Published: Tuesday, 1st November, 2005 10:41
Football strikes awards goals
By Border Telegraph Sport
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AS a year ago, football dominated the awards at the Ettrick and Lauderdale Sports Council ceremony on Friday night in the rugby clubrooms at Netherdale.
Falkirk full back Andy Lawrie collected the Sports Personality of the Year trophy; rising star Daniel Galbraith the Junior Personality; and Anne Hall, from Galashiels Academy, the Coach of the Year.
Swimming coach Amanda Riddell was named Junior Coach of the Year while the phenomenal success of Melrose Ladies' rugby team earned them the Team of the Year.
And at the end of the night, a surprised and emotional Tom Purves deservedly collected the SALSC/sportscotland award for Service to Local Sport.
It was a night to recognise local stars making their mark at all levels of their sport, to be followed later this month by the first ever Borders Hall of Fame when 12 people will be unveiled at the James McLean Trust dinner in Kelso.
Guest of Honour at the Netherdale awards was Great Britain and Scotland hockey stalwart Janet Jack, who told the award winners: `There's nothing quite like being involved in sport, so stick in!`
The first award of the night went to Melrose Ladies, formed 10 years ago and who survived while other clubs in the Borders folded
The team rose through all the divisions of women's rugby to win the SWRC Bowl and then Plate at Murrayfield. In the league, they average over 70 points a game and conceded none.
Their new challenge will be to be among the top four clubs in Scotland, but under a new coach after Mike Bleasdale, who guided the side to success, is now standing down.
It was appropriate that he should accept the award from MSP Jeremy Purvis at the end of such an incredible era for the players.
The presentations then moved on to the coaches, and Amanda's record and success since her early days (eight years of age) at Selkirk swimming pool earned her the junior award.
At 14, she started to coach younger swimmers and her coaching career then blossomed. Amanda transferred to Galashiels where she continued her training and has coached the Gala club for the past five years and is now head coach.
The Gala squad reached the national finals, Scottish Schools championships, Gala finished second in the Border Junior League and also in the Mini Age Group competition as well as other successes.
Amanda also coaches people with disabilities and, at their only competition, returned with four medals and accompanied the team this year to the Special Olympics, and returned with a gold and silver medal.
First of the football awards went to Anne Hall, whose Galashiels Academy side won the Team of the Year award a year ago.
Anne was unable to play football as a youngster as there were no opportunities, so she took up coaching to help the girls of today, beginning at the Academy in 1995. She went on to set up development groups, SFA centres for girls, was secretary of the Borders Schoolgirls' Association and collected the Sunday Mail award for her contribution to the game.
Now she is heavily involved in coaching girls at the Academy and in the Borders.
The second football award went to Daniel Galbraith, who at the age of 15 is making a name for himself with the round ball - and this after dad Peter played rugby for Gala.
His career began at Leithen Vale and he went on to play in the Borders Development squad for two years and was also captain of the side.
At school, he played rugby, but football was his game and he played for Hearts under-15s and is now in the under-17 squad.
He has also trained with Rangers, Chelsea and Everton - and made his debut for Scotland in the under-15 game against Belgium and has been in Wales as part of the under-16 squad.
Danny was then praised by Andy Lawrie, who has etched his own name on football.
Andy (27) also began his career in rugby, as a No. 8 for Gala Red Triangle and South Schools, but his football talent took him to Edina Hibs, Tynecastle Boys' Club, Hutchesons Vale, Hibs and then Falkirk as a YTS professional, where his 10 years' service is almost unique in football.
He made is debut in a 4-4 draw with Rangers Reserves before going on loan to East Fife and made his first team debut for Falkirk in 1996 against Aberdeen.
He is now the first choice full back at Brockville, and has scored more than 30 goals, the first against Morton in 1997.
Andy battled back to fitness after a horrendous leg break in 2002-03 and has now made over 200 appearances with a First Division title and a Bells Challenge Cup final win.
And his word for Danny: `It is a great honour for him to win an award, and it is great to see football coming through. Hopefully he can be up here in five years time getting awards after playing for Scotland with full international level.`
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