Coisty: I was happy being a civil servant
Striker among centre’s first recruits
RANGERS hero Ally McCoist has shared fond memories of his first ever office job as former colleagues celebrate a 40-year anniversary.
The former Ibrox boss was among the first recruits hired to work at East Kilbride’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s joint HQ when it opened in 1981, juggling shifts alongside his part-time career at St Johnstone.
And the Scotland legend has paid tribute to dozens of civil servants who went on to serve four full decades providing global aid at Abercrombie House’s Overseas Development Administration, saying he could have been marking the occasion with them had his football career not taken off.
He said: “You can never say how life might have panned out if football hadn’t worked out but I wouldn’t have been desperate to leave Overseas Development.
“I’m deadly serious because I really enjoyed my work there.
“You never know, if I hadn’t joined
Sunderland, I might have been one of those who have served the full 40 years.”
McCoist was one of 350 staff hired when the Government building was officially opened by then-foreign secretary Lord Carrington 40 years ago today.
The popular radio and TV pundit, 59, worked there as a clerical assistant before his big break, which led to a glittering career on the pitch and saw him become Rangers’ record goalscorer.
I might have been there for the full 40 years ALLY McCOIST ON LOVE OF JOB IN EAST KILBRIDE
McCoist said: “I still remember my first day, getting off the No77 bus from Calderwood and walking into this amazing new place as a civil servant.”
After five months, Ally was signed by Sunderland for £355,000 and never looked back.
He added: “It’s amazing to think 26 of the people I worked with when Abercrombie House opened are there today. If you ask me, they all deserve a George Cross in recognition of that.”