Rynpark Two resident Don Kitchenbrand (85), simply known as ‘Kitch’, was one of a number of South African-born footballers who gave up their home comforts and went to ply their trade abroad during a golden era in the ’50s. He has some fascinating stories to share.
In his first season in British football (1955 to 1956), Kitchenbrand scored 24 goals in 25 league appearances to help Rangers win the Scottish League, while he netted 28 times in 54 appearances for the ‘Black Cats’.
He made a lone appearance for his home country in March 1956, when he was selected for a representative team of British-based South African players against a Scotland XI, losing 2-1.
He proudly hauled out a neatly packed container filled with newspaper clippings, books and photos cataloging his career in the game, but one article in particular, which his wife Jo managed to scratch out from the heap, brought out a glint in his eyes.
As a striker, the man the Rangers fans nicknamed ‘Rhino’ had a predatory instinct in front of goal. His goal tally in the famous royal blue jersey included a five-goal haul in an 8-0 rout of Queen of the South in a league match at Ibrox on March 7, 1956, and it is that very game which triggered his sharp long-term memory.
Biltong beef with opposing fans
As a South African import, he remembered how he had copped a good deal of abuse from Queen of the South supporters in the build-up to that match. But it was a kind gesture from a pair of fellow South Africans that actually triggered the abuse.
“Two people from SA looked me up to give me some biltong and gave it to me at training. I was grateful for it as I enjoy my biltong. In fact, as I got home, my landlady’s dog stood up and almost pushed me down the stairs when it smelt the biltong.
“The story leaked to a local newspaper, causing a backlash from the opposing supporters, who urged me in unflattering terms to ‘go home to my country and eat antelope meat, go back to my country in the trees where I belong.’
With his permission and after a fair deal of persuasion, a newspaper reporter mate of his at the Daily News penned the biltong story on condition the scribe made no bones of the fact he (Kitchenbrand) intended to ‘rub their noses (Queen of the South) in the ground’. And that he certainly did when he found the net five times.
“Every goal I scored, the crowd yelled: ‘One more, one more’”, he recalled with a broad smile etched on his face.
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Rangers’ secret Catholic
On recommendation from former Rangers centre-half Charlie Watkins, the Boksburg-raised youngster was on his way to realising a cherished dream of playing in Britain, but the former Scottish international had neglected to ask one crucial question: “What is your religion?”
Such was the religious sectarian divide in Scotland at the time that it was an unwritten rule that Rangers, a Protestant club, did not sign any players who were known to be Roman Catholic. Bitter rivals Celtic were the Catholic team.
“Charlie sent me off with a stern warning: ‘For heavens’ sake, don’t open your mouth over there; don’t tell anybody.’”
So for four years Kitchenbrand played for Rangers, suppressing a major secret without anyone ever getting wind of his religious affiliation.
“If I had stayed there and they found out, I might have been killed. But I am not sorry. One thing I can say is that I never failed to score against Celtic,” he giggled.
The love match
Kitchenbrand has played some tough football matches in his lifetime, but none so rewarding perhaps than his ultimate love match.
He and his wife, Jo, celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary recently, having tied the knot on June 29, 1959, in Dublin, Ireland.
While still playing for Sunderland in England, he had taken part in an exhibition game in the Irish capital when via a polite enquiry he met his spouse, who just happened to be the daughter of the hotel owner where he was lodging. And that is where a long-distance courtship by telephone started with the love of his life.
“Whenever a boat went across to Dublin, I would take it to go and visit Jo. If I was close to an airport, I would hop on a plane and that’s how we courted.”
Homeward-bound
The couple returned to South Africa in 1960, where Kitchenbrand played for Vereeniging Athletic and later for Wanderers and also made a few appearances for Forfar Athletic back in Scotland before calling time on his career at the age of 29.
Golf was one of Don’s biggest passions outside of football and he played off a seven handicap before putting away his clubs in 1994 when the effects of an old back injury resurfaced.
Despite a bout of ill health in the last few years and an operation, he remains in high spirits but goes to great lengths to single out his wife as a tower of strength.
Kitchenbrand still keeps a fleeting eye on local football and says there is a good deal of talented players in the local pool. He feels, however, the level of coaching as a whole in the country leaves much to be desired.
“Football is a simple game. One has to train it simply and play it simply. That’s the recipe for a team like Barcelona’s success.”
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