Orkney Image Library

I wonder how many times I got "weet feet" playing in the willow burn? I used to live in the house in the left of the photo when I was a lad!

Papdale's Head got her feet weet in more recent years fetching a car round for a visiting speaker. Where was a camera? That was the day of the flooding.

Papdale pupils, especially the budding footballers, used to get gey fed up when playing on the pitches was forbidden, because the ground was waterlogged. This was usually for about two thirds of the year!

And a whole bundle of cash was spent draining it and laying sand on it a few years ago and I never saw any kids playing on it.

Oh no! Money down the drain...

Myself and Brian Budge organised the Papdale football scene for 15yrs during the nineties and noughties. For all of that time this area (2 pitches) was used for our training sessions, Orkney Primary School Sevens competition and internal Papdale competitions. We were fully supported by the ground staff at both Papdale & KGS and the Management team at Papdale. I guess the 'slope' was not a favourite with many people but I still have fond memories of many exciting competitions being played and it is rewarding to see a number of the participants now forming part of the senior football teams in Orkney.

John, you and Brian's contribution to youth football was outstanding and very much appreciated by the school. The limits to pitch use were set during the school day, but come 3.30pm the intrepid footballers were indeed out there, in all weathers!