Globetrotting return of Wild Rover Kevin

The last week has been a massive one for Albion Rovers and their fans as planes, trains and automobiles were commandeered to transport diehards from around the globe to Lanarkshire with thoughts of a giant killing in a fourth round cup tie against the Scottish champions.

Indeed, the lure of the Scottish Cup even dragged one adventurous ex-pat all the way from idyllic Clearwater Beach in Florida to the equally idyllic Airdrie (sorry, I got a bit carried away there with the prose).

Anyway, as I was saying, Kevin Boyden, former Albion Rovers ballboy and beneficiary of the famed “lift-over” at the Cliftonhill turnstiles back in the glory days of Ray of The Rovers (Ray Franchetti), became the modern day equivalent of Alan Whicker in his quest to roar on his boyhood heroes.

Kev, who’s originally from Whifflet, has lived in Florida with his wife Ann and daughter Danielle for 15 years and when he heard the draw for the cup he immediately begun to plot his return. He was a programmeseller the last time Rovers played C Celtic in 1976.

His incredible jo journey started i in Ta m p a (t (thankfully with th the minimum o of rowdiness) with a flight to Charlotte, North Carolina. After a sw swift turnaround o of around 90 minutes, he was in the air again, heading to the City of Brotherly Love (something like Glasgow) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, before making the transatlantic crossing to Manchester, home to a footballing Theatre of Dreams to rival the one in Coatbridge.

Finally grounded on terra firma, Kevin got on a train to Crewe before embarking on the penultimate stage of his journey, a rail trip to Glasgow followed, finally, and many hours from Clearwater Beach, by the short jaunt to Coatbridge.

The Wild Rover then took a breather and met up with me and two footballing legends, Dixie Deans and Willie Henderson, for a pre- match coffee and a discussion on the match tactics the Rovers would adopt against the team blocking their route to Hampden.

Messers Henderson and Deans were in awe of this footballing fan who had spent more time in the air than big Joe Jordan did in the whole of his illustrious career, and the s t o ries and anecdotes f rom the glory days of Scottish football were only halted when time came for the short journey up the A89 to Airdrie’s Excelsior Stadium. Now, I have no doubt that the journey back to Florida will seem that bit longer for Kevin after the match finished with a Celtic victory. Equally however, I have no doubt that Florida will be hearing tales of the mighty Rovers, the incredible journey and the fantastic experience on the day David lost to Goliath – but was still able to claim a moral victory. A safe trip home to the former Rovers ballboy and haste ye back to support your beloved Wee Rovers. lifetime’s supply of chocolate – if only!

But this year, I’ve promised myself once the last Munchie’s been polished off, will be different.

I’m going to take part in the Kilt Walk for my favourite charity Spirit Aid. But I need to try to get a bit fitter in the next three months.

I know it’s going to be tough – in fact it’ll be a bigger challenge than growing my hair back – but I’m determined to do it.

And to give me even more of an incentive, I would be delighted if any of the Advertiser’s readers could join me and a few of the River City crew on the charity walk, which will be followed by a great party at The Clutha Bar for all those taking part, where hopefully I’ll be letting my newly grown hair down.

If your up for the challenge, it’s on April 30, and you just need to drop me a note at patrick@spiritaid.org.

I have no doubt Florida will be hearing of the mighty Rovers

Travel guru Alan Whicker