PLAYING McHARG TO GET Maryhill legend picks his best XI
HIS work rate, bravery and willingness never to give up a lost cause had opponents decrying Scott McHarg as an absolute pest during his playing career yet nowadays the 45 year old is warmly received throughout Junior football and not just at former clubs Maryhill, Blantyre Vics, Shotts Bon Accord, Johnstone Burgh, Hurlford United and Petershill.
He is probably best remembered as an integral part of the highly successful Ronnie McDonald and Alan Maitland steered Maryhill side of the late 1990s whose silverware haul included three consecutive Evening Times Cup wins and, not unsurprisingly, several of his Lochburn Park team-mates from that era have figured in Scott’s Dream Team selection thoughts.
“Memories of the many outstanding saves made by Thommo (John Thomson) at Maryhill will never leave me and it hurts me to think of him having to play second fiddle however I just cannot overlook the career path that big Neil Parry has carved out for himself since we teamed up together at Petershill. Neil was so dependable and I can never recall him letting the team down.”
Scott’s heyday saw him in numerous tussles against Junior International right backs Gavin Duncan (Arthurlie) and Kevin O’Neil (Pollok) caps but king of the right-sided defenders in his book is ex-Maryhill stalwart Terry Farrell.
He said: “Terry had boundless energy to get up and down the park and was so good on the ball but his most endearing quality is being the biggest team player of them all. Down the left side I’ve gone for another Lochburm team mate, Raymond Day, a hard as nails type who arrived with us after winning the Scottish Cup with
Cumnock and immediately brought a steeliness to our team that had been missing.
“It was difficult to leave out Paul McMenamin (Petershill) and big Craig Cramner (Pollok) but Raymond really was that special.”
In the central spots, Scott’s liking for a physically powerful pair saw him plump for Ian Spittal (Pollok) and Stevie Campbell (Maryhill)whose shared attitude to winning every tackle in every game made them standouts. He insisted: “Probably my most difficult call as the Petershill quartet of Gerry Joyce, Bryan Smith, Ross McCabe and David Merriman were all viable contenders as was Darren Murray (Maryhill), a more cultured footballer than either Spit or Domo but those two were winners .
“Spit would also captain my team because I have never come across a better dressing room leader both on and off the pitch.”
“I could not fail to mention Neil Diamond (Benburb), essentially a winger whose pace and close control skills terrorised defences while I had close associations with another phenomenal flank player, Stevie Easton whose stamina sapping runs could wreak havoc in the best defences.
But the pick of the right-sided bunch for me is Tam McAllister (Maryhill) ,a box-to-box type able to come up with something special in the big games but also an incredible worker for his team mates and a real mainstay of our side.
Scott deliberated long and hard over the qualities of former Petershill pair Michael Keenan and Alex “Toastie” Burns for his engine room picks and he recalls Dougie Fontana (Pollok) as “scary” while Digger
Fulton (Arthurlie) did not shirk away from leaving his mark on opponents. But he ranks the eminently more skilful Ritchie McCusker (Maryhill) as overshadowing everyone and believes the sheer desire and running power of another Lochburn legend, Andy McClay makes him the perfect fit for McCusker whom Alex Ferguson took to Manchester United as a 17 year old.
He added: “Ritchie established himself as the most vital cog in our midfield from day one and he had everything in his locker only for a mix of injury and illness to cut short his career.
“Andy, more than anyone filled the void in terms of dictating play and he is often looked upon as a Pollok great but I always felt he was at his best wearing the red and black hoops of Maryhill .
“Making it a full deck of Maryhill midfield maestros in my team is Martin Nelson, better known for playing a central role but Nelly’s ability on the ball means he could play anywhere and I just have to include him even though it means demoting a good pal Stevie Mooney (Petershill) to second best.”
Scott has always maintained the teams he played in and against were blessed with terrific front men.
He recalled: “Big Pat Keogh could mix it with the biggest defenders doing the rounds and Tam Woods was another who could more than hold his own physically but someone who had the heart of a lion and would never shirk away from going up against defenders towering over him was Stevie Dallas a battler who is renowned as Petershill’s greatest goalscorer of all time despite twice having to make playing comeback s from serious knee injuries.
“It did cross my mind to partner Stevie with Danny Diver (Pollok) or the very quick Stevie Convery (Arthurlie) but how could I ever overlook the genius that is my former Maryhill buddy Henry Templeton (father of David).
“He came to Maryhill as an Ayr United legend under Ally McLeod and quickly became the father figure of our dressing room and he was great for bringing on the likes of myself and Alan Grant though we stopped short of indulging in his pre-match preparation of a couple of stiff drinks.
“On his day quite sensational and I can only hazard a guess as to how good he was in his prime.”