I have always loved watching rugby, but taking my son to watch Edinburgh Rugby over recent years has given me a new level of appreciation.

I was never much of a player. Throughout school and university I made it onto the occasional team, but this was very much down to size as opposed to skill. However even thinking about the train through to Murrayfield to watch Scotland with my dad are memories I treasure.

Crossing the Forth Bridge over Inchgarvie Island which I was convinced was Alcatraz; the smell of the breweries at Haymarket; the despair of Hastings’ missed penalty the 1991 World Cup semi-final; the jubilation of Hodge’s try in 2000 and whatever the result, the singing river of people all the way back to the station.

I tried to take an interest in club rugby growing up. Watching the likes of David Sole and the Hastings brothers play on the same pitch that I played on was inspirational, but understanding which cup, shield, bowl or trophy they were playing for was, and still is, impenetrable to the uninformed so I quickly lost interest.

Hopefully the new BBC deal to televise Arnold Clark Premiership matches will make it slightly more accessible.

Like so many supporters, my interest started and finished with the national team and over the years I would get to a couple of games each year.

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In 2018, it was my turn to take my five-year-old son Alex to his first game. He sat silently through the 80 minutes and didn’t say a word as we walked back to Haymarket.

But once on the train he relaxed and proceeded to relive the entire match, describing all eight tries in detail and not just listing off the scorers but by whom and how they had been created. Not only was I going to have to watch a lot more rugby, I clearly needed to improve my knowledge to keep up.

It wasn’t long before we needed to find more rugby to watch and Scotland matches weren’t enough. 1872 Cups were highlights but rainy Friday nights in a near-empty Murrayfield bowl weren’t the best advert for the sport we love.

Once we moved into the new stadium, everything changed. We were now close enough to hear players talking to each other, close enough to hear the thud of the collisions and close enough that when we shout “great tackle Darcy”, he turns and gives us a thumbs up.

I love how Alex can be in a crowd of thousands and still feel safe and comfortable. As players walk to and from the changing rooms, they stop for autographs and signatures.

When Edinburgh reached the Challenge Cup quarter finals in ’22 we sat behind the players. Charlie Savala overheard Alex’s deep interest and understanding so he turned round and gave us a running commentary from a player's perspective. Edinburgh Rugby’s fan engagement is second to none.

Charlie Savala during his Edinburgh daysCharlie Savala during his Edinburgh days (Image: Paul Devlin - SNS Group)
Most importantly, that first season in the new stadium was also Mike Blair’s first season in charge. The players were visibly liberated and were playing open, fast, free flowing, attacking rugby which was exciting to watch regardless of your understanding of the game.

The combined minds of Ben Vellacott and Blair Kinghorn provided improvisation and unpredictability, releasing Darcy Graham to score tries out of nowhere.

Since then, performances and results have been erratic. Edinburgh have shown that they can be one of the most dynamic teams on the planet, but can also be the most sloppy.

They can produce magic, but they also lack mettle when it matters. Despite their faults, Alex won’t miss a game. He analyses the team sheet before the game and the stats afterwards.

When given the opportunity to write this column, there was no way I could turn it down. I may not have knowledge from a player or expert’s perspective, but I have plenty of honest opinions. I have a deep love for the club and its ethos. I am also determined that professional club rugby is brought to a wider audience including those who have no knowledge of the grassroots game.

In years to come Alex will grow up, he will want to go out with his mates and eventually he will leave home, but he will always know that there will be a seat in the Murrayfield stand where he can feel at home, watch the team he loves, and spend quality time with his dad.