Bill's love affair with cricket brings rewards

Bill's gong recognised a lifetime of service to the sport

A love affair with cricket that started over 50 years ago culminated in one of the East’s most recognisable cricket administrators being awarded the ICC centenary medal last summer.

Ever since Bill Polson used to take walks near Carlton’s Grange Loan ground with his parents when he was in primary school in the 1950s he has enjoyed watching, playing and being involved in cricket.

He began playing at Gillespies Primary School in the Capital and continued at Boroughmuir Senior Secondary where they played against other local state schools and other teams from around the area.

At the same time Bill joined Carlton and scored for the second XI before moving to Mitre in the late '50s to play midweek cricket and eventually on a Saturday.

Mitre had been set up in 1954 and, despite a dormant period in the 60s, were often seen playing in the Meadows for the next few years until they moved to the Inch in 1975. Throughout most of that period Bill was one of the key figures at the club and in 1979 when the East League set up a fourth division Mitre joined it. As a result Bill became the representative for that division on the East League committee and it was the beginning of 30 years of links to the local body.

Bill explained: “I was secretary of the East League from 1982 to 1986 and over the years I had begun to take an interest in youth cricket locally and the development of players. At that stage there were only East U16 and U19 teams, but in 1993 the constitution was restructured as youth cricket began to grow and I was given the post of youth convener following that.”

Indeed 1993 saw the first ever U13s district championship take place and the captain of the winning South team was one John Blain. The number of junior competitions and the importance clubs began to place on their youth sections was growing at this time too.

In 1997 Bill was appointed president of the East League and held the post for two years, doubling up with his youth convener role. He also held the president’s post in 2001-02 on an interim basis.

“It has been a pleasure seeing some of the great young players from the area come through over the years. For example, in the Scotland squad for the U19 World Cup in South Africa in 1998, six East representatives were involved - including Fraser Watts and, more recently, Ally Evans who progressed from the East U13 development side to play ODI cricket. I have also had the pleasure of working with some good people and making some fascinating contacts.”

And in 2007 Bill was involved as the Eastern Academy for the best young players in the region was established. Bill was, and still is, administrator for the academy and when he talks about the growth of it so enthusiastically then you cannot help but think he will be involved for a number of years to come. Indeed he is still president of Edinburgh South (formerly Mitre), and East League youth convener.

“I have enjoyed being involved over the years and it was a surprise - and a huge honour - to get the ICC centenary medal last summer. Now a few months on it means even more to me and I am grateful to have been recognised,” Bill said.

The ICC centenary medal highlighted the work volunteers have done in the sport and Bill was honoured along with (left to right) David Bridges (Caledonia), Mike Stanger (West), Sandy Scotland (National) and Stuart MacKay (Borders).

It may be others who grab the headlines, but it is these men who make our sport tick.