Tonight we have one of our three Great Britain under 20 players under the spotlight. Bobby, along with Bryan and James, has been selected to represent their country in the World Championships in Japan over the Millennium. Well done to all of you. You are a credit to yourselves, the club and your families.

5'4'' Bobby was born on the 20th of May 1980 in the border town of Dumfries. He didn't take up hockey until '93 when a friend tried it and he thought it looked good so he gave it a go. He learnt everything from his first coach Jack Dryburgh and lists his earliest memory as his first game, on his 13th birthday, against Glasgow when he scored Dumfries' only goal in a 24-1 defeat

Bobby's worst injury was twisted ligaments in his knee which he sustained after 3 seconds of the first of a 2 game weekend in Ireland. Not only did he miss that weekend but the next two months as well. His first chance in pro hockey came when Jim Lynch, now coach at ISL Ayr 'Scottish' Eagles, called him up to the Vikings. His first game was in the, then, Nynex Arena against the biggest ever crowd in Britain at the time and he had a one on one with the goal but hit the bar!

This isn't Bobby's first GB appearance. He has represented his country at every level from Under I6's up and won an award for best British player at the World junior Championships in 1997. He also won Vikings most improved player that same season and has also iced for the Solway Sharks (Scot One) and Pirates two seasons ago.

Before rejoining the Pirates at the Lagoon, Bobby's favourite rink, he knew Damien,James and Graham from junior leagues and had played with John for the Pirates two seasons ago. His reasons for rejoining the club this year are quite simple, he wanted to grab the chance to be with a team that would develop over a 3 to 4 year spell that featured Brits. He also realised that the step up would benefit himself as a player and because the fans are, quote, just brilliant.

Bobby wears number 7 as it was the number of his first GB top and he found it to be lucky and decided to stick with it and rates his best points as his skating, hard work and determination although, he says, his worst point is his hitting because of his size. Try telling that to Mark Pallister! He rates his own performances this season as, "I've played well but not to the best of my ability. I'm still learning and developing skills with every game."

Our toughest opponents will be Slough, in Slough, because they have a small rink and they are a big powerful, hard hitting team and Guildford because it's very difficult for a team of our means to keep up with a big budget side like them according to Bobby.
His most embarrassing on ice moment came when he stepped onto the ice for warm up with his skate guards still on and went flat on his face but he couldn't recall any bloomers from his off ice life. His day job,outside of hockey, is as a lifeguard all the way across in the Lagoon pool although, if numbers are down, he sometimes works on the ice side too. If he wasn't playing hockey he would be driven mad as he's addicted to the game and harbours a dream to, if he could pick the team that he could play for, ice for the New York Rangers as he finds New York an exciting place. His hockey ambition is to develop his skills to the max. and play at the highest level possible while being the best team player he can be.

He describes himself as 'small and annoying' and would like to settle somewhere nice to help raise any kids he has in the future while continuing to play hockey and maybe coach his kids in the future.
His advice to aspiring youngsters is to work hard, listen to your coach and be determined as determination will bring you on leaps and bounds. Just stick in and go for it.