WELCOME DOUG or DOUG’S COOS

ON THE OCCASSION OF DOUG BEING GUEST OF HONOUR

VETERAN SPEEDWAY RIDERS ASSOCIATION SCOTTISH COMMITTEE ANNUAL DINNER DANCE 19TH FEBRUARY 2005

 

Let us welcome Farmer Doug or Dougie Templeton

Who started racing grasstrack bikes in times now by gone

He flew so fast on a trusty JAP just skiddin on the green

He was the fastest youngster Larry Lazarus had ever seen

Larry thought Doug should be a speedway rider and told the world his news

But Doug wasn’t really sure - how would speedway affect his coos.

 

Twas in summer of 52 Doug listened to Larry’s call

He had a quick slide on the shale goin four laps without a fall

To Doug those four laps just flew bye without catching the Hoskins eye

No interest then - we don’t know why - so Doug gave the sport a bye

Perhaps Ian Hoskins --- a man well known to enthuse

Would have given him star billing if he’d known about Doug’s coos.

 

During the long winter months Doug became the best on view

At last in 53 Doug made his Tigers’ home debut

Flung in at the deep end in the opening match

It was clear from his efforts he would come up to scratch

It wasn’t Doug’s racing efforts that got the rave reviews

That was reserved for his dash home to feed his precious coos.

 

In 54 Doug’s speedway tale was one of grief and woe

After only two home meetings Tigers suffered a crushing blow

However Doug could be described as an eager beagle

And ended up in black and white as a fledgling Lanarkshire Eagle

Doug was a popular man and whether it was win or lose

All way round Milton Street he was thinking of his coos.

 

The leathers then hung on a peg until the year of 58

Ian Hoskins opened Motherwell and for Doug that was just great

After meetings few the plug was pulled and Doug had another switch

He travelled to East Anglia to become an Ipswich Witch

Lots and lots of water and boring flatland views

Too flat thought Doug - I like the hills - and I really like ma coos.

 

The charity match in 1959 was his only speedway meet

But when Monarchs returned to Old Meadowbank in 60 Doug really found his feet

He was a star of the Speedway Leagues, daring, fast and bold

Doug was in his element leading the blue and gold

A great Monarch at Meadowbank, it loss still gives many the blues

But aye well, after they built that Forth Road Bridge, he was much handier for his coos.

 

In Coatbridge for a couple of years the Edinburgh Monarchs did dwell

Before Ian Hoskins pulled the plug and sold the licence there as well

Doug built the track with his own fair hand, aye and wi’ bulldozer too

With banking steep at either bend at Cliftonhill Doug really really flew

It wasn’t one speedway prettier homes no familiar grassy green hues

No Arthurs’ Seat in the backround, nae fields that could graze coos.

 

The circle turned full three sixty when Seventy did come

The long term Monarch turning Tiger was very hard for some

The sweeping track in Glasgow was now in Hampden Park

Doug settled in and played his part in this new Tiger lark

For a season or three he faced the best the Wembleys and Belle Vues

But yes, I suspect it you guessed it, he still had time for his coos.

 

In 73 the Tiger moved on to England making a home at Shielfield Park

Among the best in Divsion Two he really made his mark

But when the season was all over and when all the tales are told

Doug decided to pack it in saying he was growing too old

Without this speedway racing you’d think he’d have time to muse

No, no, no such luck, he’d to get on wi feedin’ they coos.

 

One last fling in 95 when Doug had an important date

At Powderhall our twice times Scottish Champ became a Golden Great

And so we come to here tonight and to Glasgow he’s had a dauner

So let us all welcome Doug Templeton as our Guest of Honour

Now Doug has not come on his own. No - he has brought his own fair wife

We all know that Margaret is the first lady when they are back in Fife.

No rush off back to Cooros (Culross) - But a lie in and a snooze

For early tomorrow morning - someone else can feed the coos

 

Jim Henry 2005