

We are now up to twice a week and that can only increase. No matter your skills or age, this is brilliant exercise that after each game leaves you feeling great and that you have achieved something. The best bit is that you will leave with a smile on your face.

Great bunch of lads who all share the love of football and by the way we would give lads half our age a good ‘walk for their money.’

Player Portrait No.3