BSC’S FAIRY STORY INTENSE IMMENSE
SCOTTISH CUP Rest is history as minnows scale Scottish Cup heights
THE group of local parents who set up an after-school sports club in west end of Glasgow could hardly have dreamed of this.
That was just 16 years ago in Broomhill and now the club’s main football side – Lowland League title-chasers BSC Glasgow – are making history after storming into the last 16 of the Scottish Cup.
Saturday’s stunning 3-1 win at Lowland rivals East Kilbride took them into the fifth round where they’ll welcome Dundee United or Hibs as they eye a dream quarter-final spot.
It’s something those parents would scarcely have believed back in 2004 – but BSC boss Stephen Swift isn’t quite as surprised.
Gaffer Swifty has overseen the latest stage of BSC’s development as they eye League Two but first he’ll relish taking on Hibees or United at their temporary home of Alloa’s Indodrill Park next month.
It was back to normal with training at Benburb this week after the win over Kilby and Swift said: “We’re on a major high, the fact this club can be talked about in the same category as Dundee United and Hibs is amazing and we are intrigued to see who it will be in the next round.”
All three scorers from Saturday spoke of their pride at taking part in such an historic occasion.
Thomas Collins, who recently graduated from a history and politics degree, got the first in the opening minute and said: “I’m still really elated to be honest, Saturday was such a great day for the club and every single player.
“We just blew them away in the first 30 or 40 minutes and that was down to our intensity.”
That intensity saw them come from 3-1 down to KO East Fife 4-3 in the last round and defender Jamie McCormack, who got the second against Kilby, said: “I’m still buzzing.
“I thought the boys were unbelievable on Saturday and I am delighted at the draw.
“There was no better feeling than scoring on Saturday but the win was the most important thing.
“Everything about the gaffer is intensity, being on the front foot and the early goal gave us that perfect platform for the rest of the game on Saturday.”
McCormack’s full-time job is in gas mains replacement,and he said: “It’s a hard graft, a tough job, when I usually get to training I’m knackered, sometimes I’m starting work at 8am and not getting home until after 10pm.”
Experienced striker Martin Grehan believes his side are the “fairytale of the Cup’”
He said: “Saturday was a bit of a blur, since the game I have just been so buzzing that we managed to put in the performance that we did.”
At 35 Grehan is one of the more senior members of Swift’s squad. Now a sales executive
Grehan wants to use his experiences and knowledge in the game to keep everyone else grounded in the squad.
He added: “The gaffer has worked on this squad, every year I have been here we are rising and improving season by season and the run in the Cup is evidence of that.
“We need to be careful nobody gets carried away but with this bunch of boys the work ethic is brilliant, the ability we have backs it up.
“But first and foremost they work hard in training and they work hard in games.
“So there won’t be any kind of a problem with people getting ahead of themselves.”
The meteoric rise of BSC Glasgow has gone hand in hand with manager Swift’s rise into management.
He remains focused on the league as well as this cup run.
He added: “I’ve said to the players the chase is in on with Kelty but we will take it one game at a time, starting with Caledonian Braves on Saturday.
“But the pressure is all on Kelty considering how much money they have.”
The closeness and tightknitted bond throughout the squad is something Swift prides himself in and when questioned about his future he admitted he’d have to consider the options.
He said: “Like any good player I would say I’m no different as a coach in terms of having ambition and as much as I love it here at BSC and I’ve created a great team and great bunch of boys if there the right ones opportunities came I would have to look at that but I’m enjoying my job.”
The fairytale story of BSC’s rise from an after-school sports club to the last 16 of the Scottish Cup may just have a few more chapters left in it.
Everything about the gaffer is intensity, being on the front foot from the off THOMAS COLLINS