We had a quick chat with former player, current coach and committee member Alan "Lenny" McLean on what it's like to play at the National Stadium and Gogos fortunes in our last outing to Murrayfield
It’s been a number of years since the club last made it to Murrayfield and I imagine the majority of the current playing squad were not yet born when you and your teammates took to the pitch. Can you tell us about the fixture and how the Gogos got on?
I had retired from playing at the end of the previous season but Willie Fletcher (who came over from NZ and I think had played against the Lions back home, and was the brother of our Coach, Shane Fletcher) got sent off the week before and was banned from the final. We were short of hookers as a result, so I got to sit on the bench. Anyway, we were up against Jed Forrest in the final. We were in old Division 3 and they were Division 2 at the time, so we did really well to get there. The Shield Final as it was then, was a good competitive game and we acquitted ourselves very well given we were a league apart. I think we lost something like 26-13 but with less than about 10 mins to go, we scored a try under the posts, but the ref was unsighted and didn’t see our scrum half Todd Paterson touch the ball down. Video screens had just newly been installed at Murrayfield and all the crowd could see it was a score but alas the ref didn’t nor was there any use of technology in those days. It would have brought us within one score with only a few minutes left and who knows what may have happened but that’s the way it goes and well done to Jed. I got on for the final twenty minutes or so and running out at Murrayfield was a truly great and very special way for me to end my rugby career.
A cup final at the national stadium will about as big as it gets for any amateur rugby club in Scotland. Is there an extra bit of adrenaline during the pre match routine when you are getting yourself changed and warmed up?
Of course. It’s a winner takes all situation and getting your hands on a trophy is a big thing for a club and a club player. Playing at the National Stadium is also a huge occasion particularly for an amateur club player. It doesn’t get any better. I think the trick for the coaches is to try and make the build up the same as any other game but inevitably, it just can’t be like that and no doubt the adrenaline levels are much higher. The trick for the players is not to let the emotion of the occasion cloud their judgement.
Running out on the pitch in front of a healthy Murrayfield crowd must be a fantastic experience. Do you get a chance to soak it all in or are you purely focused on the upcoming 80 minutes?
It really was a huge thrill for me. I love my rugby and the chance to play at Murrayfield was just fantastic. I think you really should take some time to soak it up and enjoy the moment but that is difficult when your focus is on trying to win a cup. I really tried to enjoy, as much as I could, the whole day.
The league campaign has been a huge success for the 1st XV this season. How do they look to take that form into a final like this with a potential league and cup double up for grabs?
This season has been a huge success for the Club and huge credit for that must go to Mo and Bevis, who create the right atmosphere and are the heartbeat of the club. Ultimately we have had a great group of players too, who have delivered time and again. I think the thing the guys have got to remember is to play the same way we have played all season. It took us to a league title and to a Cup Final, so I am sure that if we play the way we have played all season the result in the final will look after itself.
There looks to be a strong Gordonian support down on Saturday. As a committee member and club supporters yourself how excited are you for kick off on Saturday?
To be honest, I am excited watching the Club every time they play but this will be another level. As coaches, we absolutely put our trust in the players and I am sure that if we don’t move away from the way we have played all season, then we will get the result we deserve. Bring it on!
If you had any final words of wisdom for the guys taking to the field this weekend what would they be?
“keep the heid”, enjoy the occasion, play to your potential and sure that the Cup will come north! All the very best lads!
