🎙️ John Kidd Blog Post Interview
A conversation with former Ayr Bruins, Peterborough Pirates, and Paisley Pirates forward John Kidd
In this Old Time Hockey UK blog post, we chat with Scottish ice hockey legend John Kidd, whose career spanned the golden era of British hockey in the 1980s and 90s. From his early beginnings on a tiny rink in Ayr to captaining the Bruins at Wembley, John reflects on the triumphs, challenges, and characters that shaped his time in the game.
Whether you’re a lifelong fan of the Ayr Bruins or simply love hearing the stories behind the sport, this interview is packed with insight, nostalgia, and humour from one of Scotland’s greats.
Listen to my Audio interview with John Kidd right now:
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🏒 Early Years in Ayr
John learned his trade on the small Ayr curling rink at Limekiln Road — a modest 154ft x 88ft compared to the standard 200ft x 100ft rink. The smaller ice surface gave Ayr a unique home advantage and helped forge some tough young players.
After progressing through the Ayr Academy Juniors, John made his Ayr Bruins debut in the 1980–81 season at just 17 years old. That year he played 24 games, notching 3 goals and 2 assists.
There were four or five of us that used to make up the numbers when the older guys didn’t fancy away games
to places like Durham, Whitley Bay or Cleveland, John recalls.
Those long coach journeys — often four to five hours each way — were character-building for the young forward and his teammates.
🏗️ The Centrum and Glen Henderson Era
John reflects on the ambitious vision of local entrepreneur Glen Henderson, whose plans for the Centrum Ice Arena promised to transform hockey in Ayr.
Henderson’s ambitions were huge — he wanted the Bruins to become the best team in the UK. He hired former NHL goaltender Don Edwards as General Manager, who in turn brought in ex-Toronto Maple Leaf Rocky Saganiuk as player-coach.
Rocky was one of the best players and coaches ever to come to this country, John says with admiration.
Under Saganiuk’s leadership, the Bruins built a competitive side that made history at Wembley in 1989.
🏆 Wembley 1989 – A Night to Remember
That season, Ayr took the 6th and final playoff spot, defying expectations.
People thought we’d be the whipping boys,” John says, but we made Wembley.
In the semi-final, the Bruins stunned the grand-slam-chasing Durham Wasps, winning 12–6 to reach their first-ever Wembley Championship Final.
As captain, John led his team onto the ice against Alex Dampier’s Nottingham Panthers in front of a packed crowd.
It was an unbelievable atmosphere. I’ll never forget it,” he recalls.
John even opened the scoring at 8:54 of the first period. Despite a valiant effort, the Bruins eventually fell 6–3 as the Panthers lifted the Heineken Playoff Trophy.
Still, that night remains one of Ayr’s proudest hockey moments.
⚫⚪ 1990 and the Raiders Era
Expectations were high the following season as the club rebranded as the Ayr Raiders, unveiling a sleek new black, white, and grey kit. All three imports were retained, but despite a promising roster, injuries and poor form led to disappointment and a missed playoff berth.
When Rocky Saganiuk departed at season’s end, the club entered a turbulent period marked by:
- The collapse of Glen Henderson’s business empire, which nearly sank the team
- A promotion/relegation battle with fierce rivals, the Fife Flyers
- Relegation to the Heineken First Division
- Failed promises from Sheffield Steelers director David Gardener-Brown
- And ultimately, the winding up of the Ayr Bruins
🏒 Moving South – Peterborough Pirates
Following Ayr’s collapse, John headed south to join the Peterborough Pirates. Ironically, he had suffered a serious eye injury there a few seasons earlier — from a teammate’s stray stick.
Despite his strong performances, the Pirates also faced financial instability, and after one season John returned to Scotland to sign with the Paisley Pirates.
🏆 Success with the Paisley Pirates
John’s four seasons in Paisley were among his most enjoyable. The highlight came with a Scottish Cup victory in Kirkcaldy over the hometown Fife Flyers.
It was a packed house — 3,500 fans, mostly Flyers supporters. It was 4–4 after two periods, then we scored four in the third to win 8–4. It was great to finally win some silverware.
John contributed 2 goals and 2 assists, while teammates Dean Edmiston and Ian Robertson each netted hat-tricks.
It was a huge game for the Pirates — a terrific night, John remembers fondly.
After four memorable seasons, he decided it was time to hang up the skates.
🧢 Behind the Bench – Coaching Years
John’s passion for the game didn’t end on the ice. He spent two seasons back in Ayr coaching the Ayr Scottish Eagles SNL team, finally skating on the long-awaited Centrum Ice Arena surface.
Soon after, his old friend Paul Hand convinced him to join the Paisley Pirates bench as an assistant coach. John spent 18 months experiencing the highs and lows of team management before stepping away from hockey after the 1998–99 season.
🚛 Life After Hockey
Today, John Kidd enjoys semi-retirement after a long career in the haulage industry, though he can still occasionally be spotted behind the wheel of a lorry — proof that he’s never been one to sit still for long.
You can also listen to Podcast interviews from John’s alumni of former Ayr Bruins, Peterborough Pirates and Paisley Pirates players:
Tommy Plommer (Ayr) Episode S2 E03
Frank Morris (Ayr) Episode S2 E05
Scott O’Connor (Ayr & Peterboro’) Episode S3 E03
André Malo (Ayr) Episode S4E10
Kenny McKie (Peterborough) Episode S2 E25
Scott Plews (Paisley) Episode S1E15
Paul Hand (Paisley) Episode S2 E07
🎧 Listen to the full interview for more stories from John Kidd and his former teammates from the Ayr Bruins, Peterborough Pirates, and Paisley Pirates — now available on all of your favourite Podcast Players
💬 About the Podcast
The Old Time Hockey UK Podcast celebrates the stories, memories, and legacy of British ice hockey through interviews with players, coaches, and fans who shaped the sport’s history. Check out of Facebook page featuring alumni from the Ayr Bruins, Fife Flyers, Nottingham Panthers, and beyond.