Plinths & Plaques, Statues and Graves
As with not just this but all our trails, local, national and country, we hold the view that merely recording or even putting on-line is a start but not enough. To do justice to the pioneers, as have a few clubs, even countries, to which they went, as in Scotland in the case of Tommy Donohoe and following the lead of Brazils's Bangu, Busby has too and as has SHFG again in Scotland, but also in England and Northern Ireland, there should be, both at home and elsewhere, place for more statues, golden or otherwise, restored, maintained graves, busts on plinths and if not them then plaques.
So, whilst we research and provide biographical and other details of as many of those Scots, native and Diasporan, who through deed and feet spread globally and uniquely the footballing word, we also look at where, in places from which they came or they rest, and as visual expression of our contemporary, national pride in them and those same localities, some form of physical, outdoor recognition would be both appropriate and feasible.
The Fife Coastal Trail
Fife's North Sea coast, from Burntisland north has been and remains hard industrial. And it towns and villages produced not just players in the top flight but also footballing pioneers. It is almost impossible to believe that without Kirkcaldy Arsenal would exist, its founder, David Danskin and two of its earliest players all living on the town's High Street, and there were also significant contributors to American soccer and on both coasts. The Disher boys of San Francisco left Scotland from Dysart, said Diseart.
And, on top of the simple concentration of players-of-note, the Fife Coastal Trail has the advantage of being started at either end and now, with the line into Leven opened last year, fully by train, public transport and/or car. Indeed, Leven's new station is within sight of East Fife's ground, officially in Methil, and the train to there and between Edinburgh and Perth or Dundee passes immediately behind the west stand of Kirkcaldy's Raith Rovers.
At the north end of the trail Leven with Scoonie would produce three top-flight players, Bill Imrie, Tom Collins and James Irons. All would go on to be internationals. Methil would be source of two, Buckhaven too. And of them, Bill Imrie and Frank, the elder of the O'Donnel brothers, would go on to win caps.
Then at the other end of the trail Burnisland's Bob Bonthron and Kinghorn's Bobby Frew and Bob Orrock would once more play in the top-flight with Orrock also representing his country. And between the two extremities was the port- and lino-town of Adam Smith and the Nairns, "the lang toun", extending north almost to Wemyss. It, they, were to have a profound effect on the game both abroad, with the export of technology and therefore people and footballing ideas notably but not exclusively to Eastern USA and at home with the local supply of well over a dozen stalwarts into of the game and the taking of talent from and not fully appreciated elsewhere and honing it, with no better example than Alex James.