ANYONE of the opinion that football is more of a young man’s game nowadays will find plenty of evidence to the contrary at Bellsdale Park this weekend where a veritable array of “golden oldies” will figure in the Super Premier Division clash between Beith and near neighbours Kilwinning Rangers.

As many as 11 players aged 32 years of age or more could find themselves with starting jerseys, and setting down a marker for the home team’s long-in-the-tooth brigade is 41-year-old centre-back Mark McLaughlin, who will be aided and abetted by defensive partners John Sheridan (38) and Kevin McDonald (34) in putting up the shutters in front of goalkeeper Stephen Grindlay (35).

Laying claim as the elder statesman in the visiting ranks is lynchpin defender Stevie Swift, who has defied Father Time in making a playing comeback with the Buffs at the age of 36 and even more remarkably after completing a rollercoaster five years as manager of Kilbirnie Ladeside.

He is a matter of months older than seasoned goalkeeping team-mate Adam Strain, while another two qualifiers for Kilwinning’s own version of a “Dad’s Army” team are striker Ian Cashmore (33) and midfield playmaker Liam McGuinness(32).

“The pair of them are mere pups in comparison to some of us who will be running around the pitch on Saturday trying to prove we are not past our sell-by date," scoffed Swifty

“And I would think the likes of Kenny McLean and Richie Burke are hardly what you might describe as bordering on geriatric.

“A lot of people think modern-day football is all about explosive pace and running power but what I’ve lost in the limbs down through the years is more than compensated for by tapping into the experience I've accumulated, which helps when it comes to holding my own against younger guys..

“And the very same applies to the trio of Marky, Shez and Kev whose names would not be jotted down on Beith’s team sheet if they were not showing themselves capable of still doing the business.”

“There’s going to be a lot of years out on the pitch come Saturday but that will not diminish the game as a spectacle in the slightest …if anything the contest between the two blends of youth and experience will add to it.”

The former Stranraer double title winner has adopted a “one game at a time “ approach since recently returning to the Junior playing ranks he most notably lit up in his prime as a marauding full-back with Benburb, Linlithgow Rose and Irvine Meadow.

But even someone of his vast experience cannot prevent thoughts from wandering forward to Kilwinning’s forthcoming Scottish Junior Cup quarter-final clash away to Auchinleck Talbot a week on Saturday.

He insisted: “Stringing together this run of appearances for the Buffs has been a real lift for me personally after the various highs and lows of management and it’s true what they say that nothing beats playing football.

“I go into every game thinking it will be my last and my focus is always on the job in hand which up to now has been to be disciplined and operate as a stay at home defender sitting behind Isaac Kerr who is a big lump of a lad and at his best as an out- and-out ball winner.

“That said I do find myself excited thinking about our Scottish tie with Talbot and I put that down to me needing to put a few cup ghosts to rest after finishing a loser in three quarter-finals and one semi-final as well as coming off second best as a Linlithgow Rose player in the 2003 final against Tayport.

“You cannot help but dream when so close to the final again and more so at my stage in life when you know it’s likely to be a last ever shot at it.”

Beith’s preparations for the all-Ayrshire encounter included a warm a Monday night friendly match against Kello Rovers which saw Darren Christie bag a hat trick in a 6-1 win for the Super Premier side.

On the team front, Mighty boss Johnny Millar reports no injuries of note and will have a full squad to choose from while counterpart Chris Strain’s only selection headache is whether to change a winning line-up in order to reintroduce suspension-free pair Joe Coleman and Findlay Frye and hone their match fitness levels ahead of the trip to Auchinleck.

Still posted missing from the visiting ranks is the skilful Carlo Monti, who has one more game to serve in a two-match ban doled out for his red carding in Kilwinning’s fifth-round cup victory over Kelty Hearts.

Meanwhile, surprising transfer news from another of the Scottish Cup last eight, Gartcairn, who have released Colin Marshall, outstanding in their last-round triumph over Carluke Rovers, while also agreeing to listen to offers for fringe player Ally Morgan.