Ahead of this week’s Scottish Cup quarter final matches, Johnny Beattie and Katie Still will interview volleyballing legend Barry Robertson in their Sports Weekly radio show between 9:00 and 10:00 on Saturday 23 January.
Having decided to hang up his competitive trainers after his 2008 cup final appearance with Jets, Barry has had another resurgence in his lengthy and highly successful volleyball career following an impressive run by current club Volero in this year’s Scottish Cup. Volero prepare to travel to City of Glasgow Ragazzi in their “last 8” match, a significant achievement for a non-league club and the latest chapter in the story of one of our sport’s true characters.
Barry has kept himself constantly active in the sport since he picked up a volleyball in the 1970’s with first club Coatbridge YMCA. His club career has seen him represent Coatbridge YMCA, Volero (first time round), DV-81,Glasgow Irish, Su Ragazzi, Jets and finally, Glasgow Mets. He also collected no less than 75 Scotland caps, an impressive haul when considered against the relative scarcity of international matches at the time. Barry lists his major sporting achievements as winning around 8 league titles with about the same number of cup wins, his international highlights include playing in the Commonwealth Games and him looking back at an enviable record against the ‘Auld Enemy’ with 13 victories in 14 matches against England.
With this background experience and continuing involvement in the game with Volero, Barry has kept himself fit and primed and has once again responded to the pull of elite sport as he is now back playing in the men’s first division of the Schelde National League with old club Glasgow Mets. In pulling on his Mets strip last Saturday Barry reached a personal landmark as he celebrated playing at the top level of Scottish league volleyball in each of the last five decades.
Tune in to 92/95 FM to hear the story in full this Saturday and join Johnny and Katie as they chew the fat with Barry and together they consider the valuable role that experience plays in competitive sport.
Photos © Lynne Marshall & Michael McConville | www.volleyballphotos.co.uk