Stewart Smith was born and raised in the Lanarkshire mining village of Burnbank, the same village that reared such sporting greats as Jock Stein and Walter McGowan.

While this upbringing led Jock and Walter to become legends of Scottish sport, Stewart achieved his own level of sporting fame as a less than promising left-winger with Blantyre Vics in the early seventies.

The Vics side that won the Scottish Junior Cup in 1970, bore no resemblance whatsoever to the one of 1972, which Stewart helped steer to relegation from Division 1 of the Central League.

These days Stewart Smith's sporting activities are mainly centred around Hamilton Golf Club, where he is widely recognised as a bandit, and occasionally watching the other love of his life, Hamilton Accies where he is widely recognised as a hooligan.

Stewart's spare time is mostly taken up by freelance comedy writing, mainly for the BBC, both radio and television, and among those who have struggled to raise a laugh through his efforts, are Gregor Fisher, Tony Roper, Jonathan Watson and Elaine C. Smith.

Such is his success in this field of entertainment, that he steadfastly refuses to give up his day job, and indeed relies heavily on after-dinner speaking as his main source of a regular balanced meal. He loves all sport and is equally at home in bowling, golf , rugby and soccer clubs.

As a much sought-after speaker on the Burns circuit, Stewart has successfully performed at such far-flung outposts as the International Convention Centre in Calgary, the British Embassy in Cairo, the British Ambassadors residence in Sofia, Bulgaria, and the 147 Snooker Club in Stewarton.