THESE ARE sad days for those of us I the wide Ayrshire football family. We have lost one of our Elders, with the passing of Billy “Bongo” Smith MBE. Bongo had been battling Cancer for some time, always with a smile on his face, but, a bout of pneumonia on top of his Cancer has done for him, and Ayrshire football is the poorer for his passing.
Like Me, Bongo had the best-possible start to his football career, with Lugar Primary School, where we came under the influence of a real fanatic about the game, Headmaster Alex Rowan. Wee Alex produced a stream of terrific players, many of whom, from such a small school, would win Schoolboy honours or go on into the senior game: Andy Kerr, Bertie Black, John McTurk, Hugh Neil and Bongo, to name but a few. Many more had good junior careers, with Lugar Boswell Thistle and other teams.
At Cumnock Academy, Bongo came under the influence of another of the legends of schools football – Charlie Wilson. Here he captained the first Cumnock Academy side to win the Ayrshire Cup. He won Scottish youth honours and went senior, with Preston North End and Sheffield United, where he played in the old First Division – which is now the English Premiership.
But, it was back home, in the juniors with Cumnock, that Bongo really made his mark, firstly as a player with the Townhead Park outfit, but, more-importantly back at his old school, where he rose to become Head Janitor.
He gave sterling service to Ayr United as a youth coach, where he worked with several managers, including Ally MacLeod, Willie McLean, George Caldwell and George Burley; the latter two had followed him as successful Academy players and captains.
At the school, he worked closely with Deputy Rector and Director of Football John Hunter to keep the school's production line of young talent moving. The pair didn't necessarily see eye-to-eye, as shortly before he died, John Hunter, uncle of billionaire philanthropist Sir Tom Hunter explained.
“In one team we had, well even a blind man could see that Craig Burley was going to make it right to the top – he was, even at 15, an absolute thoroughbred. But, there was this other kid who barely got off the bench, I didn't see what he had to offer, which was hard for me, since we both came from New Cumnock.
“I didn't rate him at all, but Bongo saw something and kept insisting – that boy will make it, So, I am absolutely delighted to say, I was wrong and Bongo was right about Billy Dodds.”
Bongo's service to the school and to football there and in the wider Ayrshire area saw him made MBE by The Queen. He knew everybody and everything about the game in God's County.
I remember one Saturday, while I was covering a game at Somerset Park, we heard of a bit of bother at a Lugar v Dalry game at Rosebank Park. We looked at each other and said, as one: “Peachy!” a reference to a notorious Lugar supporter and committee-man.
We were later assured, Peachy had not been involved, but, on the Monday, I was down at the school on behalf of the Cumnock Chronicle, and as usual, my first stop was the Janitor's station to see Bongo.
While we were speaking a Sixth Year pupil, Lachlan Miller, who was then playing for Lugar, came past, so, we asked him: “What happened on Saturday?” His response had us both laughing, as he began: “Well, Peachy...”
He got no further as we both burst out laughing.
The rock of Bongo's life was wife Eppie. Theirs was the schoolboy and schoolgirl romance which would last a life time. They were the Posh and Becks of Cumnock Academy – Billy captaining the football team, Eppie the hockey and netball teams. Eppie had a long career as a teacher, Billy had his janitorial duties so, between them, they touched the lives of a couple of generations of local kids.
Billy's father “Wuggie” was a respected boxing trainer and also the trainer for the great Lugar team which reached the Junior Cup Final in 1956. His elder brother Robert is one of the stalwart of grass roots motor sport in Scotland. A family then which gave a lot to sport both locally and in the wider community.
Bongo was also a key member of the Ayrshire Former Professionals football team, which raised a lot of money for charity. That team was choc-a-bloc with legends: Eric Caldow, Bertie Black, Bobby Lennox, Sanny McAnespie, junior legends such as Wilie Frew and Bongo, they entertained thousands and had a ball doing so.
Bongo loved football and gave it his best shot. But, he could be critical of the modern game. I remember one aside as he passed the press box during a “draw nae fitba” one Saturday.
“That's so bad, I could play centre midfield out there wearing a lum hat and a claw-hammer jacket and never break sweat,” he said.
Rest in Peace Bongo, you were a credit to your district and your family. You will be missed, because they don't make them like you any more..
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