Damien Kelly looks back at his successful spell as Ayr Rugby Club captain

May 27 2011 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

I WAS about to pay for my coffee when it seemed as though they had switched the lights off.

I turned round and realised that all that had happened was that Damien Kelly had loomed up behind me and in the shadow of that vast bulk, things had got dark.

The same sort of feeling I would imagine that someone on the end of a tackle from the Ayr skipper would feel only with considerably more pain.

We had decided beforehand that this would not be a 'how many games, how many tries' sort of piece, more of a wander through the 10 years the big Aussie had been in Scotland and how he felt as his departure loomed.

"It all seems so long ago," he began, "I had come over to see Europe, pitched up at Perth to play some rugby, broke my thumb, headed back to Oz then heard that Ayr were looking for someone and since my visa still had a few months left, I headed for Millbrae.

"Into my second season with Ayr, Hugh Campbell asked me along to train with Glasgow and I turned out three times for them but it was around then that I decided that rugby was for fun, not as a job.”

That philosophy is apparent in much that Kelly has brought to the game at Millbrae not only as a key and much respected player but in the way, as development officer, he has introduced the game into local schools.

That is something from which he takes great satisfaction as well.

“'When kids stop you in the street to tell you how things are going for them in their sport, you feel proud and pretty humble to have been involved in getting them started.”

One player he coached in P7 was running out onto the pitch with him for Ayr in last season’s British and Irish Cup and the development of 17-year-old Robbie Fergusson epitomises so much which Kelly has done for the game among the youngsters.

Having experienced the remarkable success of Ayr over the past few seasons but also being involved in the genesis of the squads over the past 10 years has given Kelly an insight into what has brought it all about.

"There were things which came together and worked because of the people involved," he reckoned. “When Craig Redpath came in to replace George Breckenridge, he brought a passion and emotion to the dressing room as well as a burning desire to win.

“We almost got there with Craig in charge and that was a top side which came second to Currie that year. Along with what Craig brought to the side, we had the arrival of Scott Lines and that had a huge impact.

“He brought a professional attitude to the side both on and off the pitch and was such a strong character – all I would say is that when Lines spoke, the boys listened!

“We had a great squad with Nick Lavelle, Evan Kellow and Scott Lines all coming in and making a big impact and helping the local lads to focus on improving their game and in doing that, a great team spirit was formed.

"When Kenny Murray took over from Craig, that was a different style of coaching but he was another who was determined to be a winner.

“He had a style he wanted which involved the backs and forwards working more together to develop a more expansive style and at our best we played that way as well as anyone in the country.

"When I look back, there is no doubt that the season that will always take top place is when we won the title. The team we had that season gelled as a side both on and off the pitch better than any side I have played in and it is a fabulous memory to take away from the game.

“Of course I am proud to have been captain of the side when we have won 10 championship and two cups."

Was there a slight hesitation there, I asked?

"Well, I have captained the side my way in my style which is perhaps a more relaxed approach than some would take and I suppose that is because sometimes I miss just being a player.

“But there is no doubt that I will remember with enormous pride the three seasons I was captain of Ayr."

"Gordon Sykes and Glen Tippett will be hanging up their boots this season and Ayr owes them a huge debt of gratitude as they do to players who have moved on like Nick Lavelle, Kyle Brunning, Jeff Wilson, Frazier Climo and Scott Lines and if Ayr keep that balance of quality overseas players and local talent right, then they can continue to be as successful in the future as they have been in the past few seasons.

"That success is something which is now expected as can be seen by the fantastic support we get at Millbrae and which was a big factor in our lifting the Premier Cup two seasons in succession and however hard we work on the park, there is just as much work goes on off the field to help make it happen.

“Billy McHarg, Jock Craig and Norrie Lymburn and others have all done a massive amount to take Ayr to where they are now and hopefully there will be another generation coming through because that is a huge part of the reason Ayr have been successful.

"Playing at Ayr, working in the schools and being involved with the club international side has given me a chance to meet people and help develop youngsters in a way that 10 years ago I never thought would happen and it has been a wonderful time and I have made so many marvellous friends.

“Bethany and I have decided that the time is right for us to go to Australia with Isabelle but there will always be a part of me which will remain in Ayr and although I will turn out for my local side in Moree, my time at Millbrae will be a very precious memory."

Our conversation ended, the big man stood up (and the lights went out again!) and it struck me forcibly as we said our goodbyes just how lucky Ayr have been to have had this modest, powerful and charismatic character in their midst for the last 10 years.

While he will be the first to admit the amount he has learned, Ayr would have to admit that what they have achieved might not have happened without the influence of Skippy.