'Murdo Saved Me From Limbo'

May 11 2008 John Hillcoat

THE last two Saturdays have been absolute heaven - not having to get up at the crack of dawn to travel to places like Elgin or Stranraer.

Because of my failure to reach the play-offs with Stenhousemuir the extra two weeks' rest have givenme more time to enjoy other things.

So it has been down to the local astroturf to watch my son Jonathan play for Linwood Rangers Boys Club.

The wee man is turning out for the Under-9s and the SFA ethos at that level is for non competitive games - aye right!

Children are naturally combative and some of the challenges that have been flying in would even put former Rangers hardman Terry Hurlock to shame.

The SFA have done a great job by insisting the lads play small-sided games at that age.

The days of turning up on a Saturday morning to get humped 30-0 are now a thing of the past.

Even the facilities are great compared to what I had to play on many moons ago.

A graze the size of Japan on the side of your butt cheek was a weekly occurrence after diving around the old red ash for an hour.

And if that wasn't bad enough, waking up the next morning with the bed sheet stuck to your a**e was a stinging reminder you were in for a week of pain.

But I have to admit pro footballers are definitely pampered compared to what other guys do for the game.

Scottish youth club coaches such as Robert Clark, Mark Robertson, Robert Lang, Billy Hassan and big Ronnie Scobie are up with the milkman to ensure their young players are well prepared for a match.

And fair play to these guys for dedicating their spare time so the kids get structured games.

However, I know the novelty of having no football of my own to focus on will soon wear off.

Because it won't be long until June 14 and the start of a new chapter in my long and winding career.

I will enter the dressing-room of my 15th club when I join my new East Stirling team-mates to pull on the running spikes and endure my 21 st pre-season training slog.

The close season is getting shorter and Shire gaffer Jim McInally's decision to start back so early proves again the man means business and nothing less than a play-off place next year will do.

I am especially delighted to be sorted for next season because the goalies union will be in meltdown with so many keepers on the lookout for a new club.

Guys like Ayr United's Mark McGeown, David McGurn at Morton and St Johnstone's Kevin Cuthbert have all been given the heave-ho.

And the snowball effect is sure to send the goalkeeping merry-go-round spinning like Amy Winehouse after an all-day session on the booze.

But for once I'm heading into summer with the assurance I have a club to go back to instead of joining the frantic rat race looking for new employment.

Sadly that security hasn't been a regular occurrence for me over the years.

Iknow the agony of trying to find a new club only too well - getting binned right after the last game of the season has happened to me more often than I care to remember.

I understand exactly what McGeown and co (plus outfield players who have also been freed) are going through because trying to get fixed up with a new deal can take over your life.

I was lucky to be a full-time footballer for around 12 years but thought my time was up after just seven when Clyde gaffer Alex Smith decided to cut me loose.

The panic I endured was unbelievable to the point where I sent a begging letter to every club in Britain offering my services.

But that didn't do the trick and the feeling of sheer rejection was inescapable as I received a succession of Dear John replies that almost sent me over the edge.

To say it left me feeling about as useful as a green and white scarf in Manchester next week would be an understatement.

I also remember being such a paranoid wreck that I took palpitations every time a strange number flashed up on my mobile in anticipation of it being a club manager looking for a keeper.

It usually turned out to be a wind-up merchant, or so called mate, who was putting on some dodgy voice while pretending to offer me a lifeline in the game. Aye, what a good laugh.

But a panic call from Murdo MacLeod almost four months after I was released by the Bully Wee saved the day.

Murdo said his Partick Thistle team were in a goalkeeping crisis and needed someone to fill the gap due to an injury to Mark Cairns.

I was back in business at a decent level and still thank my lucky stars Murdo called that day because it prolonged my full-time career for another five years.

Let's hope this season's merry-go-round is kind to the keepers and they don't have to experience the spin that left myself and loads of others sick.

Good luck guys.