On the bench today, is Scott Guest AKA ‘Guesty’.  Guesty says he 'tries to play for Forest' in the Strathclyde Saturday Morning League and he's the Club Secretary for his team too.









G: How long have you been in your current role?

S: For about roughly 6 years or so.

G: When did you first get involved in amateur football and what were you doing?

S: I’ve been playing amateur football since I finished playing u21’s with Corkerhill.

G: What amateur teams have you been involved in and in what capacity?

S: I’ve been with Forest since 2002; first as a player, then adding Club Secretary position in 2002.

G: Do you feel the amateur football scene has changed since you first became involved with it?

S: The league Forest play in has grown from 16 teams to 40 teams in that time, so that explains the rise of the league and amateur teams in general.

G: Do you have a favourite amateur team and why is it your favourite?

S: I would say Forest, my current team, as I don’t think there would be anything to make me want to change teams.

G: What’s your most memorable moment in amateur football?

S: When Forest lost a semi final to Windlaw where we had the best chance of a final in recent years as getting Windlaw on grass was a huge advantage but alas lost 2 – 1.

G: What do you think about the quality of amateur football?

S: It has certainly improved with more teams entering the leagues and improving the standard as well.  Especially the way teams are run and organised nowadays compared to years ago.

G: Which team provided the best post-match hospitality? (who served the best pies?)

S: Back in the Corkerhill days it was defo ‘The Old Toll’ bar at Paisley Road Toll, Glasgow. They always served the best sandwiches & pies after a game with Corkerhill.

G: What was the last game you watched?

S: Forest in a friendly against County Thistle in Cambuslang.

G: What was the last game you played in?

S: When the mighty Forest defeated league leaders Blochairn 2 -1 in a dramatic league encounter.

G: If you had 3 wishes, what would you change about Scottish amateur football?

S: (1) Cost less to play; (2) Teams to own their own stadium (lol); and (3) Better standard of referees.

G: What do you think about summer football?

S: I’m in favour of it – it beats breaking your elbow’s on a frozen pitch in the middle of January.

G: Have you any views about the relationship of the professional game to the amateur game?

S: There is no relationship between the two – amateur football will always be the less of two evils!

G: What do you think the future holds for Scottish amateur football?

S: It will always be there for generations to come unless they start a league for our robotic friends and we drop down a peg in the food chain.  [What's in your tea there, Guesty?]

G: Have you any views on superleagues?  Do you think they are a good idea?

S: Superleagues = lots of travelling and unfair advantages so not a good idea for me!

G: What do you think about Community Hubs (NB not Community Clubs)?

S: Well it spreads the good word and hopefully makes it more fun and interesting to be involved.

G: Have you any comments on grounds and facilities?

S: Grounds and facilities are gradually getting better but even more money from the government/Scottish executive is required to help funding going and to keep it going in the right direction.

G: Do you think there is adequate provision of development courses & funding for them?

S: It’s far better – even when you think how bad it was in primary school with the solid ash parks, being able to play with 2 studs in each boot and lastly the mitre mould master (balls with the spots on them and got them in white or red- oh and when it’s raining and getting it right on the hammy – oh a bit of nostalgia there)!

G: What do you think about the SAFA Select team – how do you think it could be developed?

S: Instead of having the best players together – have mixture of players from leagues no matter the level of performance to bring a fair and equal challenge to all.

G: Are there any other comments you would like to make?

S: Thank you very much for asking for my views even though it is pretty much ‘out there’! lol



Thanks very much for taking part in On the Bench, Guesty.  Hope the remainder of the season goes well for you.