Former Red Devil set to line up at Caldy

An ex-footballer who played in the Manchester United youth team made famous by the Busby Babes is set to partner his son in the PGA Super 60s Championship at Caldy Golf Club.

Bob Harrison, who donned the famous red shirt alongside the likes of Bobby Charlton and Duncan Edwards, will be the oldest player in the field when he competes alongside his son Steve at the £10,000 championship final on August 19-20.

The 84 year old, who was signed by legendary Liverpool manager Bill Shankly to play for Carlisle United after his stint at Old Trafford, is a keen golfer who still regularly gets out on the course despite his advancing years.

And Steve, 60, PGA Professional at Eden Golf Club in Cumbria, admitted there was no contest when he was asked which amateur would compete alongside him at the Merseyside venue.

“If I’d wanted to purely go out there and win then I know a lot of members at the golf club in their 60s who are very good golfers and could have helped us to achieve that,” he said.

“But I couldn’t resist the opportunity to go out there and play with my dad. He’s been a huge influence on me and, despite his age, still goes out and plays golf regularly.

“He’s going to be the oldest one there. I know you have to be 60 to enter but they didn’t give us an upper limit so I thought why not?!”

Harrison junior is looking forward to a competitive outing after focusing on work at the club in recent months.

“I don’t get to play as much as I used to as I’m busy working at the club. I also do some freelance strength and conditioning work too and I’ve been involved with Carlisle United doing that.

“But throughout my career playing has always been really important to me – I was always out there playing in the region.

“So it’ll be nice to go out there and play some competitive golf again at Caldy.                       

“Although the best bit about this particular event is it’s a great chance to play with people you’ve not seen for a while and catch up with how they’re doing.

“And for me I’m really looking forward to going out there and having a couple of rounds with my dad.”

Other pairings competing in the championship at Caldy include: Charles Dernie and Peter Dernie (a) (Blairgowrie), Brian Evans and Brian Hill (a) (Quinta Do Lago), Frank Hill and Ray Foreman (a) (Thorpeness), and defending champions Murray White and Glyn Radcliffe (a) (Centurion).