On the bench today, we have Morris Tonner.  Who is Morris Tonner?  I hear you ask yourselves...  What is his connection to amateur football?

In answer to the question: What do you currently do in amateur football?
Morris replied: I’m in my last season as President of the Ayrshire AFA.

But I can tell you something else.  Something behind the scenes at the Scottish Amateur Sunday Trophy and the Scottish Amateur Cup...  Morris is the man behind the programmes!

In today's on the bench he's going to tell us about some of the various roles he's had in amateur football...




G:  How long have you been President of Ayrshire AFA?

M: Six years.

G: When did you first get involved in amateur football and what were you doing?

M: I was 'conned' into being Treasurer of my local club, Crosshouse Waverley, in 1996, just to 'help them out' for a wee while. I was still helping out when unfortunately the club folded last year.

G: What amateur teams have you been involved in and in what capacity?

M: Crosshouse Waverley (Treasurer 1996 – 2007), Dean Thistle 2007 – 2008 (I’m the Committee member who’s got the thankless job of collecting money from the squad every week, a job I also did at Crosshouse where it was just as thankless!)

G: Do you feel the amateur football scene has changed since you first became involved with it?

M: Running clubs has become more difficult. Raising the money to do it is harder. But fundamentally things haven’t changed all that much.

G: Do you have a favourite amateur team and why is it your favourite?

M: I will have to say Dean Thistle or get lynched! Seriously though, when Crosshouse folded I felt it would be difficult to feel 'comfortable' at another club. I was wrong. I couldn’t have been made more welcome than I was at Dean and I’m very grateful to the Club for that. We have a good bunch of players and a hard working Committee and we even manage to get a laugh now and then. You can’t ask for much more.

G: What’s your most memorable moment in amateur football?

M: That’s a difficult one! Several I suppose. Crosshouse winning promotion to our Premier League would probably top my list. It certainly was my excuse for one of my worst ever hangovers.

G: What do you think about the quality of amateur football?

M: Enormously variable! That is inevitable in a genuinely grass-roots sport. But there are just as many fine players today as in the past (and, I suppose, just as many honest triers!)

G: Which team provided the best post-match hospitality? (who served the best pies?)

M: Crosshouse played an Aberdeenshire team in the Scottish Cup a few years ago. Newmachar, I think. Forget the pies, it was virtually a banquet back at their pub! It softened the blow of having to find about £500 for the bus hire. And we won the match too!

G: What was the last game you watched?

M: The West of Scotland Cup Final between Eastfield and Drumchapel United.

G: What was the last game you played in?

M: Hold on a minute, I’m on the pension. My memory is not THAT good!

G: If you had 3 wishes, what would you change about Scottish amateur football?

M: (1) I think we have to seriously consider a winter shutdown, though I know it would not be easy; (2) I’d like to see a bit more tolerance shown to referees, the vast majority of whom are trying hard to make the right decisions! (3) I’d like a new SAFA rule that says that an Ayrshire club has to win the Scottish at least every second season!!

G: What do you think about summer football?

M: It would bring its own problems but if future winters are going to be anything like the one we’ve just had, we will need to at least consider a change.

G: Have you any views about the relationship of the professional game to the amateur game?

M: Many of us at local level have good relationships with both senior and Junior colleagues. I do feel, however, that the national administrators (also known as the SFA!) show little understanding of the amateur game.

G: What do you think the future holds for Scottish amateur football?

M: It’s up to all of us to make the future what we want it to be. Amateur football will always be the foundations of the game and I don’t think our youngsters will ever stop wanting to play. We have to keep trying to get better facilities for them and for the even greater numbers who enjoy watching them play. I don’t see any reason to fear the future.

G: Have you any views on superleagues?  Do you think they are a good idea?

M: Many of my colleagues in the SAFA will already be tired of hearing my views on this one! I believe it is much more important to ensure that every small community which wants an amateur club can have one. Some of the best people working hardest in amateur football are the folk running or playing for their local village team simply because they love doing so. They don’t expect to win cups and medals and by and large they don’t see that as a problem. The very term 'Superleague' has an air of elitism about it and I don’t subscribe to it. I don’t believe many of the Ayrshire clubs do either.

G: What do you think about Community Hubs (NB not Community Clubs)?

M: Hmmmm….well, we once had a pub in Kilmarnock called The Hub. If they want one in every community that’s OK with me.

G: Have you any comments on grounds and facilities?

M: Yes, but too many to spout here. Toon councils….nuff said.

G: Do you think there is adequate provision of development courses & funding for them?

M: Of course not. And until the SFA gets its finger out I don’t think we’ll get it. I know some people (like SAFA President Gus Mackay) are working hard on this and I wish them well.

G: What do you think about the SAFA Select team – how do you think it could be developed?

M: Oh dear, what a lousy time to ask me that one. I’m going to pass on it and simply say I have every confidence in my good friends Bob Lamberton and Hugh Carswell.

G: Are there any other comments you would like to make?

M: A couple. Firstly to say how much improved the web site is, keep up the good work. Secondly to thank you for asking me to take part, though I’m not sure there will be all that many who want to read the views of an old f_ _t like me. And lastly to assure (or in a very few cases, warn!) everybody that retiring from being President of the Ayrshire AFA (a position I’ve been honoured to hold and have thoroughly enjoyed (almost!) every minute doing so) does not necessarily mean that I will be disappearing never to be heard from again!



Morris, it was a pleasure to have you on the bench.  I hope you enjoy the rest of the season and hope to see you at the Cup Final on Sunday.