Star stalwart Issie gets the red carpet treatment for her service

Issie Blue, 70, of Stenhouse, was nominated for the Local Hero award at this evening's sportscotland Sports Awards 2010, a black-tie event to be held at Glasgow's Hilton Hotel.

The presence of her grandson, Haydn, in Currie's youth set-up a decade ago ignited Issie's interest in the club and, since then, she has become a stalwart at Dovecot Park, Kingsknowe, where she runs a tuck shop.

No stranger to multi-tasking - Issie used to keep the books for a garage while manning the petrol pumps - she also tackles the duty of treasurer on behalf of Star's eleven teams. "In 2000, I started going to games and six years ago I set up a tuck shop in the pavilion at Kingsknowe," says Issie. "I saw parents standing getting drookit, so we started the tuck shop at the clubhouse, selling rolls and hot drinks, which helps to raise money for the club."

Issie embraced an ever-increasing number of behind-the-scenes jobs at Star, assuming her position as treasurer before helping to clean out the changing rooms, then going on to establish a popular tuck shop that generates vital funds for the club. Despite suffering from angina, she is determined to carry on in a role she loves.

"The hardest part of my work is crossing the road to get to the pitch," says Issie. "I know what I'm capable of, though. Being treasurer for 11 teams can be quite time-consuming, but it's something I enjoy."

Issie can feel comforted by the fact her work is so highly valued by Star - "Issie is a real gem; she is like a mother to all the boys," says club leader Colin Ritchie - and the time she puts in towards her multiple roles is certainly deserving of such praise. She spends Saturdays replenishing the tuck shop stocks, then Sundays from 8.30am-2pm selling it at Kingsknowe. The middle of her week is taken up with administration of club accounts.

She says: "I went away for a weekend in September and when I came back the next week, everyone was saying, 'Thank goodness you're back - I missed my bacon roll last week!' I really do look forward to it, and spend a good couple of hours every Saturday in the supermarket getting everything for the tuck shop.

"Some of the players will come up to the tuck shop and I'll have to say, 'I can't give you anything before you've played your match' - certainly no sweeties or fizzy drinks, just water. And, I'll ask them, 'Did you win? Did you score?' I've always been a great believer in kids having somewhere to go."

Issie played a key role in helping the club achieve their Scottish FA Quality Mark award last year, and insists that she is just a cog in Currie's well-oiled machine - a small part of the backroom staff who help give the platform for Star's young players to perform in the South East Region Youth FA

She says: "All the coaches are good, and it doesn't feel right me getting all this attention. I feel like a winner already, and feel honoured to be nominated."

Issie was recognised for her sterling work at Currie Star earlier this season, picking up the Volunteer of the Year prize and a cheque for 350 at the annual Edinburgh sports awards ceremony.

The Coach of the Year award was won by Vicky Tomlinson of Edinburgh Diving Club, who also received 350, while North Merchiston were named Club of the Year with a 500 prize.