CHAMPIONSHIP SPECIAL
ADAM ECKERSLEY was ordered to study the left-back on Manchester derby day but admits he couldn’t take his eyes off celebrity WAGs Jordan and Victoria Beckham.
The St Mirren full-back was given the VIP treatment at Old Trafford as a kid coming through the ranks at United.
Part of the youth team’s education involved watching first-team games and keeping a close eye on the stars in their position.
But Eckersley confesses they were often distracted by David Beckham’s other half Posh Spice and Katie Price, Dwight Yorke’s girlfriend at the time.
It’s a different world from derby day in Paisley today when the 32-year-old will look to get revenge on Renfrewshire rivals Morton for their 4-1 thumping at Cappielow earlier in the season.
Eckersley said: “I went to a lot of Manchester derbies as a youngster because when I played there we got into trouble if we didn’t go to games.
“I went to every derby for about nine years and I loved it. We had to watch the guys in our positions and learn from them. Our coaches Paul McGuinness and Brian McClair would then ask us about the game. I watched Gabriel Heinze, Mikael Silvestre and Patrice Evra.
“We used to sit in the family stand with all the wives and girlfriends. So we used to see Posh Spice and Katie Price a lot. In fact, we sometimes used to spend our time watching them instead of the game – the size of Jordan!”
The only thing former Hearts defender Eckersley is eyeing today is revenge as he looks to keep the Buddies at the top of the Championship.
He said: “It will be a tough match and we’re looking for a little bit of redemption after the last game.
“We had a man sent off that day and being down to 10 men isn’t easy in a derby. We just had an off day so we want to put that right.
“We had a few injuries too and things were chopping and changing but we have a settled team now and are flying.
“We have competition for places and that’s a good thing at any club. You have a guy behind you pushing you every day so you know you have to play well to stay in the team.
“Derby day is always a good day no matter what town you’re playing in. I played in the Hearts and Hibs games and I loved them. The hunger and passion is there in every derby and I have a sense of that with this game too.”
Derby rival Gary Harkins admits there is no escape for him if Morton are on the end of a defeat because he still lives in Greenock.
The 32-year-old, who spent a season with St Mirren, said: “I feel a bit more responsibility than some of the other boys because I need to walk past our punters during the week.
“I can’t go home to Glasgow or somewhere else to escape the fans if we lose on a Saturday – especially if we lose a derby.
“Being a Greenock boy coming to Paisley means I will be getting some stick, and also being a former St Mirren player.
“But I can handle it and it’s part and parcel of the game. I didn’t get as much game time as I’d have liked but that was a while ago now.
“I’m looking forward to coming back and trying to win.
“Everyone is looking forward to the derby and it should be a cracker. I still get the buzz when it comes around and I’m really looking forward to it.
“These are the games you look forward to. They have a fantastic atmosphere and you can’t hear yourself think at times.
“Most of the boys have been with us a while now and played in quite a few derbies so they know what to expect.
“It was a great the last time we played them so we know they’ll be right up for it.
“They won’t want to be on the end of another heavy defeat but we have to just worry about ourselves. We have to work hard and stop them from playing then we can hopefully get the right result.
“We haven’t had the consistency we’ve needed so far this season. We’ve dropped points when we should have got wins.
“But it’s only the second quarter of the season and we are going into it confident.”
● Eckersley and Harkins were at PFA Scotland’s IT Skills Course, based at St Mirren Park, run with the help of funding from Scottish Union Learning and education provider City of Glasgow College.
ST MIRREN v MORTON