School sport: Foster's farewell marks end of an era at Dollar

John Foster, a well-known face throughout Scottish schools sport, has retired.

Foster, who started his teaching career in 1975 at Dunfermline High School, has bowed out as director of sport at Dollar Academy after 28 years. He coached his final rugby session in early March and has taken time out recently to look back on almost three decades at the Clackmannanshire school.

The engaging Foster said: "When I first joined the staff as Head of PE in 1983 the school was much smaller, rugby was less technical and society was different.

"However, despite all the changes over the years the one thing that has never changed is the youngsters' desire to work hard at sport and want to be the best that they can be.

"That has always given me a real buzz and to work with young people with a good attitude is a joy."

Foster has had many high points over the years, especially coaching the first XV, and he has taken great pride in seeing his past captains John Barclay, Graeme Morrison and Rory Lawson progress - and play together - in the full national set-up.

In 2003 the school first XV, under Foster's tutelage, won the Scottish Schools Cup at Murrayfield when a team featuring Barclay and Heriot's captain Graham Wilson defeated Stewart's Melville.

The following year they were at it again, seeing off Dundee High 27-14, and amazingly that was followed up with the third win in a row in 2005. Fosters's teams were also losing finalists in 2000 and 2007.

"Those were great times and I will always remember working with those dedicated youngsters. To see some of the players I have coached turning out (Edinburgh's Jim Thompson and Scotland Sevens cap Mike Adamson were also his pupils] at a high level and also act as great ambassadors for Dollar is a joy and a credit to the hard work of the boys."

In 2009 Foster stepped down from the first XV and Steve Newton has taken over.

"Steve has been doing a great job with the squad and they played really well in narrowly going out of the schools cup to Stewart's Melville (they went on to win the final].

"I believe Steve will continue to do a good job and look forward to hearing how they are doing from a distance. No doubt I will be back to watch some matches, hopefully cup finals."

Newton paid tribute to Foster, saying: "I personally owe a lot to John and the school as a whole is indebted to him."He always had such a positive and professional attitude, the staff and pupils all enjoyed working and learning from him.

"He has said he is going to take a break from coming along and watching rugby at the school, but knowing him as I do I cannot see that lasting too long."

Certainly if Dollar's pupils keep performing on the sporting field with the determination that Foster has instilled in them then there should be plenty success in the years to come.