Sean Connery played for Bonnyrigg Rose between 1951 and 1953. Photo: Bonnyrigg Rose
Sir Sean Connery was on a mission in a small former building. mining town in Midlothian long before he was cast as James Bond.
The late, great Scottish actor rose to fame as the original 007 in Dr No back in 1962 and has never looked back . to play the lead role in the cult series seven times — but it could have been a completely different story.
Connery, one of Scotland's greatest exports who died aged 90 in 2020, played for Bonnyrigg. Rose, a part-time League Two player, will face Neil Warnock's Aberdeen in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup on Saturday afternoon before embarking on his path to becoming a Hollywood superstar.
He has been given a license to play for right wing in the early 1950s, when he wore the number 7 shirt in front of a crowd of 2,000 ten years before he became famous as Bond.
«I was very lucky. that my father was on the committee when the club reopened just after the Second World War,” Bonnyrigg club historian Nat Fisher told Telegraph Sport.
“We played at Rosewell while our ground was being renovated, and Sean Connery at that time was there.
“He did very well at the club, he was well thought of in that area and most of the other clubs were very jealous that we had him. He was a good player, played on the right flank and could operate in other positions.
“He was fast, strong and could really hold his own. He took a few hard hits, but he got up and was ready to go again. Even though he was from Edinburgh, he was very well liked. He looked out for the young players and could really hold his own.
“Apparently he got an offer to try out for East Fife and I think he could have played at a higher level, but I think that he probably achieved as much as he could.”
Connery (bottom row, second from right) with his Bonnyrigg Rose teammates Photo: Bonnyrigg Rose
Connery could at least concentrate on the football rather than being distracted by the admiring glances from the touchline, fulfilling a role that was strong different from his role as a secret agent.
Fisher, who will turn 90 in October, recalls: “I couldn’t tell if women liked him because at that point they weren’t really coming to see us!”
Connery was untouchable when he fired the consolation shot in the 3-1 Scottish Junior Cup victory at Broxburn Athletic in 1951.
When the legendary big screen star was asked about his football career, he replied: he was offered to try himself at Celtic.
Jimmy Greaves (centre) during England's 1966 visit to Pinewood Studios, where Connery was filming You Only Live Twice Photo: Getty Images/Bob Hope
Sir Matt Busby reportedly offered Connery £25 a week for a move to Manchester United, but that seems unlikely. he would find fame and fortune at Old Trafford.
He is quoted as saying: “I really wanted to take the offer because I loved football. But I realized that a top-class football player can be around the corner by the age of 30, and I was already 23. I decided to become an actor, and it turned out to be one of my smartest moves.”
Connery plays football during a break from filming, 1968. Photo: Getty Images/Ullstein Bild
Bonnyrigg, nicknamed Rosie Posey, will be looking to upset the script when they travel to Pittodrie for their first home game under Warnock.
On Saturday the club will play in the last 16 for the first time prestigious Scottish Cup after upsetting League One leaders Falkirk.
While the club may be best known for Connery's early years, they haven't been afraid to embrace their history. The team were photographed in tuxedos and the Bond theme played out over Tannois before they were thrashed 8-1 by Hibernian and went on to take on Tynecastle in the fourth round of the Cup seven years ago.
Current manager Robbie Horne is plotting to ruin Warnock's Cup winning hopes after the Dons lost to Rangers in the Premier League on Tuesday night — a day after he was lured out of possible retirement and appointed until the end of the season Horne said: “We had a very important 2-0 league win against Elgin on Tuesday and obviously Aberdeen were playing that night but the next morning our players you need to get up for your work.
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“We have carpenters, plasterers, teachers, etc., and they, like me, find it difficult to switch off and fall asleep after a night match.
< p>“But we have nothing.” We have zero pressure to lose and we're looking forward to playing there and giving it our best effort. You never know, football can be fun, but this is a serious matter.
“I'm looking forward to meeting Neil Warnock, I have huge respect for him. He's had a fantastic career and it's great to see him in Scotland. «
Warnock has enjoyed the role of Bond villain for many years, and Bonnyrigg will need a few heroes to help survive the almighty shock.
But when it comes to eliminating if the cup is upset, never again say never.
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