Don’t be surprised if Clydebank striker Stevie Dallas picks up a yellow card should he score a goal in tomorrow’s crunch Emirates Scottish Cup quarter-final clash against Hill O’Beath.
The veteran hitman is determined to help fire the Bankies to victory over the Fifers, but is vowing to pull his shirt over his head if he is fortunate enough to get his name on the Holm Park scoresheet – a celebration which incurs an automatic booking.
But, as Stevie explains, this somewhat bizarre behaviour is merely an indication of the Bankies’ terrific dressing room camaraderie that has spawned a unique system of ‘fines’.
The former Petershill favourite explained: “We were thinking over ways to build up funds for players’ nights out and the team’s ‘grandfather’ figure, John Jack, came up with the idea of a £5 fine for every time a player’s picture appears in a newspaper.
“So you can imagine how wide the grin on his face was after I bagged our winning goal in the last round defeat of the cup holders Auchinleck Talbot – a game covered by the Evening Times and just about every other news-paper in the country.
“He turned up at our next training session with five different picture cuttings and I’ve been paying up the £25 in instalments ever since.
“Nothing would please me more than to grab the only goal of the game again tomorrow, however I’ll be taking measures to make myself anonymous if I do.”
Thirty-five-year-old Dallas is keeping fingers crossed this will be his third-time-lucky quarter-final appearance after tasting defeat on pre-vious last-eight ventures with Petershill against Irvine Meadow and, ironically, present club Clydebank last season.
He said: “Knowing I’m not going to get many more chances of getting my hands on a Scottish Cup medal has me really fired up for facing Hill O’Beath.
“That said, I cannot take my place in the team for granted because the gaffer Budgie McGhie is not for revealing his team plans just yet.
“I’m only too aware he is spoilt for choice up front with Stevie Dymock, Chris Mackie and Mark Hailstones also looking to start.
“But just because we’re looking stronger than ever should not be taken as any guarantee of a win over Hill O’Beath. As I’ve found out to my cost down the years, a team has to play on the day in the Scottish Cup or else.”
Bankies boss McGhie is also pleased that his side is in good fettle, other than the sidelined trio of Andy Selkirk (knee) and cup-tied pair Billy Jones and Scott Marshall – although Dallas’s fellow old-stager Jack is battling to shake off of a neck injury.
Nevertheless, McGhie urged caution among the Bankies ahead of the Holm Park encounter. He said: “This club has enjoyed wonderful experiences.
“But, if truth be told, we’ve punched above our weight in the Scottish over the past two seasons. Hill O’Beath deserve every respect.”
Irvine is Lok boss
Pollok today named former Hibs, Airdrie and Alloa striker Willie Irvine as their new manager.
Irvine – who takes over from Rab Sneddon – has spent the last three years in Norway developing a Football Academy for Lillesand.
His previous Junior experience was as player/manager of Sauchie between 2002-05 as well as a short spell as Bo’ness United boss.
Although not assuming control of team matters for tomorrow’s derby clash with Arthurlie, he is expected to meet up with the Lok players and introduce them to his backroom staff of Kenny Shand (formerly of Hamilton Accies) and one-time Arbroath goalkeeper Deerk Jackson.
