- The family is traditional Scottish working-class (men were expected to become apprentices to a trade at a young age).
- Billy and Iain – and Davie, to some extent – are locked in this traditional mind-set: they are practical, keep a lid on their emotions, and follow football closely.
- Class boundaries leads to some prejudice (see Iain’s comments about Alec’s school, and Alec’s comments about the minister’s son).
- The experience of the middle-class grammar school alienates Alec from Davie: “And what does your father do? He’s not actually working just now, but he’s a sailmaker to trade. Sounds fascinating. Aye’. (p45)
- ‘There’s more to stew than just shovin a dod a meat in the pot wi an oxo cube and slappin it on the plate…’ (p46)
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