Erskine sets a goal for brother Liam to hit
CHRIS ERSKINE is delighted to be held up as an example for ambitious hopefuls in the Junior game to follow.
And if his brother Liam (McLaughlin) happens to plot a similar path to that which took Erskine from those ranks to the Scottish top flight, then the Partick Thistle attacker will be immensely proud. Erskine, formerly of Kilbirnie Ladeside, and Kris Doolan — who had played at Junior level in Ayrshire — form a productive partnership that has gone some way to keeping Thistle in healthy shape in the Premiership this season.
If they go on to reach this year’s William Hill Scottish Cup Final, then their stories will be an inspiration to East Kilbride Thistle striker Liam McLaughlin and others.
‘Liam is 20 and I think he looks at my situation and hopes it will happen for him one day,’ said Erskine.
‘You’ve got to want it, but you also need luck and I had that. I’ve told Liam that Kris and I are the proof that it can be done. I was lucky to get a move to a big club such as Thistle.
‘I hadn’t given up on playing senior football but I thought playing full-time had probably passed me by and the lower divisions might be my best route into giving me that chance to step up. I’d played Junior football till I was 22.
‘Kris and I came from the same kind of place and I think that more clubs, particularly in the lower divisions, should go for Junior players.’
Erskine, a pipe fitter on the Govan and Scotstoun shipyards before making the leap to full-time football, will consider a return to his first trade when time is called on his playing career, unless he advances into coaching.
He explained: ‘I’ll probably go back there when I finish playing. I’ll also start my coaching badges in the next year or two but I’ll need to go back to something.’
On current form, Thistle will hope that doesn’t happen any time soon. The 30-yearold and scoring sidekick Doolan have helped their team to three league wins in a row, hoisting them into the top six. Their last defeat was on February 4 at Pittodrie, a venue they return to today seeking to book a semi-final place.
Erskine reached that stage last season with Dundee United but could not influence the penalty-kick drama at Hampden — they lost out to Hibs — as he had already been substituted.
Two years earlier, he missed out on United’s run to the final against St Johnstone because he had been loaned back to Firhill.
‘It’s one thing I’d love to experience,’ said Erskine. ‘A Scottish Cup Final would be a massive thing for Partick if we get there.’