On The Road: Dad’s Army keep the home fires burning as battling Blantyre Vics wait for the cavalry

The sun shone on Blantyre at the weekend, even if the stars of old reposed in the shade and the result was hardly warming for those who toiled off the pitch for the club they love.

There is history at the KG Stadium. The Vics were formed in 1890 and have won 40 major trophies including three Scottish Junior Cups. A photograph of a Vics team of 1957 has Billy McNeill standing in the back row.

‘There are not many Junior teams who can say a European Cup-winning captain and a European Cup-winning manager have played for them,’ says Jack McGilvray, referencing both the Lisbon Lion and his manager, Jock Stein.

The Vics are unique in this regard but they share much with the rest of the Junior world. This is a club that survives on the hard work of fans and the kindness of sponsors. Both categories are regularly encompassed in the one person.

McGilvray, general manager, points out that Joe Jordan, the future Scotland star, also played for the Vics. ‘I think he was the youngest goalscorer ever here,’ he says. ‘Jimmy Johnstone was across the road with Blantyre Celtic. They are gone now but that rivalry was great.’

He adds: ‘We have always been here. It’s an old-fashioned ground. It’s a fine balancing act between spending on players and the ground. Cash is the problem at all levels in football.’

Visitors Thorniewood score their second goal in a 3-0 victory against Vics at the KG Stadium 

Billy McNeill (top right) played for Blantyre Vics before going on to become a Celtic legend

McGilvray addresses part of that challenge by putting on the overalls. At 67, he has retired as a painter and decorator but fishes out the brushes for KG Stadium.

‘I have painted this ground at least five times in the past 20 years,’ he says. ‘It takes me most of the summer but it’s just part of being at the club. We have a good committee and they all work hard.

‘We are suffering a bit this season,’ he says of life in the first division of the West of Scotland league where Vics are second bottom. A points deduction for an administration error and the departure of manager John Gibson — and subsequently players — have also made matters more difficult.

But the Vics battle on. The club is now in partnership with a community club and that could see improvements to the ground and an infusion of new blood.

‘We are proud of the history but we are just custodians of the club and we have to keep it going,’ says McGilvray. ‘We are a bit of a Dad’s Army but we have younger ones coming in who will help us go forward.’

One of the old guard sits in the clubhouse, reflecting on a family history with the Vics. Ian Borland, 72, says: ‘My father was involved with the Vics and I have been here man and boy.’

He had a flirtation with Hibernian after watching them as a boy when a Vics game was postponed but he came back to Blantyre to help out when the social club ‘got into a bit of bother’. That issue has been resolved but Borland works on.

He smiles and says ruefully: ‘Once you get into a committee it is very hard to get out of it.’

He adds: ‘There is a sense of duty that keeps you here. I am down here three times a week at least, cleaning the dressing rooms or the ground. There are clubs with financial clout behind them but we don’t quite have that.

‘We own our ground so that makes us asset rich but cash poor. We have plans to renovate the ground through the community project with the boys’ club.’

A former Rolls-Royce engineer, Borland has a peculiar memory of the glory days. In 1982, when the Vics won the Scottish Junior Cup at Ibrox, beating Baillieston 1-0, Borland was on a walking holiday on the Scottish islands.

‘I was on an island that observed the Sabbath,’ he says. ‘When I asked the landlady if it was all right to watch the football, she said: “Oh, no”.  It was obviously the days before mobile phones so I had to phone home that night to get the result.’

One of the old guard mans the gate ahead of their game against Thorniewood. George Fulston takes the entrance money in the shadow of the Saturday sun.

In his 80th year, he has had a full life in business and football. Indeed, he has had a full day. ‘I have a forklift business,’ he says. ‘I build them and we have one going up to Oban harbour on Monday.

‘It had a wee electronic fault and it was bothering me overnight so I got up this morning at five and went to fix it. Once that was done, I went home, had a shower and came up here.’

His forklift firm is on the front of the Vics jersey and the family taxi firm is on the back. ‘I have a wee building business too,’ says Fulston. ‘I was once out digging roads and all of that.’

He had spells on the board of Hamilton Academical and Falkirk, but eight years ago he came back to the Vics. ‘I lived in a house over there,’ he says, pointing over a stand.

One of the stands is dedicated to his mother, Jean. ‘There are a few families who have a long tradition with the Vics,’ he adds. ‘My mother would help wash the jerseys in a building over there. You would put them through the wringer and starch them.’ The site is now occupied by the stand bearing her name.

Fulston admits he is considering retirement but only of the ‘semi’ variety as he still has ideas for his businesses and the Vics. He has transformed containers into stands and would like to see a business club built for hospitality and meetings.

‘The other day the ground hosted the school cup finals,’ he says. ‘It was so good to see so many youngsters in the ground. It would be great if that continues. We are just carrying on history here.’

Kenny Gormley stands under the sign that carries his name. He puts the KG in KG Stadium.

‘I came here after the last Scottish Junior Cup final win,’ he says. ‘I started sponsoring the club soon after that and joined the committee a couple of years later.’

At 62, he was a young businessman when he started putting money into the club. He has never stopped. His office supply business is just up the road and Gormley is a constant supporter, not just financially.

‘I came here to Blantyre as a nine-year-old from Easterhouse,’ he says. ‘So this is very much home for me now. I love the club. It is a hobby but an important one. I have met so many people and had good times. We have won a few titles and won promotion, so that is always something to celebrate.’

The interview is over. The players are ready to play. McGilvray counts the raffle money, Fulston leaves the turnstile and Borland attends to matchday issues.

Gorman — sponsor, fan and businessman — strides to the pitch, flag in hand. He is the regular linesman.

The young cavalry may be coming to help out but Dad’s Army still holds the fort at KG Stadium.