Happy Birthday George Black!

George Black

George Black of Stepps Hockey Club will celebrate his 90th birthday today.  George will be well known to many in hockey – he has represented Scotland on 48 occasions and Great Britain three times; he was a non-travelling reserve for the 1964 Olympics; and he has travelled the world playing hockey. George has also been a goalkeeper for Stepps Hockey Club since he was 17 years old, and still is to this day. He started out initially to play with some friends and quickly fell in love with the game. George’s dedication to Stepps, and to hockey, has seen him be with the club long enough to celebrate the clubs’ 50th, 75th and Centenary celebrations.

His time at Stepps has seen George perform many roles for the club: Secretary 1950/51 and 1952/53; President 1964/65 & 1965/66; and Captain 1962/63, 1963/64 and 1964/65. He is currently the club’s Hon. President.

In the 1980/81 season George was awarded the Robert Thistle Trophy for distinguished services to hockey; an annual award by the National Playing Fields Association. The presentation was made by a certain John Greig who was the then manager of Rangers FC.

A number of nicknames have been associated with George down the years: “Crazy Horse”, courtesy of a Dutch player on a Vets tour to Jersey; “Faither” courtesy of Peter Monaghan, and many others; “Auld Fart” courtesy of his beloved long-suffering wife, Anne; and “Purdy” courtesy of fellow member Gordon Kirkland.

George still plays for Scottish Veterans LX Hockey Club’s over-70 and over-75 squads and is also Honorary President of the West District Men, who would like to wish him a very happy 90th birthday and look forward to his continued presence and assistance around the District. Word has it that George is historically much better at badminton than hockey, so again his dedication to the sport can clearly be seen.

Scottish Hockey Company Secretary Peter Monaghan recalled: “I fondly remember a Baxter Trophy final match at Dawson Park when West District were playing against the mighty East District (favourites with so many internationalists within their ranks, as opposed to George being the only internationalist within West). A situation developed when a certain Norman Porter (Inverleith) was through with only George to beat. George took no prisoners on that occasion. This prompted an outburst from a certain Charlie Donald (ICI, Scotland & GB) to remonstrate using language the Geoffrey Chaucer would have been proud of. What was more funny, that within a few minutes the same Charlie was on a one-to-one situation with George and ended up in a resident’s garden behind the (Dawson Park, Dundee) goal. The same language was heard but it was one of respect and acceptance! George was, nevertheless, invited to Charlie’s wedding!”

George continues to inspire the younger generations, as well as the older ones, and show everyone that no matter your age you can still live life to the full and love hockey.

Happy birthday George from all at Scottish Hockey.

 

 

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