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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Fraser Wilson

Superstar DJ set for Hampden gig with Drumchapel Amateurs in Scottish Cup Final at age of 48

He's the Glasgow DJ who’s travelled the world and worked with superstars including Tiesto and Armin van Buuren.

But for David Forbes his most important gig of the year is at Hampden this evening - as he looks to help get a tune out of Drumchapel Amateurs in the Scottish Amateur Cup Final at the ripe old age of 48.

Forbes is still banging The Drum in the centre of midfield for the renowned Glasgow amateur club.

He did a turn at Hampden when the club lifted the Scottish Cup for their first and only time in 2005.

And 17 years later he is hoping to set the tempo at the national stadium for a second time as Charlie Devlin’s side tackle Edinburgh’s Tollcross Thistle in the Centenary Amateur Cup Final.

The Drum stalwart can’t remember too much about the first final - because he’d been doing a set at The Arches until 3am the night before.

But now he’s desperate to spark another party.

Forbes said: “The whole club is buzzing. Maybe even more so than in 2005 as there’s a right togetherness about the side.

“I might be old enough to be most the team’s dad but I’m just one of the boys and they know that.

“I suppose my job helps keep me cool in the eyes of the pups.

“I’ve travelled the world DJing at festivals in America and Australia but I produce music through the week for record labels and in the past I’ve worked with guys like Armin van Buuren and Tiesto when he was playing more underground music.

“But I remember back in the day I was cancelling gigs left right and centre to make sure I could play for The Drum.

“A good few years ago I landed back from Australia and we had a West of Scotland Cup Final a couple of hours later. I got off the plane, pulled on my boots, we won and I got man of the match!

“But I’m 48 now and as serious about football as I was at 18. If I wasn’t pulling my weight then I wouldn’t be in the team, simple as that.

“I joined the club in 1998 but stopped playing eight years later when I was 34.

“I never kicked a ball for six years. But I was on my way home from a gig in Loch Lomond and decided to pop into the club where they were having their player of the year dance. Next thing I know I’ve decided to pull the boots on again the next season.”

Unsurprisingly Forbes is the only surviving player from the last time The Drum were in the final. On that occasion they beat Gartcosh 1-0.

But manager Devlin remains at the helm.

And Forbes said: “I actually don’t remember too much about the last final .. not surprising because I was up DJing until 3am at the Arches the night before!

“I remember the build-up but not much about the game itself other than we won 1-0 and got to play at Hampden which is such a special feeling.

“I can’t wait for another chance to grace that turf! It’s massive but it’s a cup final so you empty the tank for 90 minutes.

“We have so much quality in the side. A lot of the side has come through our own youth team so they are really close knit.

“Wee Johnny Devlin was mascot back in the 2005 final. Now he’s our wee ninja left-back that gets up and down the flank all day long.

“His dad Charlie has been our manager for over 20 years and his big brother is Nicky, the Livingston captain who I remember as a wee kid bouncing about our changing room.

“Nicky’s been down this week helping us prepare and there’s a really good family feel to the whole club.

“This is all about the young boys in the team who are preparing for their first Scottish Cup Final.

“I’m lucky to have a winner’s medal already. I’d absolutely love the young ones to get one too.”

Maybe then the DJ would call time on his playing career? Or maybe not.

He said: “I’m not sure about that! Every game is a bonus but we are still going for the league as well so I’ll wait until the end of the season and see how I feel.

“I’m pretty sure there’s a few miles left in the tank yet.”

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