by Amanda Little

Last updated 12:10, Thursday, 17 April 2008

HE’S seen tears, tantrums and toys flying out of the pram in the Gretna dressing room.

He’s also tasted the champagne, kissed the silverware and joined in the celebrations as silent witness to their unbridled success.

You may never have heard of him, but John “Selwyn” Bryden played as big a role in Gretna’s glory as Kenny Deuchar’s goals.

For the past four years, he polished 33 pairs of boots every single day, washed the kits and packed the strips on to the team bus before away games.

He was a ball boy and club mascot at the age of seven when his home-town team were still playing in the Carlisle & District League, and 33 years later he was full-time kitman when Gretna reached the heights of the Scottish Premier League.

He’s shared in a record three successive championships, a Scottish Cup Final appearance and even a brief UEFA Cup campaign – and the snow-white shirts and gleaming boots were all thanks to Selwyn.

“Gretna has been my life,” he says.

“The club’s motto has been Living The Dream – and that’s how it’s been for me too.

“Being part of a club like wee Gretna who have gone all the way and matched the big boys was something I could never have imagined happening.”

Dozens of players have come and gone at Raydale Park, but Selwyn – given his nickname as a youngster because of his uncanny resemblance to Bill Maynard who played the title role in the 70’s TV comedy Selwyn Froggatt – has been a constant presence.

He was part of the backroom team as the club soared up, up and up. Now he feels like he’s sitting on a roller-coaster enduring a white knuckle ride during the Borderers’ descent into the unknown.

With Gretna deep in debt and in the hands of administrators after owner Brooks Mileson cut ties following an illness, he survived the axe last month when 29 players and staff were made redundant.

The club only has enough money to fulfil their final five fixtures and then there is the distinct possibility the gates could be padlocked ... forever.

Their only hope is that a new owner will step forward to save them from going out of existence – something Selwyn can’t even bear to contemplate.

He said: “It would be a sorrowful day for me if the club was wound up. I don’t even want to think about it as Gretna has been my life. I would be heartbroken.

“If I could wave a magic wand, we would have a team playing in the Scottish First Division next season, playing back at Raydale Park and with the fans back watching us.

“The community wants a football team in Gretna and I feel in my heart there will still be a club. It has an important presence in the town.

“A lot of people in Gretna support the club very strongly, and we were getting over 2,000 people at home games at Raydale. Having to play our home games at Motherwell has been very difficult. Families can’t afford to travel up there every other week.”

Silverware and medals may have characterised Gretna’s time in Scottish football but Selwyn can still vividly recall the success of their non-league hey-day in the Northern League.

He was a fan back then, working first as a coalman and then in the store at Gretna Green services on the A74.

All his spare time was devoted to doing odd jobs round the football ground like painting and building terracing.

Selwyn recalled: “It was a really homely club and supporters used to travel on the team coach to away games. We went to play Hartlepool reserves in the Northern League and they gave us two crates of Brown Ale to drink on the way home to celebrate winning the championship.

“I remember us playing Rochdale in the FA Cup first round. We also played Bolton Wanderers. I looked up at the big clock with 12 minutes to go and we were winning 2-1 but then Owen Coyle scored two late goals for Bolton.”

It was in 2003 when Gretna went full-time that Selwyn was given his dream chance to work there.

His biggest thrill was being part of the club’s memorable Scottish Cup run when they reached the final at Hampden Park in 2006 – the smallest ever British club to reach a major cup final.

They took Hearts all the way to extra-time and penalties before losing 4-2. His other favourite occasion came on the final day of last season when Gretna’s hopes of landing the Scottish First Division championship went right to the wire when they faced Ross County on the final day of the season.

As the clock ticked towards full-time, Gretna were drawing 2-2 and players from their title rivals St Johnstone were already on the pitch after their victory at Hamilton preparing for a lap of honour.

With only seconds to spare, Davie Graham crossed the ball for veteran striker James Grady to hit the winner and secure their place in the SPL.

The players insisted Selwyn held aloft the championship trophy to the cheers of nearly 1,000 Gretna fans who travelled 250 miles to The Highlands.

They’re treasured memories for Selwyn and, of all the players whose boots he’s polished, he’s in no doubt who has been his favourite.

“Gavin Skelton is a true professional in everything he does and he gives the club 100 percent,” he said.

“He’s done really well but he’s never thought he was better than everybody else.

“He said to me the other week that even if he leaves in the summer, Gretna will always be his club. That shows how loyal he is.”