April 26th 2008

Gala Fairydean Centenary dinner

Chick Young... Kenny Burns... Johnny Stiles (Son of Nobby Stiles)

The centenary dinner was  held in the Volunteer hall in Galashiels on April 26th 2008 at 7.30pm. One of the guest speakers was the BBC football pundit Chick Young who is well known around the after dinner circuit.

His trademark laugh and speech patterns had the 230 people there in stitches with his take on the sport.

Chick supports St. Mirren although a recurring gag in Only an Excuse has it that he not-so-secretly supports Rangers.

 

Former  Nottingham Forest and Scotland player Kenny Burns also  appeared

Kenny Burns (born 23 September 1953 in Glasgow) is a former Scotland international footballer, most famous for his time with Nottingham Forest, where he played a vital role in their European Cup successes.

Burns started his career with Rangers as an apprentice but left for Birmingham City aged 17, in 1971. While with the Blues he was primarily a striker, and he earned the first of his 20 caps in that role in 1974. However, after joining Nottingham Forest for £150,000 in 1977, he was converted into a central defender by Brian Clough and Peter Taylor.

Burns proved a great success in his new role and was voted FWA Footballer of the Year in 1977-78, as Forest won the First Division title. He was an influential figure in the side's European Cup campaigns over the next three seasons, his defensive partnership with Larry Lloyd instrumental to Forest's victory in the 1979 and 1980 tournaments. At one time he was renowned for his 'wild man' image and while maintaining an aggressive nature, he also possessed a shrewd football brain and was always likely to score vital goals.

Burns left the City Ground in 1981 when Forest accepted a £400,000 offer from Leeds United for him. He stayed with the Yorkshire side until 1984 and he would also play with Derby County, Notts County (on loan), Barnsley and Elfsborg in the latter stages of his career.

 

 

 

Also there was former  Leeds United player and the son of World cup 1966 Legend Nobby Stiles .

Born in Manchester in 1964, John Stiles was a professional footballer, including five years with Leeds United. John will always be known as the son of  world cup winning hero Nobby Stiles.

After finishing his playing career on a high... with Doncaster Rovers John sat up his own insurance business. He the went into the football agency industry, including working for the same management company as the Spice Girls, which he is still active in now.

For the last five years John has been working as an after dinner speaker and more recently as a comedian and M.C. . John takes pride in the fact that his act is both very funny and original with a great emphasis on voices and impressions. He is also proud to say that he can cater for mixed and men only audiences.