25 years in the job, Campbell seeks more Open glory

BASKETBALL: Tom Campbell has coached Marr College basketball teams for the past 25 years – today he is hoping to complete a handful of victories in the Open boys’ category at the Scottish Cup finals staged at Grangemouth Sport Centre.

“I used to teach all age groups, but I’m now winding down towards retirement and so now it’s only the seniors,” said the Business Education teacher.

“My first Scottish Schools’ Cup success was 35 years ago when I was a young teacher at Cumnock Academy. It is another school with a great basketball tradition.”

In today’s final, Campbell’s team will take on Gryffe High School – and it promises to be a close match as the Marr boys lost by a point in this season’s previous meeting in January.

Three Marr boys – twins Mark and Allan Gebbie plus Craig Moffat – all play for Troon Tornadoes, while sixth year pupil Chris Savage has played for the Scottish under-16 team.

“We had a close run to the final, beating St Aloysius and Banchory Academy by just six and four points respectively before overcoming the highly fancied Portobello High School team in the semi-finals,” added Campbell. “The Open Schools’ Cup is the one I consider the Blue Riband event and it’s a trophy that would be great to win again.”

A full report of the girls’ and boys’ Scottish Schools Cup finals will appear here next Tuesday.