FROM OLYMPIC GOLD TO YOUNG HAWKS

THE HERALD REPORTS

The Simmers clan's sporting pedigree runs deep

Neil Drysdale
Sports Journalist
Andrew Simmers is making impressive strides in Scottish youth rugby and has already booked his place on the Glasgow Pathway programme and as a member of the national under-16 camp.

Nothing unusual about that, you might suppose, until we reflect that the 15-year-old is the fourth generation of his family to exhibit notable talent with the ovoid ball. It might be in the genes, or a deep-rooted belief in the virtues of sport – but for the last century and longer, in a timeline which stretches back to the 1890s.

It is an extraordinary tale. First there was Max, one of the luminaries of the stellar Glasgow Accies line-up of the 1920s, who gained 28 consecutive caps for Scotland between 1926 and 1932; then there was Brian, who excelled at Anniesland in the 1960s and made seven international appearances, prior to becoming the driving force for the creation of Glasgow Hawks.

Next, there were his sons, Stuart and Chris, both of whom represented their home city and turned out for such ensembles as Scottish Universities and British Universities; and now, Stuart's progeny, Andrew and Steven, are preserving the union connection in the 21st century.

Yet, this story doesn't merely revolve around rugby. Brian's grandmother, Charlotte Cooper, won five Wimbledon women's singles titles, and became the first female to collect an Olympic gold medal at the 1900 Games, before relocating to Helensburgh and living until the ripe old age of 96.

Her daughter, Gwen, was married to Max and played in the Wightman Cup for Britain against the United States.

Brian's brother, Graeme, meanwhile, was the former chairman of the Scottish Sports Council and captain of the R & A golf club.

And, all the while, these eggs from the same nest have pursued a variety of challenges with the vigour of those in thrall to games. Brian, for instance, is in his 70s, but oozes with enthusiasm at the mention of rugby, golf, whatever.

"The tennis ability came to a grinding halt at my level, but we were always encouraged to participate in sport and there is something special about being part of a team and working together to be the best you can be," said the spry septuagenarian. "My father had finished his playing career by the time I came along [in 1940], but he was always involved in rugby, whether as SRU president, or a coach at Glasgow Accies, and it never occurred to me not to try to follow in his footsteps, because there was a tremendous buzz around Accies in those days.

"The 1960s team was strong and we used to attract really large crowds on Saturdays, no matter the weather or the fact that it was still an unofficial club championship until the 1970s. These things go in waves – we had some successful teams and others which didn't do quite so well – but there was a huge amount of interest in sport in Glasgow and in Scotland, and I don't believe that has disappeared. You only have to look at the Olympics and Paralympics and the fantastic achievement of Andy Murray in winning the US Open to see the potential. I was down in Southport when Andy won in New York, and people were coming up and congratulating me, as if I had anything to do with it. But it shows the ability still exists if we give it a chance."

Stuart Simmers shares many of his dad's redoubtable qualities, and he and Chris grew up surrounded by rugby, without being put off by it.

"I was a ballboy at Accies, and we would take part in bounce games, and it simply seemed a natural progression to play for the firsts, then attempt to move up from there," said Stuart, who is rightly cautious about making any grandiose claims for his own children at this formative stage in their lives.

"I played for Glasgow on a few occasions and Chris actually got a contract when the game turned professional, and he was doing well, then [former Scotland centre] John Leslie stepped off the plane [from New Zealand] and things changed. But our enthusiasm for the sport never wavered. I went on to Strathendrick and was part of their famous Scottish Cup run to the semi-finals [which included beating Gala] before we lost to Boroughmuir.

"But I'm doing some coaching now, as is Chris, and everybody mucks in to help out at the grass roots.

"Andrew's a scrum-half – this side of the Simmers family never had much height – and he is very keen on rugby. But you need a lot of help from the mothers as well and my wife, Lynn, has been a terrific supporter of me and the boys.

"I know some people have talked about a decline in standards in the west of Scotland, but there is a good amount of youthful talent and I am quietly confident that matters will improve."

Both Brian and Stuart are excited by the prospect of the 2014 Commonwealth Games coming to Glasgow. And why not? With their track record, and those of their predecessors, this Simmers' story shows no signs of going off the boil.