Bonnyrigg legend still has the hunger after 40 years

He is as steeped in the proud tradition of Bonnyrigg's under-21 football team as any aficionado of 'the Rose'.

Ian Richardson, who has served Rose for more than 40 years, requires no introduction to most people in Scottish youth football and no invitation to reel off the achievements of his beloved club.

"We were the first team to win the East of Scotland Cup three years on the trot, in 1941, '42 and '43 - then, we did it again in '61, '62, and '63," he beams.

Not that the 62-year-old former grocer and sales rep was with the amber and clarets during those days. "I came here in 1968 as assistant to the secretary, who started to hand over responsibility to me." That secretary was George Murphy, who co-founded the club in 1932 with Willie Purvis when the pair were 19 years old.

Ian represented Rose 21s initially as a player in the mid-1960s, but admits he did not have what it took to flourish at that level. Having served as secretary for more than 40 years now - ever since a straight swap from playing to administrative work with the club - he can claim as strongly as anyone on the pitch to have had a hand in the team's success.

"Every boy's ambition is to be a football player," he says. "But, I just wasn't as good as some of the others. I had played two or three games for them, but I was coming to the age where I would pack it in. I wasn't one of the superstars who would go anywhere. That's when my wife's uncle asked if I wanted the secretary's job.

"I'm where I am today to get involved and encourage boys. It's rewarding when you see boys who make the step up to junior football or get a try at senior. When you see them win the cups, it gives you a buzz. I've always wanted to win - I'm a bad loser!"

The current team could go a long way towards Ian satisfying his thirst for glory - and fulfilling a long-held ambition to be crowned champions of Scotland. Unbeaten in the league, Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic 'A' - to give the team its full title - are scheduled to contest a Scottish Youth FA under-21 Challenge Cup quarter-final on Saturday at Campsie Black Watch. "It's my ambition to lift that cup," he says. "I'm hoping it could be this year, as it's 50 years since we last won it - in 1960/61. Recently, Jimmy Foley, the goalkeeper from that team, called to wish us luck this year."

Aside from the silverware, Ian finds pride in helping others progress, a mentality that fits perfectly with the ethos of an under-21 team, many of whose players are at the make-or-break stage of their football careers - moving on up, or often dropping out of the game altogether. "If we can help a boy, we'll do it," says Ian. "I love to see a boy going further on.

"We had one guy about four years ago, Joe Dunbar, who went on to play for Newtongrange and Raith Rovers - he was some player while he was here. Further back, there was Billy McLean, who signed for Dunfermline, George Peden, the old left-back for Hearts. Hundreds of guys could have made it, but most didn't for whatever reason."

One of those to fall into that category is Fraser Lawson, whose ability as a goalkeeper won him 'S' Forms with Rangers and trials at English clubs, including high-flying Derby. "My mum wasn't interested in football, and Ian was like a father figure to me," recalls Lawson. "He came on those trips (for trials], which were of no benefit to him - he just wanted to see me getting on. The only satisfaction he got out of it was through his love of football. He became a great friend, and not just in football. You knock on his door and he's always there - he has a heart of gold."

Ian was a budding player himself in 1964 when, through Rose committee member John Murphy, he met Murphy's daughter and his own wife-to-be, Nancy. "She's been a big help in being behind me all the time," he says. "She's a good person to have by your side."

Ian counts many others who have helped him in a multi-faceted football career that has seen him act as representative for the Scottish FA, the national youth association, and the South East Region Youth FA. "The most influential people were guys who started the club - they kept me on the right track. Being honest, I've met people I never thought I'd meet."

One of Ian's proudest moments came as a Scottish FA representative sent to Portugal to act as a delegate for the travelling under-19 national team. At the civic reception at Benfica's Estdio da Luz, he was introduced to the great Eusebio. Little did the Portuguese star know that he was shaking hands with a Bonnyrigg legend and future SYFA Volunteer of the Year (2010) .?.?.