Former Dumfries and Galloway footballer Ian MacHattie continues his story in Galloway People
dailyrecord.co.ukLast week we left Gatehouse man and former professional footballer Ian MacHattie in Surrey contemplating a life outside football after his promising career was cut short by injury.
He had signed for Crystal Palace, spent two seasons with Toronto Metro and played against Pele. On his return fom Canada he played for Dover and Ramsgate then in 1975 drifted out of the sport while still in his early twenties.
Deprived of top-level football, Ian, who grew up in Creetown and Palnure, found another team to play for – the fire brigade in Surrey.
The ethos at the station, Ian tells me in his High Street home, was essentially the same as on the pitch with each team member supporting the others. “It was like a brotherhood and for me it was magical,” he smiles. “Before that I had been working for a stockbroker in the City for six months. “Then I saw the advert for a fireman and just rang them up. “At the interview they asked what I did. “I said I worked in a stockbroker’s the guy replied ‘are you sure you are applying for the right job?’ “But when I said I played professional football that was that. “I did my training and basics and spent 15 years in the fire service. “To me it was not like a job – it was having fun with your mates.
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