Website designed and maintained by Jim Dick

125 years of football Penicuik Athletic, established in 1888, celebrate 125 years of football in 2013.

To mark this prestigious milestone, the Club held a 125 celebration dinner in the Shottstown Miners Social Welfare Club on 7th September 2013. The event was a total sell out and was attended by over 180 guests and former players. Our Guest speakers, Eric Davidson (who chaired the night’s entertainmant), George McNeil and Donald Findlay QC were outstanding and had everyone roaring with laughter. There was hardly a moment when the audience were not doubled over with laughter. Thanks guys for your superb entertainment. A special award was presented by Penicuik’s oldest living player, Matt Scanlon, to Willie Hume who, through the online poll, was voted as the “Greatest Ever Penicuik Player” Leading up to the event, Penicuik Legends played on Friday 31st May 2013 against Hibs All Stars when Hibs won 0-4, and on 18th August 2013 against Hearts Legends when Hearts won 4-7 -  CLICK HERE for more details. Everyone at Penicuik Athletic would like to thank everyone for coming to the event and making it such a great success. Our thanks also go to those who generously donated all the auction prizes sold on the night to raise funds. Additionally our thanks go to Arniston Rangers for their gift celebrating Penicuik Athletic’s 125 years and to Bremner Trotter Court Catering for the excellent meal and first class service.

Guest Speakers Saturday 7th September 2013

Donald Findlay QC Britains leading Criminal Defence Advocate, Ex Rangers Vice Chairman and Unionist. Donald Findlay is one of the few remaining eccentrics in Life. Having been filmed singing rather politically incorrect songs in 1999 Donald has recently been in even greater demand on the Scottish After Dinner Circuit. He served as Rector of St Andrews University between 1993 and 1999 and is a regular contributor on current affairs on both television and radio. In 1998, Donald published his first novel, the court-room drama Three Verdicts. He brings his varied interests and colourful background to any dinner and enhances it with his quick wit and the same theatrical skills that have seen Donald Findlay become the most sought after criminal advocate in Scotland.

Eric Davidson According to the Inland Revenue Eric Davidson is one of the most sought after speakers in the country. Eric was raised in that cultural cul-de- sac, the creme de-la-skimmed milk of all Midlothian mining villages, Newtongrange. He now lives, not too far away, with his wife Jackie and two young daughters, in another Midlothian village, sunny Pathhead. His early claim to fame is that in 1989 he scored a wonderful goal for Coldstream against Albion Rovers in the 2nd round of the Scottish Cup. He does admit, however, that in those days Albion Rovers were not the powerful force in Scottish Football that they are today! Since coming to the fore in 2005, Eric has spoken at numerous sporting and corporate dinners all over the UK. That year, he was the principal speaker at the high profile Scottish Football Writers' Dinner. In 2006, along with Sam Torrance, he was the guest speaker at the Scottish Professional Golf Association Lunch and he also entertained the guests at Celtic and Scotland legend, Tommy Burns' Testimonial Dinner.

George McNeill George was born in a small mining town called Tranent which is situated around ten miles East of Edinburgh. On leaving school he studied as a Chartered Quantity Surveyor whilst at the same time playing football for Hibernian, Morton and Stirling Albion. In 1981, now in his thirties, George won the richest professional race in the world called 'The Stawell Gift' carrying a first prize of 12,000 Australian dollars together with around 40,000 dollars from the bookmakers. On retiring from top class competition, George became sprint and conditioning coach to the Hearts football club in Edinburgh. However, he still managed to compete, on occasions, in Veterans Athletics and has won British titles at 100 and 200 metres. As a frequent guest at numerous dinners, George found he had a talent for after dinner speaking and has now become one of the most popuar speakers on the circuit. He is a superb speaker with great comic timing and a marvellous collection of hilarious anecdotes, covering a wide range of topics.

Celebration Dinner

Lastly, a great big vote of thanks must go to the guys who worked so hard behind the scenes to pull together this prestigious event: Colin Watt, Willie McGinley, Jimmy Wight and Derek Wilson - well done guys - a brilliant success!