Tom Breen

Having played for Bo'ness for 6 years in total, it is difficult to pick out the best games apart from the obvious cup finals. But there was other situations and games that I thought you might find interesting and amusing.

When I signed the first time, Ian Laurie and Dick Pollock were the coaches. We had a bad season and during the season we signed a young lad 'John Robertson'. Dick pulled me aside one training night and asked me, "Can you show Johnny how to tackle!" This was the Robbo that would run through a brick wall! I had to leave Bo'ness that year due to transport problems. What a mistake that was. The next year they went to the final! I signed again at the tail-end of season 80-81, but could only play in cup games.

The team of 81-82 was one of the best teams I had the pleasure of playing in. Though we got beat in the quarter final, the epic 4th round against Petershill hold good memories for me. Played on the 3rd January, a crowd of 4000 or so was the fourth highest in Scotland it was reported that day. I was offered a dram from the "jungle" for my new year. I also got a split lip from Graham Findlayson who after having smashed the ball against the ref, who was then lying prone on the ground. Fin was giving him hell for getting in the way as Petershill nearly scored. We were all square at the end of two games, Frankie "Doddles" Wilson missed a penalty at Petershill with six minutes to go. We had a bet on a horse and ourselves to win. However we won the third game. During that period because of the weather we were playing Scottish ties all the time and the supporters were superb.

Another game that comes to mind, not for the football but the circumstances was the Sauchie match in the Scottish. I lived in Sauchie and the locals could not believe what had descended on them that day when our fans arrived. But alas there was trouble in the ground and a few people were arrested, they broke out of the police vans and we were told that one of the fans still in handcuffs on in the pub that night being fed his pint.

The next game would have to be the semi-final at Kilmarnock. Gavin Kirkwood was our man of the match in that game. The first 20 minutes of that game he kept us alive and we gradually got back into the game. It has to be said that for me Lenny Reid did a brilliant job at half time. Lifting us up and then plotting there downfall and our supporters were brilliant as well, as they helped us along all the time. I think that's enough of my memories I could go on and on, it was a great time for all of us then.

Thanks for the memories.