The fields look even greener now: reflections from a footballers’ reunion
Richard Hayhurst, MA 1979 and 1st XI football captain 1978-79, reflects on a reunion to remember, which saw former University of St Andrews players travel from across the globe to the Auld Grey Toon to reminisce, revisit old haunts and take to the pitch once more.
It was during a planning trip for our long-awaited reunion in August 2024 that I first had the sense that football had clearly come a long way at St Andrews since the 1970s and 1980s when the disgruntled local teams we played the length and breadth of Fife took tackling to a new level.
Scottish Universities 5-a-side champions 1978
Squads of immaculately kitted-out and physically impressive ‘Saints’ were training already – before the semester had even begun! We never even set foot on the pitch until early October, completely out of shape after summers of interrailing and general misdemeanours. Our training consisted of throwing a few medicine balls about and doing some circuits in the sports hall. Our one innovation was throwing up in the sand dunes by West Sands after punishing Sunday morning sessions because the Astronomy Department wouldn’t let the Athletic Union (AU) install floodlights for night training lest it spoil their stargazing.
Connections and camaraderie
What hadn’t changed was the incredible sense of camaraderie among those who played football in the 1970s and ‘80s – be that the 1st, 2nd or 3rd teams, the ragtag bunch of Sunday league outfits from the various halls or departments, or just simply bunches of mates.
The Mighty Cowpers, known as the ‘bad boys’ of the Sunday league, but who scooped plenty of medals
For all its faults, social media has been a godsend to our steering committee of three previous captains – Alan Clark (BSc 1978), Bill Dobbie (BSc 1981) and myself – and to star goalkeeper Sandy Robertson (BSc 1980) who, usefully for our organising efforts, had carved out a career in compliance. Through Facebook and LinkedIn (I’m not sure our generation gets Instagram yet) we tracked down an incredible 90 former players from teams ranging from the early 1970s up to early 1980s.
The University of St Andrews 1st XI Football team 1977-78, featuring Alan Clark, Bill Dobbie, Richard Hayhurst and Sandy Robertson
Footballers on tour in Exeter
Wonderfully, 60 turned up in St Andrews on from 22-24 October along with several ‘WAGs’ (wives and girlfriends). Convening in what used to be the Tudor Inn – now the Greyfriars Inn – one of our favourite post-match watering holes along with the Whey Pat, it was as though the clock had turned back 40 years or more. One late suggestion had been to wear name badges for recognition purposes (after all, when many of us last met we had when many of us last met we had the flowing locks and unkempt beards of our era) but there was no need. Teammates embraced immediately and even the toughest of us will admit we almost shed a tear.
The Andrew Melville Hall Sunday league team
Footballers reunited
The mix was diversity personified. When at St Andrews I thought I was in the minority as an arts student, with scientists making up the bulk of teams, but the reunion showed me how wrong I was. We had linguists (Russian, French, German), historians, economists and psychologists. We had the geographers (somewhere in between arts and science), and then a broad church amongst the scientists, comprising chemists, biochemists, physicists and the ‘elite’ pure mathematicians, with a sprinkling of medics, too.
Our gathering brought together Scots from all over plus a fair smattering of Irish, English and other nationalities. Now that I think about it, perhaps that was the root of the camaraderie. Football brought together students from different backgrounds and with different interests on a scale that no other activity did.
Most of us played twice a week for the University plus five-a-sides. Those with ‘extra energy’ would nurse hangovers and turn out for Sunday league games, meaning we often saw more of one another than classmates on our actual courses.
Drinks at The Greyfriars Inn with players from the current 1st XI
St Andrews: the golden age
Not wishing to wax too lyrical, I truly believe our time as students was a ‘golden age’ at St Andrews. The Scottish education system was sending hundreds of us to university on full grants. We occupied a period between hippies and punks, filled with the freedom simply to be ourselves. Our choice of careers was not dictated purely by money. I fell into public relations by chance, but I admire those who chose to give something back through teaching, social work, civil service and suchlike.
Perhaps remembering anxious moments minutes before kick-off as we waited for a couple of previous-night ball attendees to appear, there was some nervousness about the early start after our evening at Greyfriars, when our group was due to convene at what is now Saints Sport (the AU) for the actual football part.
There was no need to worry, however, with some even arriving early to warm up – again, unheard of in our day. A mini-tournament ensued with the goalkeepers, in particular, on spectacular form – bravely, some might say recklessly at their age – diving from side to side to produce countless saves. All played in good spirit, except for what I personally regard as heresy…the walking football part. We won’t dwell on the cheating, running and general pointlessness…
Reunited by the Saints Sport pitches
Of course, in our student days we all fancied ourselves as professionals and tried to mirror their lifestyles as much as possible. With this in mind, it was off to the golf course for the afternoon before hitting the pub once again. Paying homage to our time as poor students, golf meant the Himalayas. It may only have been putting but I am told there was an atmosphere not unlike watching the Ryder Cup and impressive number of holes in one!
Putting on the Himalayas
The Saints of today
We later watched the current Saints Football first XI kick off nervously in their own home game before proceeding to wallop the University of Stirling – one of our traditional foes – in the second half. I’d like to think that their victory was, at least partially, thanks to our rasping rather than raucous support.
The current Saints 1st XI Football team after their victory against the University of Stirling
There were some moments that I am at a loss to describe. We are of an age that several have already left the field. There is a bench in their memory that many of us didn’t know about, so we all gathered round at half time for a minute’s silence. This led to the captain of the women’s first XI asking what was happening. She promptly informed her team, and we were asked for a photograph for their social media channels. At the end of their game the current first XI came over and applauded us. All I can say is thank you so much.
A minute’s silence at the memorial bench
Tastings and tandoori
Thanks to Bill Dobbie, our evening commenced with an amazing surprise. After a career as a serial entrepreneur, he has founded the wonderful Isle of Raasay Distillery. In a sumptuous room in Rusacks Hotel overlooking the 18th hole of the Old Course, we were treated to a tasting of Raasay’s cask strength range. We left feeling educated and ever-so-slightly tipsy, each with a special commemorative bottle in hand. We were then ready to recreate that other great football tradition – curry night.
The commemorative dram, courtesy of the Isle of Raasay Distillery
The staff at the Jahangir on South Street treated us like royalty. I am also pleased (and relieved) to report that we responded with far more dignity and good behaviour than we once did – no naan was thrown and there was no streaking (again, it was the 70s).
Reliving the tradition of curry night at the Jahangir
Into ‘extra time’
For the last event of the evening, I thought it would be like extra time, with spirits flagging as we neared the end of a busy day. Far from it. The full squad headed for the Union where we had reserved the upstairs Beacon Bar. Some highly prestigious prizes were doled out for holes in one, best dress, upcoming player and so on, then it was onto musical highlights.
First Shane Sullivan (MA 1979), Russian graduate and Bank of England legend, gave us a trip down his own musical 1970s lane.
And then our dynamic duo, George Burton (MA 1976) and Bud McLaren (MA 1976), took the floor with a medley of Union Disco greatest hits plus back-of-the-coach favourites like Sloop John B, the Bay City Rollers, and a reprisal of Hey Jude. There was not a dry eye in the house. We parted ways and headed off into the night with promises to somehow, some day, meet again. We had at least ten absentees through no fault of their own, all desperate to come next time.
That was the official programme, but of course we couldn’t resist trying to keep things going a little longer and added a farewell lunch the next day in Forgan’s on Market Street, graciously hosted by Shane.
A sporting success
All in all, our reunion was a great success. Thank you to Sandy, Bill and Alan, and to the University. The Director of Football Stuart Milne and the Saints Football teams overwhelmed us with their warm welcome. Special mentions must also go to Development and Alumni Relations, the staff at the University Library who allowed us to search for old match reports, and the Union bar staff, who went from complete bemusement to bopping away to Shang-A-Lang with us! Bay City Rollers revival band, anyone?
Shang-A-Lang in the Beacon Bar
I asked my fellow steering committee members what we hoped we had achieved (apart from having a wonderful time). We were unanimous in hoping that we have created a model for St Andrews footballers past, present and future to use to keep in touch, and come together again.