Our fan in the floodlight this month is Ronnie Pudney. A weel kent face in
Linlithgow for a long number of years and a Rose supporter by birth. Ronnie's early
claim to fame was as a founder member of the Young Yins who brought some extra
colour and noise to the Marches processions back in the early 80s. Thanks to the
efforts of Ronnie and his pals back then, young laddies of Linlithgow still feel free
to dress ridiculously for the best day of the year! Here's his take on all things Rose.
What's your earliest memory of watching the Rose?
Going through to Hampden in a Vauxhall Viva to watch the Rose play Cambuslang
Rangers in the 1974 cup final.
You used to play a bit yourself - how good were you?
Not very good... my pace was deceptive though, I was slower than I looked!
Why do you choose to watch Junior football rather than Senior football?
I used to go and watch Hibs - that might answer your question! Joking aside it’s value for money watching the Rose as
opposed to overpriced SPL games.
Have you always stood in the same part of the ground at Prestonfield?
Yes, just down from the pie hut. It’s handy for a pie, a pint and a pee!
What has been your proudest moment as a Rose fan?
It’s got to be watching them parade the cup along the High St after beating
Talbot in 2002, the party in the social club went on for two days.
And your favourite Rose game?
Beating [hammering] Bo’ness in the Junior Cup Semi final at Livingston if Carlsberg did semi finals!
Leaving the football aside, what's been your best away trip with the Rose?
I’ve had a few great days away at cup games but this year’s overnight trip to Banff was up there with the best. Young
Craig Sutherland made the weekend - if there is a more enthusiastic Rose fan out there I’ve yet to meet him.
And your best trip with the Tartan Army?
A trip to Poland for a friendly match in 2001. The game was played in a town called
Bydgoszcz which resembled a derelict Greenock! I trailed across Eastern Europe;
three flights to get there followed by four hours in a cattletruck of a train, stayed in an
extremely dodgy hotel, then the same for the return journey home. All for a 1-1 draw
in a friendly... what a time we had though.
Who has been your favourite player in your time watching the Rose?
Danny Smith - a winner, a top player and a gentleman.
Which opposition player have you most loved to hate?
Don’t know about hating a player, but I used to enjoy watching Kevin "Boomer" Gibson
playing against Paul "Oscar" Taylor. It was not so much playing against him actually,
more like playing "keepie uppie" with him. When Oscar got the ball you could see the
fear in his eyes knowing what was coming.
What's the best bit of banter you've heard at a Rose game?
A certain gentleman I stand with at the games decided it would be a bit of fun to "bait"
Dougie Todd when he went to play with Bo’ness. The said gentleman proceeded to give Toddie pelters relentlessly
during the game until Toddie’s mother, who unknown to us was standing only yards from us, came steaming along and
gave the certain gentleman a rather large piece of her mind - his face was a picture.
What's your favourite ever piece of Rose merchandise?
My Rosey Posey speckles glasses - although when you w