THE Rev Laurence Twaddle has been appointed chaplain at Dunbar United Foodball Club.

Mr Twaddle, who has followed the club known as the Seasiders for more than three decades, agreed to take on the post last month.

He said: “Armies have [chaplains], schools have them, hospitals have them, shipyards have them and football clubs have them.

“And that’s because there is a widespread recognition that none of us lives our life in entirely separate compartments.

“We might be sportsmen but we are also workers, parents, children, lovers, friends – searchers and questioners and sometimes it’s good to have someone around with time and experience to talk those roles over with, to dig away at those questions with us, to listen when we have a real pressure in our life and to show respect and care towards us.” Mr Twaddle, who has been a school and hospital chaplain for 36 years, told the Courier he was looking forward to being the chaplain for the club, who are pushing for promotion from the South Division.

He added: “Most people for most of the time will get along with their life pretty well – but there are rocks in the road.

“It can be good, so the experts in organisations and services and social settings tell us, to have someone whose only interest is our problem, our issue, our need to talk things through, and that person can be the chaplain.” The club has started the new season promisingly, with just one defeat from seven league games.

But a spokesman for the club said there were “many challenges off the pitch, as well as on it”.

He added: “As a club we want to ensure that the pastoral care of our players, supporters, staff and volunteers are looked after.

“We are delighted that Rev Laurence Twaddle has accepted out invitation to be club chaplain.” Belhaven Parish Church minister Mr Twaddle’s love affair with football stretches back to the 1950s, when he played for his school team in Glasgow.

His grandfather took him to Ibrox for years to watch the likes of Jim Baxter and Sandy Jardine – but when he came to Edinburgh to study, the football ground of choice for divinity students at that time was Easter Road, in the era of Pat Stanton, Alex Cropley and Alan Gordon.

Since then, he has been a season ticket holder at Tynecastle for the last 10 years and his love for junior football is also strong.

Since moving to the town, he has become a regular fixture at New Countess Park and has even taken in away games.

Meanwhile, Dunbar United were saddened to hear recently of the death of Ian Gray, the club’s former assistant secretary. His funeral was held last monthat Belhaven Parish Church, followed by interment at Deerpark Cemetery.

He was assistant secretary at Dunbar United from the early 1990s until 2010 and was also the East Region SJFA representative for many years.

A statement on the club website said he was a dedicated member and supporter who would be sorely missed by all associated with the club.