GlasgowCelticChampions
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- Apr 7, 2012
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My name's Peter Rose-Williams. I don't really have much going in life. On benefits, 3 children i can't feed or clothe. A rough upbringing in Coatbridge, a small town 10 miles outside Glasgow. With a single parent has affected me greatly in life. As a youngster i watched my mother being beaten up by a drunken and drugged up father. Who is now dead incidently. The shock images still remain in my head to this day, it was 15 years ago now but it's like a huge scar running from head to toe. I got into a lot of bother as a youngster also, smoking hash since I was 11, Getting steaming since I was 10. I was often brought home to my one bedroomed flat by the police after a good night out in some park. Iv'e been in jail for theft, breach of the peace, drunk and disorderly, driving under the influence. I have spent about a year of my life in jail if you add it all up. I'm a shambles of a human being, as my grandparents would say. They had an influence on me when i was younger also. Every time i'd stay over they would both be hammered and would start fights with neighbours and between themselves. It's a pity you can't choose your family.
One thing that did keep me out of bother was the game the whole of Scotland loves, Football. I was pretty decent, I had trials with a few pro youth (academy) clubs in my mid teen years. But turning up stoned or hammered didn't get me anywhere, At Celtic, I managed to get a 6 month trial at under 16 level. One day, i turned up hammered. And the coach new straight away what I had been up too. He made me sleep it off in his car while the others trained, After maybe 3 hours or so when i had sobered up. He ordered me to catch up with my team mates and go into the changing room, after a discussion about the next match's tactics. He let the others leave, but told me to stay behind. He shut the door. And sat down. He sighed, and looked at me with a very serious and angry face. I had known him to be so calm, collected, gentle. This was a side i had never seen to the coach before. He began speaking ...
I arrived at the pitches where the course took place, application in hand. I gave it to a guy i'd seen on the news before. I went for a quick **** before i made my way out to the pitches. In the toilet, a few familiar faces stood before me. Paul Hartley, who recently got the Alloa job, Barry Nicholson, who plays down south somewhere, and David Barron, A St. Mirren player, who i'd played with at Celtic. They looked bemused as to why a rough looking drunk was in the same lavatory as them, a quick hello and i nipped out as soon as i could. I was assigned to a group of under 17's. Garnlack Athletic their name was. A really talented bunch. Before i even got the training underway. I said the same words to those boys as Tommy Burns said to me at their age. The talk was over and it was time to get business underway. I started them off with a slight warm up, and got the basic stretches out of the way. I gathered the boys in. Possession, Possession, Possession. The only words i spoke, i got a 7-a-side match going, Possession is the object of the game as well as scoring in my opinion, with a high tempo. As the course went on, the brighter my ideas got. I grew in confidence also. To pass these badges. it was up too the players. They were to give feedback on how they feel i handled myself throughout the session. I spoke to a few and they were impressed and seemed to really enjoy the session. I returned home to Coatbridge and had to wait a few weeks to hear the results, Garnlack Athletic Under 17's had my future in their hands ...
RIP Tommy Burns, My Hero!
One thing that did keep me out of bother was the game the whole of Scotland loves, Football. I was pretty decent, I had trials with a few pro youth (academy) clubs in my mid teen years. But turning up stoned or hammered didn't get me anywhere, At Celtic, I managed to get a 6 month trial at under 16 level. One day, i turned up hammered. And the coach new straight away what I had been up too. He made me sleep it off in his car while the others trained, After maybe 3 hours or so when i had sobered up. He ordered me to catch up with my team mates and go into the changing room, after a discussion about the next match's tactics. He let the others leave, but told me to stay behind. He shut the door. And sat down. He sighed, and looked at me with a very serious and angry face. I had known him to be so calm, collected, gentle. This was a side i had never seen to the coach before. He began speaking ...
Look, Son. How dare, How ******* dare you come to training in such a state. It's absolutely ridiculous. I'm really disappointed Peter, I thought you were a lot better than that. If you want to make it in this game, all of this has to stop, the booze, the hash, the all night partying. It's just something you can't do. You remind me of myself when i was your age, thats all i was interested in. Getting pished and getting my hole. But a man, named Jock. Had a word with me, and it changed it my life forever. My faith, and my outlook on life. How do you think i got to where i did son? Eh?, If you do this again, i'll kick yer wee baws n through ye oot the team, awryt. I'll see ye on Sunday son, Get a good couple of days rest. I was speechless. Thanks Tommy. Where my only words.
That was the wake up call. I stopped all the booze, the hash, the parties. Immediately. In school, I got my head down and started to learn a few things. Despite the fact i was never very clever in the first place, I put in a reasonable effort. I'm so thankful to Mr Burns for that. When i was 21, He passed away after a long battle with skin cancer, which finally got the better of him. My hero, My inspiration. I was never good enough for Celtic, but he showed me the way to live life in a proper manner. I couldn't handle it, him being gone, that's when the booze, the hash. All of that re-entered my life in a flash. I found myself lying in bins in Lidl carparks. Alleys in Alloa. Booze had ****** me once again. It was my only friend, it took away the pain, it drowned my sorrows. I couldn't handle being a failure. Flashbacks of that talk with Tommy suddenly skelped me. What the **** was i thinking, i had let him down. I was an idiot, who blamed his unfortunate wellbeing on a hard childhood. I had to sort myself out, Football was the only thing I knew in life. I could use this to my advantage, a scout, a coach, or even a manager.
This was it, no more booze or drugs. EVER. My life had to be sorted out, and fast. That very moment the thoughts crossed my mind, i dashed out the front door. Heading towards the internet cafe across the road. I googled. Coaching courses in Scotland. And the top link, was for Largs coaching courses. This is where Villas Boas, Neil Lennon, Ally McCoist had all gained their badges. I printed an application form, and at the cost of 2 weeks benefits. I was about to fulfill my dream. The day came, I got a bus up to Largs, i had never been out of Glasgow before, Scotland has such amazing scenery, Already i was appreciating life much more.
This was it, no more booze or drugs. EVER. My life had to be sorted out, and fast. That very moment the thoughts crossed my mind, i dashed out the front door. Heading towards the internet cafe across the road. I googled. Coaching courses in Scotland. And the top link, was for Largs coaching courses. This is where Villas Boas, Neil Lennon, Ally McCoist had all gained their badges. I printed an application form, and at the cost of 2 weeks benefits. I was about to fulfill my dream. The day came, I got a bus up to Largs, i had never been out of Glasgow before, Scotland has such amazing scenery, Already i was appreciating life much more.
I arrived at the pitches where the course took place, application in hand. I gave it to a guy i'd seen on the news before. I went for a quick **** before i made my way out to the pitches. In the toilet, a few familiar faces stood before me. Paul Hartley, who recently got the Alloa job, Barry Nicholson, who plays down south somewhere, and David Barron, A St. Mirren player, who i'd played with at Celtic. They looked bemused as to why a rough looking drunk was in the same lavatory as them, a quick hello and i nipped out as soon as i could. I was assigned to a group of under 17's. Garnlack Athletic their name was. A really talented bunch. Before i even got the training underway. I said the same words to those boys as Tommy Burns said to me at their age. The talk was over and it was time to get business underway. I started them off with a slight warm up, and got the basic stretches out of the way. I gathered the boys in. Possession, Possession, Possession. The only words i spoke, i got a 7-a-side match going, Possession is the object of the game as well as scoring in my opinion, with a high tempo. As the course went on, the brighter my ideas got. I grew in confidence also. To pass these badges. it was up too the players. They were to give feedback on how they feel i handled myself throughout the session. I spoke to a few and they were impressed and seemed to really enjoy the session. I returned home to Coatbridge and had to wait a few weeks to hear the results, Garnlack Athletic Under 17's had my future in their hands ...
RIP Tommy Burns, My Hero!
