OLSP PUPILS CARRY THE ST PATRICK’S FOOTBALL TORCH OF SUCCESS INTO NEW CENTURY

Young OLSP footballers keeping up the school tradition for picking up the silverware pictured with head teacher Chris Smith, left, and coach Matthew Gallagher.

By Bill Heaney and Aidan Macdonald

Their predecessors always had a reputation for being one of the finest school football teams in Scotland …

Even Sir Alex Ferguson, who played for Govan High School, said there was only one team they could never get the better of.

And that was St Patrick’s in Dumbarton, who produced a host of famous players from Celtic’s Evan Williams and Stevie Murray to Hibernian’s Joe Davin and Nottingham Forest, Derby County and Scotland’s John ‘Solly’ O’Hare.

Celtic’s Evan Williams (centre) with Hibernian’s Joe Davin and Nottingham Forest, Derby County and Scotland’s John ‘Solly’ O’Hare. Picture by Bill Heaney

There were many others, of course, but we would have to produce a special edition to find room to accommodate the names of all of them.

The school has just achieved soccer success in two different age groups.

The U13 side defeated Holyrood secondary 5-4 at New Western Park in Renfrew in a thrilling encounter.

Two goals from Chey McEnroe, strikes from Kian Cumming and Kyle McKechnie, and a finish from Aaron Johnstone pushed the Saints on to victory.

They ran out 4-1 winners against Bearsden Academy at New Tinto Park in Govan.

A hat-trick from Oliver Cairns and a long-distance strike from Gabriel Holloway sealed the win for the team.

Matthew Gallagher, a physics teacher at the school and co-manager of both sides, explained how proud he is of those in the team.

“Both teams have done phenomenally well.”

Matthew, who has been teaching at the school since 2017, also explained the important skills the children can learn through playing football.

“It is good for their teamwork skills and for growing as part of the community,” he continued.

“Playing for the school team is good for the boys’ self-esteem as well as their mental and physical health.

“I enjoy coaching because you get to see the kids in a different light and it is enjoyable.

“It is important to promote exercise among young people.

“It is also great that the boys get to represent their schools.”

Matthew follows in the footsteps of legendary teachers and volunteers who coached the school and FP teams down through the years.

They include Jack Denuink, Dan Burns, Tommy O’Donnell, Jack Gilroy, Joe Waters, Jack Kerr, Junior Deigman, Charlie McGarvey and Greg Bell to name a few.

Heaney Patrick in St Patrick's team 1905

McMurrich John with the Scottish Amateur Cuo winning team from St Patrick's in 1999

St Patrick's High with John Walker, Peter Goldie, Bernie McCready

St Patrick's High (primary) team circa 1955

St Patrick's FPs with Father John Gowans 2

Jim Mulkerrin and Peter Goldie Wee St Pat's

FOOTBALL - Bill in Wee St Pat's team (back row, right) with Father John Gowans and John McFall, team manager

St Pat's Castlehill Russell Cup team 1956

Sweeney Jack 2 in St Michael's Boys Guild team

DML St Michael's team with Jack McGinn and Felx McGroggan

Down Memory Lane – some St Patrick’s school, FP and St Michael’s BG teams who brought honour to the Dumbarton school over many years and (bottom left) FP Stevie Woods, Celtic and Scotland goalie coach with internationally famous Jose Mourinho. And one of the most successful Dumbarton teams of last century which included former St Patrick’s pupils Tim Whalen, Hughie Gallacher and John Heaney.