Portobello Basketball Club had evolved from the Portobello Old Parish Church Youth Club (POPYC) of the 1960’s. In the early 1970’s Portobello BC based itself at Portobello High School. The arrival of Toni Szifris, whose father Boris virtually founded the sport in the East of Scotland, as head of PE at Portobello High School was a catalyst for the renaissance of the club which went from strength to strength thanks to a committed youth-development policy, which nearly three decades later is still at the very heart of the club.
Left to right from back row
RODDY WATSON, ALAN PERKINS, JIM GRIERSON, JIM PATON, JOHN GRAHAM, ALAN RITCHIE, ROB ALEXANDER
KEITH WILSON, ROBERT BALD snr, GILL STEVENS, WILLIE DUDGEON, DOUGIE GRIERSON, PAT NICHOLSON.
Sadly the coach Gill Stevens and Dougie Grierson died prematurely. Jim Paton is the father of Gladiator Ali Paton while Rob (Robin) Alexander is now the session clerk of Portobello Old Parish Church, where the club was first based.
Well obviously this is the only Scottish team I’ve played for! I remember rollerblading to practice on a Saturday morning and absolutely loving playing here. From there I moved up to playing with the juniors and then I started coming along to senior practice. I don’t think I was ever invited though – I just turned up! I remember Findlay saying to me “Oh, you’re staying then?”
Absolutely. I grew up as a player and person. Not only did it allow me the opportunity to further my education, it also taught me to be more disciplined and responsible in my approach to the game and life.
I have had so much great advice! But I think being told it’s important to set individual goals during games and to realise that although losing is hard, you can make sure it doesn’t happen again by learning from your mistakes.
