Reach Out (I'll Be There)

An Open Letter from Gary Sullivan to Primary Schools Football Club

Dear Team-mate.

There are times in all of our lives when one has to face up to uncompromising truths and difficult decisions (Oh Dear! Where is this going? - Ed)

This season has been one of those occasions. Amid the feeling of rancour (Aye. Rhymes with rancour - Ed) from dissenting voices that shan't be named (Hint - It was the WHOLE TEAM - Ed) I decided to look within myself and, in doing so, realised exactly what the team had been crying out for.

Someone needed to step up to the plate (Might as well, Dimeck's on his third helping - Ed). Someone needed to "give something back". 

Those new, young, eager upstarts (steady, Petrie!!) in the shape of Myles, Harris, Begg et al had me reminiscing back to when I was at the beginning of my now illustrious career in Staff Football. I was lucky - I had the likes of Eamonn Bannon, Jim McArthur and Willie French to look up to; but who did these fresh faced lads have? No-one. 

So, I decided, in a moment of pure inspiration that has become my unofficial trademark, that I could be that person. That guiding light in the midst of so much confusion and knob jokes. The one to take the flak, dish out the advice and be a shoulder to cry on - especially after the inexplicable horror of seeing Hunter's white pudding in the showers.

I've seen too many young guys having to face up to the likes of that all by themselves. Some never recovered.

As soon as I had completed my SFA Coaching Badges with Jim Wilson in Largs last summer, I decided that, rather than cleaning up with a fourth straight Top Scorer gong, I would set personal glory aside so that the team might flourish. And my - have they not flourished?! (Eh... No? - Ed)

It has come as a refreshing change from the pressure of being the focal point, the fulcrum, the lynchpin, the Big Cheese - basically, the "Top Gadgie" of the team. The one that could be relied upon to dig the laddies out the mire when chips were down. That spark of genius. The "difference".

Sure, I could gracefully slot into any position in the team and play with drive, poise, endeavour and intelligence beyond my years. I mean, they don't call me "The Leatherman" for nothing! However, I soon realised that by taking up residence in the hallowed Full Back berth, I could provide that stable platform to allow my young charges to perform, to reach their goals, to flourish in the limelight - Just as i had. (When??!! -Ed)


Just look at former duds like Gilhooley, Jamieson, Faherty and Peterkin - would they have had such sumptuous seasons with Relentless Competitor doing his usual and bursting the onion bag every game? Dictating the tempo like some beautifully oiled metronome in human form? Whispering encouragement at that optimum moment that turned the tide in the favour of the famous Travelling Dangleberries? I'll leave that for you to decide in the heated arena of the post match pub discussion or radio phone in.

But enough about me (Promise? - Ed). In this, the year of the Olympic Games, I hand the torch of opportunity to you, my young charges, that you might one day emulate and even surpass (Oooh! Big ask! - Ed) my achievements in the realm of Schools Staff Football.

Reach out, lads! I'll be there!

Gary Sullivan

Swiss Army Champion Knife (S.A.CK.) of Football