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The
Rampant Ballboy Interviews - davie ross
 Davy
Ross who was a dynamic winger in the 1970 promotion
winning side and who went on to play a further six
seasons with Cowden before joining St Johnstone
in 1976. Davy now lives in Kirkcaldy and works at
Kvaerner Oil & Gas in Methil. He is a keen golfer
who has been a single figure handicapper for over
10 years. Davy took time off from the tees at Dunnikier
Golf Club to speak to our very own hole in one expert.
Were you always destined to be a successful
footballer?
Not really. My older brother was a good
player. I spent most of my Saturdays going to watch
him play. I played football at school in Buckhaven
but didn't play for an organised side outwith school.
How did you come to the attention of The Blue
Brazil?
When I was 15 I was standing in Kennoway one Saturday
waiting for a lift to go and see my brother who
was playing for Glenrothes Juniors at that time.
A bus pulled up and a one eyed man approached me
and asked me if I fancied a game of football. He
turned out to be the manager of Kennoway United,
an under 18 team, who were short of players that
day. Some of my school mates had pointed me out
to him as I stood in the street. I told him I had
no gear with me but they fixed me up with boots
etc when we got to the match. I couldn't do anything
wrong that day and ended up scoring a few goals.
After the match the manager wouldn't let me off
the bus until I signed for the team so that's how
I ended up with Kennoway United who had two or three
other players who went on to play at least semi
professional.
Did you sign for Cowden from Kennoway United?
Yes, although I had trials with Derby County whose
manager was Brian Clough at the time. I nearly signed
for Forfar after scoring for them against Alloa,
but they had no money for a signing on fee. I was
playing for Kirkcaldy District Under 18 Select against
North East Fife at Starks Park when I was asked
by Raith to sign for them. On leaving the ground,
I was immediately approached by someone who asked
me to sign for Cowdenbeath. It turned out to be
Jock Gillard. I told Jock I had been offered £100
to sign for Raith. He instantly offered me £200
to sign for Cowden so needless to say I did and
looking back I never regretted it.
What were the most memorable games you played
for Cowden?
I'll never forget the home game when we defeated
Falkirk on the way to winning promotion. I scored
the first goal that day and I never experienced
anything like it in my career scoring before such
a huge vociferous support of 10,000 as Cowden had
that day. The game against Rangers in the League
Cup semi final was also one that will live with
me forever. It's a great pity that players in my
day and before miss out on being able to see ourselves
on video. I would love to see the whole Rangers
game again. Another game I recall was our first
game in Division One against Dundee where we lost
1-0 and I featured in the Sunday Mail "Team
Of The Day" the following day along with Denis
Jack. It was usually internationalists and the like
who appeared in this so it made me very proud. Despite
Rangers getting their inevitable penalty that never
was I take it all the players enjoyed the experience
of the semi final. We certainly did. We actually
became full time for three days in preparation for
that game. We went to Dunblane Hydro on the Monday
prior. Everyone had a great time as did I except
for my experience in the swimming pool. I couldn't
swim so Jim Taylor and Andy Kinnell had been had
been winding me up saying they were going to throw
me in the pool. Unfortunately they grabbed me when
my guard was down and threw me in the deep end.
I still to this day don't know who fished me out
but I suppose I owe my life to them. Taylor and
Kinnell apparently scampered away laughing probably
not knowing I really couldn't swim at all.
Apart from your goal against Falkirk any others
that spring to mind?
The only goal I ever scored with my right peg was
a 1-2 with Billy Bostock against Stranraer early
in my career. In fact this was probably the only
shot I ever had with my right foot. The goal against
Dunfermline at East End in 1970 will always be memorable
even though I was only about a yard out when I headed
the ball in. The most spectacular goal of all was
one I scored past Jim McArthur. I was playing a
pre season training match for the second string
Whites against the first team Blues just after joining
Cowden. Ronnie Sharp took a corner, I positioned
myself on the opposite corner of the penalty box
and hit it first time on the volley past Jim into
the top corner. It was certainly a case of "Pick
that out Jim".
What were your biggest disappointments whilst
at Central Park?
The tragic death of Billy McLaughlin was a deep
loss to me. I was very friendly with Billy and a
nicer lad you couldn't meet. Football wise it has
to be the losing out to Falkirk at Brockville in
1970 and not getting a championship medal. My most
embarrassing moment came against Celtic at Parkhead
in the 1st Division. The ball came across their
18 yard line and I ran in taking a huge swipe at
the ball with my right peg. I completely missed
it and ended up flat on my arse to the amusement
of the large crowd. I was so frustrated at having
made such a fool of myself that I later blootered
the ball into the crowd and earned the only booking
of my career.
Do you ever see any of the promotion winning
side nowadays?
I played for the 1970 side against Dundonald a few
years ago in a charity match when I met a lot of
the old faces. It was a great day despite the fact
that I was totally knackered during the game. It
had been over 10 years since I had done any football
training and it showed. The subsequent deaths of
Andy Matthew and Billy Bostock have obviously saddened
me. I had great respect for both.
When did you leave Cowdenbeath?
I left to join St Johnstone in 1976. The nucleus
of the team I had joined had gone, Andy Matthew
was away and the support was starting to dwindle
badly. The good times were over. I must admit I
got a shock at the wages St Johnstone were paying.
I had been getting £18 a week at Cowden with a bonus
of a few pounds a point. At Perth I got £50 a week
with a bonus of £25 a point. Even though they were
First Division at the time it was still good money.
I won Player Of The Year the season after I joined
Saints and the season after that I joined Forfar.
I stayed at Forfar till the end of season 79/80
when I told the manager Archie Knox I was thinking
of quitting. I had been considering this for sometime
but my decision to leave Forfar was confirmed following
an end of season trip to Canada. I had been separated
from the rest of the team on the flight home but
I was left at Prestwick Airport and had to make
my own way home so this gave me the push require
to jack it in.
Did you play for anyone else after Forfar?
The only game of football I played after leaving
Forfar was the one I mentioned earlier at Dundonald.
Since then it's been the golf course for me. I'm
still interested in football but very rarely go
and see a match. Needless to say I always look for
Cowden's result first on a Saturday. It's just a
pity that things don't seem to be happening at Central
Park any more.
We'd certainly all echo that Davy!
For the record Davy played 223 games for Cowden,
scoring 48 times. He still wears the old Cowden
socks when working at Methil and his old strip and
training kit is always ready at hand - just in case.
We're always on the lookout for Blue Brazilians
from yesteryear. If you should know of anyone who
is worthy of a mention, drop an email to webmaster@blue-brazil.co.uk
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