Latest news with #DougieBell
Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
On The Road: Bargain buys, hidden treasure and a legend or two... all the fun of the programme fair
Since the end of the Covid pandemic and reopening of football grounds, Mail Sport has sent Hugh MacDonald 'On The Road'. During that time, he has travelled all around Scotland - and sometimes beyond - highlighting some of the inspiring tales to be found in a world that was attempting to recover from the trials and tribulations of lockdown. It has been quite the journey. Now, in the coming season, Hugh will on occasion step away from the side of the pitch to bring our readers more wonderful stories from across all sport in Scotland. Here, Hugh heads to a football programme and memorabilia fair to uncover some more gems... It has the buying buzz of a bazaar, the febrile frenzy of a fair but there are some things that cannot be bought. Dougie Bell takes a break from selling his autobiography to state without undue fuss: 'I have my Super Cup medal somewhere. I'll have a rake in my jacket.' Said jacket is hanging over a chair and Bell emerges seconds later with the medal he won when Aberdeen defeated Hamburg 2-0 on aggregate in the European Super Cup of 2003. Bell, who played for more than a dozen clubs including St Mirren and Rangers, sets it down next to a winner's medal from the night Aberdeen beat Real Madrid in the European Cup Winners' Cup final in Gothenburg. There is a moment of awe from this observer who briskly breaks the mood by dropping it, causing a hundred heads to turn to see what caused the clatter in the Hall of Fame room outside the Scottish Football Museum in Hampden. Bell, now 65, has brought the medals to show interested fans but book-selling is his duty. All proceeds go to charity and he has raised more than £25,000 for Strathcarron Hospice, who cared for his late wife, Hazel. He also has an interest in programmes and has a deeply personal cache. Injury prevented the midfielder from playing in the final but he was outstanding on the run to Gothenburg. 'I have the programme from Bayern Munich away,' he says. 'I thought I played well.' This is said with humble understatement and can be barely heard amid the hubbub raised by scores of programme buyers. They swirl round the stalls, eager to pick up pieces of paper and change them by some alchemy into prized possessions. It is an intoxicating pastime. This observer is not immune from its seductive charms. But, curiously, there is also an element of coyness from the sellers. Some items are not for sale, or at least not on this occasion. 'This is my pride and joy,' says Stuart Marshall, who once ran a memorabilia shop in Glasgow, but is now retired. He is pointing to a postcard where an etching shows a player taking a throw-in with one arm. 'It is the oldest football postcard on record, dating from 1898, and, no, it's not for sale.' Similarly, he has an invitation to a dinner to celebrate the 21st anniversary of Rangers playing the Scottish Cup final in 1877, issued by Tom Vallance, a former player. This is a prized item, as are the 1901 programmes for a Rangers athletic day during the Glasgow International exhibition. 'I have people inquiring about these but so far I don't want to sell them.' Marshall, though, has been a dealer for decades and knows that there will come a time when an offer may tempt him. Boyd Miller, who is advertising his wares just yards away, has also a Rangers interest. 'At one time I had most of the programmes from Rangers home and away in Europe,' he says. His array of goods is fascinating but he points out that there are ones he would love to have had. 'First, I was at Barcelona in 1972,' he says of the Rangers victory in the European Cup-Winners' Cup. 'They didn't do a programme but I would have loved it if they had. The holy grail is, perhaps, the one for Vorwarts in Malmo.' The East Germans, then behind the Iron Curtain, were not granted visas into Britain for the 1961 European Cup game. The home leg for Rangers was thus played in Malmo, with the game being abandoned because of fog before being played the next day. 'There were obviously incredible details around that match,' says Miller. 'But programmes for it are as rare as hens' teeth.' The more modern era of football programmes is represented by Stuart Curtis, who has travelled to Hampden from his base in the Midlands. His company has been producing programmes - including those of Aberdeen, Motherwell and, yes, Vale of Leithen - since it started 16 years ago. His staff of 13 also produce programmes for the PDC darts, rugby union and league, and snooker. He is approached by clubs and organisations and supplies them with the product they want. 'Vale of Leithen is obviously a smaller programme but we are delighted to work with them because that is what we do,' he says simply. His warehouse in the Midlands has two million programmes in stock. But that grows by anything from 3,000-5,000 a week as programmes are produced. He has a small vintage section but he deals in supplying recent programmes. 'We process about 5,000-7,000 a week,' he says. 'The Post Office has two lifts a day from our base.' The crowd inside Hampden is more interested in direct buying. 'I have been coming to these fairs for about six years and I love finding those treasures,' says Lewis Petherick, 22, who works in hospitality at Celtic Park. His employment has given him close encounters with the Celtic greats and he is particularly proud of one acquisition. 'I actually got it in the Barras,' he says. 'It was a 1963 programme of Hearts v Celtic and it is signed by most of the Lisbon Lions.' Pat McGeady, 65, leaves the fair clutching a wondrous find. It is a Third Lanark programme. He only has 600 of them and declares his latest purchase as a 'cracking bargain'. 'I have been collecting for more than 50 years,' he says. He has 4,000-5,000 items. 'I still get excited,' he says. 'It was like Christmas Day for me today.' His prized possessions at home include the Third Lanark v Rangers programme from 1947 and he has a programme for every Scottish Cup final since the Second World War. McGeady, though, is still on the hunt. 'I want a programme from the Third Lanark game against Airdrie in the League Cup of 1964-65. There are thought to be only 10 still in existence,' he says. Dealers and buyers are given a warm welcome at the door. Jim Thomson, 52, the organiser of the fair, has a passion for bringing his fellow devotees to the tables groaning with delights. Thomson collects Stirling Albion programmes principally and those of European Cup finals pre-1970. He also sold the Binos programme as a kid and talks delightedly of his favourite side being the first UK team to tour Japan in 1966. His favoured programme is one from 1939 involving St Bernard's and King's Park, the latter being the precursor to Stirling Albion. He now takes the programme fairs all over the country. 'My collection was up in the loft and when Covid came along I went up with my two boys to sort them out. We basically just spent days flicking through them. My interest was rekindled and now I organise the fairs.' He adds: 'Every football fan is a collector, though some will not realise it. But every fan has an old scarf, an old football programme or a ticket stub or something to remind them of a particular match.' Frank Coulson has no need for anything to recall the events of October 23, 1971. It was the day that Partick Thistle beat Celtic 4-1 in the League Cup final with Coulson at centre-forward. I point him towards a programme of that match and he says with a smile: 'I think I have one.' He has shimmied in with Jim McSherry, Kilmarnock legend and raconteur extraordinaire, who prompts his mate to tell an appropriate story. 'I was at a football fair in Belfast,' says Coulson. 'I saw this yellow and red strip and went to investigate. I saw from the badge it was from a testimonial I played in. The dealer was wanting £650 quid for it so my interest was limited. He then turned the shirt around. Then I saw the No.8. 'I told the dealer, 'That's the shirt I wore. Do you want me to sign it?'' He said: 'No'.' Coulson bursts into laughter. There are some things that money can't buy. But there are also good offers that can be refused.
Edinburgh Reporter
20-06-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
Edinburgh company in with a chance of four awards
An Edinburgh-based company is hoping to continue a successful year after being shortlisted in four categories at the Regional Energy Efficiency Awards 2025. The Edinburgh Boiler Company (EBC) which is based in Dalkeith, has been nominated for Boiler Installer of the Year, Solar Installer of the Year, ASHP Installer of the Year and Director of the Year. The awards, which recognise best practice within the industry, are open to anyone involved in the energy saving and efficiency sector in Scotland, with judges looking for demonstrable skills, expertise and quality of service from nominees. Winners will be announced at a ceremony in Glasgow later this month. EBC managing director Dougie Bell said: 'We have a strong team at the Edinburgh Boiler Company and it's fantastic to see their work recognised with these nominations. 'We made a conscious effort to pivot into renewables a couple of years ago and this kind of recognition validates what was an important transition for us. 'To be up for four awards is fantastic – good luck to everyone else who has been nominated.' A spokesman for the Energy Efficiency Awards, said: 'In 2025 we continue to recognise the great innovators and achievements in our industry. 'It is vital to save energy and in doing so help the environment and drive down our energy bills and it is our award winners and nominees who are at the sharp end setting out to achieve this. 'They have often been the unsung heroes of our industry and our regional and national awards events give them the voice and recognition they deserve.' The move into solar and heat pump installations helped EBC post a record turnover of £7.2m in its latest set of financial results, with sales up 60% on the previous 12 months. The company also gained national recognition towards the end of last year when it was named Building Services Contractor of the Year at the H&V News Awards 2024. Like this: Like Related
Scotsman
11-06-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
City boiler firm nominated for four awards
The Edinburgh Boiler Company (EBC) is hoping to continue a successful year after being shortlisted in four categories at the prestigious Regional Energy Efficiency Awards 2025. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The firm, which is based in Dalkeith, has been nominated for Boiler Installer of the Year, Solar Installer of the Year, ASHP Installer of the Year and Director of the Year. The awards, which recognise best practice within the industry, are open to anyone involved in the energy saving and efficiency sector in Scotland, with judges looking for demonstrable skills, expertise and quality of service from nominees. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Winners will be announced at a ceremony in Glasgow later this month. Shortlisted: Dougie Bell. EBC managing director Dougie Bell said: 'We have a strong team at the Edinburgh Boiler Company and it's fantastic to see their work recognised with these nominations. 'We made a conscious effort to pivot into renewables a couple of years ago and this kind of recognition validates what was an important transition for us. 'To be up for four awards is fantastic – good luck to everyone else who has been nominated.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A spokesman for the Energy Efficiency Awards, said: 'In 2025 we continue to recognise the great innovators and achievements in our industry. 'It is vital to save energy and in doing so help the environment and drive down our energy bills and it is our award winners and nominees who are at the sharp end setting out to achieve this. 'They have often been the unsung heroes of our industry and our regional and national awards events give them the voice and recognition they deserve.' The move into solar and heat pump installations helped EBC post a record turnover of £7.2m in its latest set of financial results, with sales up 60% on the previous 12 months. The company also gained national recognition towards the end of last year when it was named Building Services Contractor of the Year at the H&V News Awards 2024.
Scotsman
20-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
EBC sets sights on £10m revenue after record turnover
The Edinburgh Boiler Company (EBC) has reported a record turnover of £7.2 million after a successful transition into the renewables sector. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The firm's latest set of financial results for the year ended 31 March 2025 shows sales up 60 per cent on the previous 12 months' figure of £4.6m. The company is targeting continued growth with a £10m turnover in the coming year. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A strategic move into sustainable energy provided the platform for the strong performance, with £2.7m of the reported growth coming from solar panel and heat pump installations, while inclusion on the Warmworks framework for the Scottish Government's Heat in Buildings Scotland National Scheme was also a major factor. Success: EBC. Staffing levels have also risen significantly, the recruitment of electricians, gas engineers, roofers and admin staff seeing the head count sit at 53, up 20 per cent on the previous year. Dougie Bell was appointed as managing director 15 months ago, the promotion seeing founder Mark Glasgow move into the role of chairman, with the new structure working well for the company which was named Building Services Contractor of the Year at the 2024 H&V News Awards in December. 'I'm proud of the way the company has grown,' said Bell. 'It is how myself and Mark saw things progressing but we have probably exceeded expectations. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Our growth has come from the new avenues Mark and I identified a couple of years ago as we looked at not only future-proofing EBC but growing the business through solar, heat pumps and contracts. Growth. Dougie Bell (l) with Mark Glasgow. 'The big transition was towards the end of 2023 so the first full financial year including the renewables was from April 2024 to March 2025. We knew we had to move into this area and are very pleased with the response from the team and how everyone has adapted. 'We have good people working in each department. We have been recruiting local people who care about the business and they have done well coming into a new and growing industry and all credit to them for their commitment to make this work. 'Plus, we are managing to hold our own in the boiler market. Even though it is in a decline, we are managing to outweigh market trends.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Chairman Mark Glasgow said: 'Dougie has done an amazing job since taking on the role of managing director. We are growing with the right people with him at the helm. We are not sitting around patting each other on the back, though. The focus now is how we move from a seven-figure business to an eight-figure business. Our challenge for the next 12 months is to hit the £10m turnover mark. 'Key to that will be our recent inclusion on the Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA) framework as well as our plans to expand across Scotland. We have a lot of business in the central belt but want to expand further afield to offer other areas the level of service we are renowned for.'
Edinburgh Reporter
27-04-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
Edinburgh company's contract success
The Edinburgh Boiler Company (EBC) has secured the possibility of future business with appointment to a government scheme. The company has been appointed to the Scottish Procurement Alliance's (SPA) Retrofit and Decarbonisation (N9) framework, ensuring it will be considered for publicly funded contracts in the next few years. The new public sector framework – worth an estimated £120 million in Scotland – was developed by the LHC Procurement Group (LHCPG) and runs until the end of February 2028. N9 aims to drive Scotland's transition to net zero and also addresses the country's green skills shortage while creating wider economic opportunities for organisations of all sizes. Appointed firms such as EBC can expect to drive significant energy upgrades in public sector buildings, including schools, hospitals, social housing, and community spaces. EBC has been appointed to Lot 15 Domestic Renewables Space Heating Systems, which focuses on the design, selection, installation and commissioning of a range of renewable energy-based domestic systems for central heating, hot water, and other related applications. Typically, this will be air source heat pump and ground source heat pump systems. Edinburgh's boiler and renewable energy installer also came through a rigorous evaluation process to be appointed to Lot 22 Solar PV and Battery Storage. This covers the design, selection, installation and commissioning of a range of solar PV and electrical energy storage systems (EESS). EBC managing director Dougie Bell said: 'It was a tough and very competitive tendering process and I'm proud that we have been recognised as an approved supplier for this major framework. 'Our inclusion underlines to myself and the rest of the team, that the hard work and commitment we all put in to make the business successful is having tangible results. This will hopefully open up more opportunities for EBC to support more communities across Scotland.' Lesley Anderson, SPA regional director, said: 'Addressing the green skills gap is going to be vital in supporting Scotland's energy transition. With an ageing workforce and a shortage of skilled professionals, the demand for green skills far exceeds the current supply. 'That's why we've pledged to invest a portion of the income generated through the N9 Framework into organisations that are innovating and training the next generation of green-skilled workers, ensuring the sector is equipped to meet both current and future challenges. This framework will not only deliver high-quality retrofit solutions, but it will invest in organisations that are nurturing the next generation of green talent, ensuring long-term sustainability for our partners and communities.' This is the second major framework success for EBC in recent years, after the company winning a place on the £728m Warmworks framework in 2023. This delivers The Scottish Government's Heat in Buildings Scotland National Scheme. The scheme aims to help households manage rising energy costs by improving energy efficiency. EBC's involvement allows them to install air source heat pumps, solar PV and battery storage in eligible homes, funded by The Scottish Government. Like this: Like Related
