Special programme created to honour Threave Rovers stalwarts' decades of service
A special programme has been created to honour two Threave Rovers stalwarts.
Wilma and Nelson – known as Nellie – Cochrane have given the Castle Douglas club more than 100 years of service between them.
And to celebrate their incredible contribution, committee member Bobby McCleary, who has known the couple for nearly half a century, has created the souvenir programme.
In the introduction to Just Another Day at the Rovers, Bobby writes: 'Football clubs need people like Wilma and Nellie, who are prepared to put in lots of time and effort, and it is no surprise that whenever fans from all over Dumfries and Galloway talk about Threave Rovers Wilma or Nellie's names will be talked about.
'I hope these bring back happy memories to you as much as it has been for me putting it all together.'
The programme features tributes from clubs across Dumfries and Galloway, with former Threave player and manager Paul McGinley even writing a special poem.
It also looks at a number of other topics, including their wedding, Nellie and son Gary's career and some of the managers and players the club has had over the years.
Bobby, who used to live in Castle Douglas but now stays in Larkhall in Lanarkshire, said: 'I've been on the Threave committee for 15 years myself and I wanted to recognise the work they've done at the club.
'Between them they've got about 100 years of service to the club.
'I said to them back in December I was going to do a souvenir programme on their time at Threave Rovers.
'Everything has been done by text – I sent them loads of questions and they replied on bits of paper here and there.
'It's taken about six months to complete. My health hadn't been too good and it gave me something to occupy myself.
'Most of the input has been from their memories – but I've stories about them they don't know I've got!
'They've supplied me with loads of photographs and I've turned loads of photographs into stories.'
The programme, which costs £4.50 plus £2 postage, is only available through Bobby.
He can be contacted through Facebook, by emailing fergusmcc@hotmail.co.uk or calling 0774248963.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
2 days ago
- Metro
Casualty star reveals 'beautiful moment' in his life during 'tough time'
In 2024, Olly Rix's life changed when he brought a little dog called Nellie home. The actor has been playing Flynn Byron in BBC One's Casualty since March of this year. It's a busy life Olly leads working in the continuing drama and looking after young Nellie but recently, a rare day off from filming saw him take a trip to The Dogs Trust in Cardiff. Olly adores dogs, and could wait to learn more about the work the charity does. The Dogs Trust is an animal welfare charity and humane society that specialises in the well-being of dogs. It's the largest dog welfare charity in the UK and cares for over 15,000 animals each year. The charity's primary objective is to protect all dogs in the UK and elsewhere from cruelty and suffering. It focuses on the rehoming and rehabilitation of dogs who have been abandoned or given up by their owners. I'm a dog lover but I've never visited a rehoming centre before. As a result, it left me wondering if Olly's first emotion when he entered The Dogs Trust in Cardiff – a place home to unwanted dogs – was sadness. In our latest chat he reassured me that wasn't the case, as a dedicated team of people work hard to create an environment full of hope, love and celebratory moments. 'It was amazing. They talked me through the whole thing. How they work as an organisation and across the country, to how they work in that specific locality and in Cardiff', he said. 'I met various different dogs who all have different back stories, some absolutely heartbreaking, some actually oddly sort of uplifting. I met puppies who have just been born. They didn't have any kind of story but they were absolutely beautiful. 'They do so much work and it's so variable. It isn't really a sort of gut wrenchingly heartbreaking day. There's such a beautiful energy there. The people involved are just so humbling to be around. They are so selfless, and so focused on all the dogs there. It's such a tonic to the b******t of everyday life, to just go and be around some thoughtful, wonderful souls.' He smiled: 'They even named a dog after me! He was about a year old, a chocolate Labrador and they called him Olly, which was just so lovely. I got to meet him and play with him, it was a really special time. 'They just don't give up. I think what becomes so apparent so quickly is that there's a sort of uplifting nature to the entire organisation. It hits you in the face within seconds of walking in the door, because everything there, every sort of little soul there, is going to be okay. 'It's going to be a different process and a different journey for each one of them, and some of them will have a really tough time and they might have come from, you know, really horrendous circumstances, and they might need a lot of sort of medical care and intervention that will make the adoption process quite complicated. But even then, in the most extreme cases, they don't stop, they just see it through.' After spending the day at the centre, Olly headed home to look after his own furry best friend Nellie. The pooch is still young, which means Olly has recently had to battle through what everyone faces becoming owner to a new dog: sleepless nights, toilet training, and chaotic mishaps. It's certainly not easy but Olly wouldn't change it for the world. He told me that Nellie arrived in his life at a pivotal time for him, as he was 'having a bit of a tough time' and needed something to focus on. 'I think dogs can irrevocably change anybody's life', he noted. 'Little Nellie came along at a time when I was having a bit of a tough time, sort of personally and professionally, and it was just a bit of a tricky patch. It happens in life sometimes, and she came along in a moment when I needed to take my own attention away from myself, and not sort of become overly introspective or overly self centred, I suppose. It was really valuable and helped. 'So many people find that if they suffer from depression, for example, a dog is a perfect way of taking their attention into a different realm that is maybe more manageable for them. It allows them to see a bit of light in their life, and allows them to care for something external to themselves. That wasn't my situation, but it was something that I discussed with them at The Dogs Trust. A lot of people explained that they've seen that a lot.' 'My situation was different from that, but it was a similar sort of paradigm. It was all about this beautiful, innocent little life that needed me functioning to care for it. It became a really beautiful moment in my life. Despite the things going on around me, it was actually just a really pleasant, uplifting time. I'm always going to do everything I can to champion all dogs.' We're about halfway through Casualty's latest boxset Supply and Demand. As the latter half of the miniseries begins, focus will shift more onto Flynn. There's a lot of order and control when it comes to Flynn's work at Holby ED but in his personal life, things couldn't be more different. 'I think he's sort of settled within the job, but I think he's deeply, personally unsettled, which is a thread that this series begins to pull', Olly told me. Want to be the first to hear shocking EastEnders spoilers? Who's leaving Coronation Street? The latest gossip from Emmerdale? Join 10,000 soaps fans on Metro's WhatsApp Soaps community and get access to spoiler galleries, must-watch videos, and exclusive interviews. Simply click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! Don't forget to turn on notifications so you can see when we've just dropped the latest spoilers! 'His family is fractured and he's left to face that in a way that he perhaps hasn't had to before. The quiet nights at home and stuff like that. It's not long before he starts thinking actually, quiet nights at home are probably the last thing he wants, and that's when chaos ensues.' More Trending 'I think the interesting aspect of this series, as far as Flynn is concerned, is that we do a bit of a deep dive into why he is the way he is. We start to explain some of that behaviour in a way we hadn't before. He is quite abrupt and abrasive in some contexts, but we've never really explained why, aside from saying that he's come from a military background rather than a civilian background. 'But it's nice to flesh that out now and explore his emotional world as well.' View More » If you've got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us soaps@ – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Former Barcelona midfielder in hospital after dog bit his genitals MORE: My mum died after getting rabies – here's what you need to know about it MORE: Dog rescued by fire crew after being trapped down well for 11 days
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Daily Record
Dumfries and Galloway clubs pay tribute to Charlie Watson at start of new football season
Commemorations were held to honour the midfielder, who passed away aged 20 following a battle with skin cancer. Tributes were paid to Charlie Watson ahead of the start of the new football season. The midfielder passed away in June aged just 20 following a battle with skin cancer. He helped Dalbeattie Star win the South of Scotland League in 2023/24 during a loan spell from Queen of the South before spending last season with Threave Rovers. A piper led Star and Creetown out at Islecroft and a wreath was laid ahead of their South of Scotland League opener. And there was a minute's applause at Meadow Park ahead of Threave's West of Scotland League second division encounter with Blantyre Victoria. Threave boss, Danny Dunglinson, said: 'It was the first competitive game since we lost Charlie and we wanted to do something. 'We had his number four in the middle and a minute's applause. 'Blantyre brought a bunch of floors and a card down, which I thought was a touch of class from them. We didn't play them last year, they've heard about the story. 'We've always said we won't forget Charlie. He's the last thing we see as we come out the dressing room, we've got his photo printed on the wall. Star went on to win their game against Creetown 1-0 thanks to a Stevie Harkness goal with just under a quarter of an hour left. Star manager David Taylor said: 'Creetown were brilliant with their co-operation and they laid a wreath as well. 'It was a bit sombre, but once we got going it was a typical, open game. It was two teams not really wanting to lose. 'It's a good start but that's all it is and we need to try to build on it. 'There's loads to work on but loads of positives. We created some chances, it's not like it was smash and grab. 'Creetown are very well organised and leave it all on the pitch. Credit to them for that. I think we just about deserved it.' Star strengthened ahead of the game by bringing back Cammy Bryson on a loan deal after he signed for Annan Athletic. And they're hoping to boost the squad further ahead of Saturday's trip to Nithsdale Wanderers. Taylor added: 'We're happy to get Cammy back and it gives us another option. 'Hopefully this week we might add one. We won't do any more than two over the next couple of weeks. If something comes up we'd look at it but with the plan we've got, two is the maximum for now unless we get a gem. 'Historically, Nithsdale start the season well. 'I think they're trying to find their feet with Sean McKenzie being at Gretna, it's a big pair of boots to fill. 'It'll be a tough one, it's tough for anybody going up there, but we're looking forward to it.'
Daily Record
23-07-2025
- Daily Record
Threave Rovers boss targets second successive West of Scotland League promotion
Danny Dunglinson is aiming for a top three spot - even though the top eight would be promoted due to league reconstruction. Threave Rovers boss Danny Dunglinson wants a second successive promotion - but not by 'default'. The Castle Douglas side kick-off life in the second division of the West of Scotland League against Blantyre Vics on Saturday. League reconstruction means the top eight will be promoted – but Dunglinson is targeting a top three place. He said: 'The top eight goes up with the restructure but for me going up is still in the top three. 'That would get you up any season, this season is a one-off and we don't want to go up through default in seventh or eighth, we want to be pushing for the top three. 'I don't see why we can't make that if we start well and apply ourselves. 'The year we've had as this group and as a management team in the third division will be invaluable. 'Even though I've played in the West, I was taken a bit by surprise and was perhaps a bit naive with the way I wanted to play. 'The boys have seen the West is a hard league and have been playing against big, strong men who have played at a good level. 'I hope that lets us kick on this season and push at the top end. 'We've always felt the third division was more of a battle. The higher you go there's more structure and more football played. 'When it's a football game, we feel confident we can play anyone in the West but having to adapt to the physical side was where we struggled. 'We've adapted to the physical side and now we've stepped up a bit more football might be played.' Threave finished their pre-season preparations with a 2-1 win over Penrith on Saturday. And Dunglinson is pleased with how things have gone over the summer - even though he admitted results are irrelevant. He said: 'It's nice to get into the habit of winning games and creating momentum. 'We've had four good results. Performance wise there's been some good points, although I wouldn't say we've played well for 90 minutes over one game. 'It's given us stuff to work on and I'd rather we had stuff to work on than a perfect pre-season then you get to the first game and things start to go wrong. 'I feel we're stronger than last year. We've added four or five and only lost one. With no disrespect to the under-20s who came in at times last season, I feel the quality is up. 'At times last year we were a bit short and when boys were missing there weren't as many options to change it. This year, with a bigger squad I feel if one or two are missing we're equally as strong.' Like Threave, Saturday's visitors to Meadow Park Blantyre Vics are new to the second division - having been relegated last year. Dunglinson added: 'From what I'm hearing, they'll feel they should be there or there abouts. They've put a bit of money towards getting back up – I think they only won three games last season but it's a totally new squad so you can't read too much into that. 'From speaking to people in and around the league, every team says their aim is to go up. It's a unique opportunity with eight going up and I think it'll take until Christmas to see who is pushing for the top three or four and who is down in ninth or 10th. 'It's a strange one as it's a totally new league for us and they probably don't know a lot more about us. It's maybe a good thing as we won't go in underestimating teams.'
