Duguid’s Dalziel career ended prematurely

Nov 2 2011 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

DALZIEL stalwart Gillon Duguid has played his last game for the club after breaking a metacarpal bone in his right hand.

Gillon had already accepted a physiotherapy position in Napier, New Zealand and is due to fly out on December 28.

The centre had hoped to keep playing up until then but the hand injury has prematurely cut short his 25-year playing career at Dalziel.

A past club captain he has been a popular and committed club member on and off the field.

He has played in all positions from nine to 15 but in his 13 years in the First XV his favoured position was outside centre.

Now aged 31, he started his career aged just six playing for Dalziel’s mini-under nines and graduated through to represent the club at county and district level.

The highlight of his career however was captaining the Dalziel President’s XV and scoring the opening try of the match in front of Princess Anne at the opening of Dalziel Park in 2001.

Gillon made his league debut for the first team in September 1998 against Dunfermline but was stretchered off in the second half following a dangerous tackle.

For several years he played his First XV rugby alongside younger brothers Fraser, outside centre, and Jamie at stand-off.

In several matches the brothers finished off scoring moves between them.

Gillon also enjoyed his games in the Second XV, with his favourite team being the Third XV Dazzlers where, in his comeback last season after suffering a broken scaphoid, he scored twice in a crushing 92-0 victory over Hamilton.

Current Dalziel head coach David Wilson paid tribute to Gillon this week.

He said: “The Duguid’s have been a dynasty at the club and the fact that Gillon has had to leave is one of those moments in the history of any club.

“It has been unfortunate for me that when I arrived at the club he was injured, and after coming back this season was picking up more injuries before breaking his hand.”

He added: “While I’ve not seen the best of Gillion as a player, I have come to respect his passion and commitment to Dalziel.

“I wish him the best of luck and here’s hoping that another Duguid will grace the field for Dalziel in the future.”

Club President, Khalid Faqir, said: “Gillon has been an excellent servant to Dalziel Rugby Club having been captain on two separate occasions and Player of the Year twice.

“He does a lot of good work in and around the club and getting a replacement for him will be difficult. We will miss him.”