Club appoints Bill Polson and Gerry Dodson as Honorary Vice Presidents
Edinburgh South Cricket Club is pleased to announce the appointment of Bill Polson and Gerry Dodson as Honorary Vice Presidents.
Bill and Gerry were both stalwarts of the club’s formative era as Mitre CC. Their loyalty and dedication helped shape the club we know today, and their appointments recognise many years of service across different generations and different eras.
Bill Polson
Bill’s connection with the club goes back to 1957 and the club’s original guise of Mitre CC. Across decades of service, he has made a remarkable contribution both on and off the field.
By the time he hung up his spikes, Bill had taken more than 500 wickets and scored nearly 2,500 runs for the club.
It is hard to think of a role that Bill has not performed during his years at the club. He has batted throughout the order, captained the relaunched second XI, supported the creation of new teams, scored matches and helped with administration across all levels.
Bill remains a central figure at the club and in Scottish cricket as a whole. He continues to be heavily involved with scoring and administration across the East of Scotland Cricket Association.
“I would say unequivocally that without Bill there would not be a club today. Going back over the years, anyone involved would think of him as ‘Mr Mitre’.”
Bill’s service has also extended well beyond the club. He gave 45 years of service to the ESCA committee, including time as secretary, youth convenor and president.
In 2025, he was recognised by ESCA for his outstanding contribution to cricket in the region.
Gerry Dodson
Gerry Dodson’s appointment recognises another long-serving figure from the club’s Mitre era, and a player whose loyalty and love of the game have been shown season after season.
Although the club’s online playing records only go back to 2004, they still show the scale of Gerry’s impact on the field.
Since then, Gerry has played 189 recorded matches, taken 265 wickets and held 31 catches. His best recorded bowling figures were 8 for 26 for the 1st XI against St Modans CC in 2005. In the same year, he was named Senior Top Wicket Taker.
Gerry’s contribution goes well beyond the scorebook. In accepting the appointment, he reflected on the many hours he spent in his back garden, bowling tennis balls at an old tree branch leaning against the house.
Over time, the corners of the branch became smooth and rounded after falling against the harling thousands of times.
It is a small detail, but one that says a lot about Gerry’s love of the game and the quiet dedication he has brought to cricket over many years.
Gerry also recalled one batting record he is happy to claim. Alongside the late Julian Russell, he frequently batted in tenth-wicket partnerships, with the pair continuing to “improve” the combined age of the players at the crease.
The last figure Gerry is aware of was 161 years.
Congratulations to Bill and Gerry
Those stories, like the statistics, only tell part of the picture. Both Bill and Gerry have been part of the club for far longer than any online record can show, and their appointments reflect their wider service, loyalty and lasting connection to the club.
Everyone at the club would like to congratulate Bill and Gerry on their appointments, and thank them for everything they have done.