The sun beams down on Dalry, casting a vibrant palette of colors across North Ayrshire, featuring shades of orange and red. It’s a day marked by memories of past sporting successes and anticipation for an upcoming cup match.
An Orange parade winds through Merksworth Park, punctuated by blue flares, as Dalry Thistle faces off against Tranent, a team from higher divisions in the football pyramid, in a South Cup tie. The atmosphere is lively and electric.
There’s another layer of excitement due to a local star. Ben Doak, who hails from this area and once played for Dalry Thistle, is in the middle of a significant £25million transfer from Liverpool to Bournemouth. ‘That kind of money could sustain this club for several seasons,’ jokes a committee member, humorously acknowledging the vast sums involved in top-tier transfers.
Evan Fairns, who juggles the roles of secretary, treasurer, and social organizer at the club, also coached the youth team at both the club and the local primary school. He performs his routine matchday tasks with enthusiasm, but he takes a moment to reminisce about nurturing future stars.
‘I coached Ben Doak from the age of under-sevens until he moved to academy football at under-10s,’ he recalls. ‘Our primary school team was quite outstanding, winning the Scottish Cup with Ben as part of it, alongside Lewis Reid, now at Stranraer, and a few others who progressed to academy levels.’
Dalry Thistle put the pressure on as they attempt a spirited second-half comeback
Scotland star Doak came through the ranks at Dalry before moving on to Celtic and Liverpool
The 19-year-old is on the brink of a mega-money move to Premier League side Bournemouth
So how was the £25m man as a boy?
Fairns reflects, ‘Ben was a bit unpolished at first, but his remarkable strength and determination were evident even then. He was a goal-scorer, playing against older boys without any fear.’
Chris Wilson, manager at Thistle, has another memory of Doak, who moved from Celtic to Liverpool in 2022.
‘He comes to games when he is not playing and always gives me a bit of abuse,’ he says with a smile.
Wilson, who is now in his fifth season at Thistle, had to be active in the transfer market when he arrived. ‘I had one player, a goalkeeper, when I came,’ he says. He brought a group of players from Beith Under-20s, whom Wilson coached, and has adhered to a policy of playing youngsters ever since.
‘We have one player over 25 in today’s team,’ he says. ‘At first, I was dragging players out of pubs to play but now we have talent.’ This is evident as the match progresses, Dalry playing with growing assurance after going three goals behind at half-time.
Doak, bottom right, pictured during a youth tournament playing for boys’ club Dalry Rovers
Dalry coach Chris Wilson was sent off after being unimpressed with the referee in the first half
Wilson is not on the sideline for the second-half resurgence. The flash of a red card from a pernickety ref sends him to the stand.
It is a red-letter day for Bruce Walker. Dalry Thistle was the final destination on a remarkable odyssey. ‘I have now completed the 270 grounds in the pyramid,’ says the 61-year-old retired financial adviser.
‘It has actually been 290 grounds that I have visited in this project because over the years some teams and grounds have come and gone,’ he says. ‘This is the last one. I have missed it in the past because of some postponements.’
So what prompted this extraordinary series of journeys? ‘I like small football grounds and I like the quality of football you get here,’ he says. ‘It is genuine, it’s passionate, you are not worried about VAR spoiling your enjoyment. It takes you all over the country and you meet some great people.’
His first visit to a football ground was in 1969 when he went to Elgin City. His grandfather was president at the club and unwittingly lit a fuse.
‘I first did all 42 SPFL grounds and then went to the Lowland League. I then thought: “Why don’t I do the Highland League”.’ The East of Scotland and the West of Scotland leagues inevitably followed.
The first half was a bit of a shambles for the hosts as the Lowland League visitors impressed
Evan Fairns used to coach Doak as he was emerging as a young player in the town
He travels by bus and train from his home in Dunfermline every week. Asked what he considers the best ground, he replies: ‘That is impossible to answer but I will give you a few favourites: Linlithgow Rose, Elgin City, Pollok, Lesmahagow, which sits down in a wee bowl…’
He adds: ‘My best day out was to Dyce. They are so friendly, so welcoming. I would recommend Kello Rovers too. It sits in a lovely former mining village. But it is hard to say one club or ground is better than the other. I have just enjoyed it all.’
He has told many of the stories of life in the lower league in his book, *Pitches and Pies*. Another chronicle is about to be published. ‘I love to support football at this level because it is full of good people who work hard to keep the clubs alive,’ he says.
He will now turn his attention to other countries. He fancies a trip to Northern Ireland and may venture into England. ‘I will be a match-hopper rather than a ground-hopper,’ he says. ‘I fancy going to Scandinavia more too. I have been to Tromso and Bergen in Norway so I may do more of that.’
He adds: ‘But right now I am heading for a pie.’
Bruce Walker’s visit to Merksworth brought up his 290th ground on his Scottish football travels
Tranent are an established side in Scotland’s fifth tier but were made to fight for their victory
The worthies gather in front of the stall with stories to tell of Dalry and the flourishing of the Thistle.
Jim Gorman, 83, remembers attending his first match as a child more than 70 years ago by using an unusual entrance. ‘We always just crawled through a hole in the hedge,’ he says. He was once the first aid man at the club and now helps out in a variety of roles.
‘This club has been my life,’ he says simply. ‘I was born in Merksworth Avenue, just down the road. I now live 300 yards from the ground. I just help out as much as I can.’
He says Jim Leighton was the best player he has seen at the club. ‘We sold him for £200 to Aberdeen,’ he adds of the great goalkeeper’s transfer in 1997.
Robert Barr, 78, interjects: ‘Norrie Martin, who went on to play in goal for Rangers, and Pat Liney who did the same at Dundee, both played here. We always produce good goalkeepers. They get plenty of practice.’
He adds: ‘Norrie was in goal when I came here at 11. I have stayed ever since though I don’t do away matches as much nowadays as I am not as fit as I once was.’
Dalry have a rich history of goalkeeping talent, with Jim Leighton one of many to have starred for Thistle
Merksworth Park played host to an Orange Walk before the game
Barr was a councillor in Dalry and depute leader of North Ayrshire Council. The town is his specialist subject and he conducts walking tours and gives talks on local historical matters.
Has he a favourite tale of the town? ‘I have so many,’ he says. ‘But how about this? In 1889, a farmer called Craig walked his prized Clydesdale stallion from here to a show in Bellahouston in Glasgow. He sold it for £1,000. That was so much money that he bought a farm in Essex with it.’
Now there’s a transfer story, told in the Ayrshire sunshine and putting modern football deals in the shade.
