Border Telegraph | Sport | Borderers must work together

Friday, 5th December, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 7th November, 2007 12:30

Borderers must work together

By Atholl Innes

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GALA’S very own Andy Lawrie stepped on to the field to present the awards at the annual Ettrick and Lauderdale Sports Council ceremony on Friday at Netherdale.

Lawrie, who now plays for St Johnstone after a 10-year spell at Falkirk, congratulated all the winners.

And he praised the coaches for putting some of the lesser sports on the national map.

But he also called for the Borders to pull together for the betterment of sport overall.

“I think to be a Borderer is different from growing up in the cities.

There is always a community feeling and togetherness about us in our towns,” he said.

“The improvements being made at Gala Fairydean and Selkirk FC are a prime example of a local communities coming together and moving forward.

“But when it comes to supporting other events and teams outwith our own towns, such as the Border Rievers, some say we are not as supportive.

“I think this is a part of Borders society that we need to change — the Borders must pull together and work as a unit.”

Lawrie told a packed Netherdale clubrooms: “It is great for youngsters to have a wide range of support available to them along with the sports development department and the new Athlete Support Programme.

“We have some coaches who give up a huge amount of their own time to help youngsters develop in their chosen sports.

“It’s people like this who are taking sport forward in the Borders today.

Lawrie added: “I feel kids should play a variety of sports to decide for themselves which one they like best. Sport is a great way to develop friendships that can often last a lifetime.

“But a downside is the constant pressure to get results. I think this can still be seen in grassroots sports, which I think is wrong.

“I help coach at Tweedbank with the development squad and, although it’s good to win, the most important thing for me is that the kids are improving and enjoying their football.

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