Gerry Britton

GERRY BRITTON had an 18-year career as striker before becoming a defence lawyer. He’s now head of the Thistle Weir Youth Academy – a youth programme at Partick Thistle, funded by Lottery winners Colin and Chris Weir. Gerry shares some of his footballing h

BEST MANAGER YOU PLAYED FOR?

JOHN LAMBIE at Partick Thistle – he’s right up there with Billy McNeill, who I started out with at Celtic. Time and time again you would think John had lost his magic but he’d always pull something out of the hat.

BEST PLAYER YOU PLAYED WITH?

IN terms of ability and being able to change games, I got to play with guys like Charlie Nicholas, Frank McAvennie and Jacki Dziekanowski. Paul McStay, though, tops the lot for natural talent.

BEST PLAYER YOU PLAYED AGAINST?

IT’S between Henrik Larsson and Brian Laudrup. They could have a phenomenal impact on a game and I don’t think we’ve seen that since they retired. If I can only pick one, it would have to be Larsson – he was so consistent for so many years.

BIGGEST TURNING POINT IN YOUR CAREER?

LEAVING Celtic and joining Partick Thistle. I’d been at Celtic Park but hadn’t really made an impact on the first team. Moving to Firhill changed me from a reserve to a first-team player. It gave me a new mindset and helped me to mature.

BEST GOAL YOU SCORED?

FOR Partick Thistle against Dundee in a Scottish Cup replay in 2002. I had to flick it over my head and then hit it past Julian Speroni. I didn’t score many like that and I don’t know where it came from.

BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN YOUR CAREER?

WINNING promotion to the top flight with Thistle in 2002, and then managing to stay up.

BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR CAREER?

MY family, but particularly my dad, Joseph. He was always so positive, ran me all over the place and still comes to see Thistle every week.

MOST MEMORABLE MATCH?

PEOPLE still talk to me about Partick Thistle beating Rangers 3-0 at Firhill in 1993, when I scored the last goal. We needed points to stay up and were facing a team with the likes of McCoist, Hateley and Durrant.

BEST STORY ABOUT A TEAM-MATE?

I WAS at Dundee when Chic Charnley signed for the club and everyone was asking me about him. I assured them he got a bad press. He was late for his first day’s training. Then the door burst open and Chic appeared looking dishevelled and with two black eyes!

SECRET ABOUT YOU?

I DID Irish dancing for a couple of months when I was at school. Then one of my class-mates got wind of it and the embarrassment was too much.