Derek Binnie

Veteran Performer

Derek Binnie has been at Boroughmuir for a good few years and is now old enough to be considered a ‘veteran’ so the third team star was given his chance to air his views recently.

You were involved in organising the tour to Belfast? How did that go?

It was a brilliant tour. I said on the bus coming back that any tour is made by the people who go on it so while the rugby is important, it’s the characters that are the focal point and we definitely had enough of them.

How did it rate against other tours?

That’s difficult but I would say it’d be very near the top though. There was the Texas tour in the early ’90s which will always be hard to beat but Belfast can definitely be considered as one of the best.

How long have you been at the club?

I started playing when I was twelve. I was at Firhill High Under18 and I decided I wanted to come down and give it a go. I had to go to Aberdeen for a while because of work but I was never able to commit the time up there and it turned out that sometimes I would try and commute down here on a Saturday to get a game so I always wanted to come back.

How long do you intend to keep playing?

It’s a tough one because there are people, Kenny Wilson for example, who retired too early and I don’t want to do that. I think I’ll keep going as long as I feel as though I can make a difference on the pitch or at least don’t completely embarrass myself every week. The safest thing to say is I’ll keep going as long as the old bones will carry me.

Have you played for any other clubs?

As I said I played in Aberdeen but whilst I been at Boroughmuir, I’ve played against Boroughmuir for Melrose, Forrester, Lismore and countless others in sevens tournaments so I think I  should say I’ll play in any game at any opportunity.

You favourite position?

Now I think my most useful position is this side of the bar but when I was younger I enjoyed playing on the wing. I played there for around three years in a successful 2^nd XV side and scored a few tries but now seeing as I’ve lost any pace that I had I’m at outside centre, seeing more of the ball and still enjoying it. 

Do you have any fond memories of the club?

The banter. When I made the jump from U-16 to senior rugby, Henry and Brian Edwards were at the club and they made it really easy and I remember many good nights at the club with them around, drinking till the early hours.

What is the highest level you have played at?

I played for the first team. I’ll always remember Bruce Hay coming into the showers after training and giving me a twenty minute talk on how to play against Gary Parker whilst I was standing there naked. As it was that game was called off on the Saturday morning but I played a few times for the firsts. I don’t base my rugby ability on skill though because I’m a very enthusiastic player and I think that has got me as far as anything else. 

Can the club continue its success of the last few years?

Definitely. I think with the development the club now has something to focus on as a whole and try to get as many people as possible involved in the club set-up. In the past I think we’ve always had tours and things like that which have focused certain sections of the club but this is a chance for us all to get together and push the side even further forward.

Who is the best player you have played with?

There are so many its difficult to pinpoint one. Possibly Davie Barr for absolute entertainment value or people like Ally Hay and Nigel Bruce who I’ve played with in the thirds so its really satisfying when you see them go on to play with the 1^st XV. The more I think about it though, the clearer it becomes. There was a guy called Brian Halliday when I started playing in the thirds all those years ago. He would run the game every time and say things like, “follow me and I’ll give you a score” when we were standing on our own 22 and he would then proceed to do so.

Any

Well Bruce Hay used to scare the hell out of me and many others. He’s calmed down a bit now but eight or nine years ago if you weren’t pulling your weight you knew about it in no uncertain terms. I would also have to point out, not as a coach, but someone who has given a hell of a lot to this club, Mike Baillie. I was lucky enough to play with Mike and he’s one of those guys who is softly spoken but has a lot of respect. 

Finally, do you have any plans to move into coaching yourself?

Too early to say. I think I’ve got a couple of years left playing yet so I’ll think about it again at that time. I know my strengths and I’m more of a trainer than a coach but if I was enjoying it then I would seriously think about it.

Simon Furnivall