NOBODY can deny the credentials of the Kilbirnie Ladeside co-management duo of Stephen Swift and Mark Crilly when it comes to knowledge of Junior stars of recent decades.

Both are former Scotland Junior internationalists, though former marauding full- back Swift edges it in terms of experience at this level thanks to playing stints with Benburb, Linlithgow Rose, Irvine Meadow and Pollok prior to taking up the Blasties reins.

Accomplished midfield playmaker Crilly is better known for his time in the senior ranks with St Mirren, Ayr United, Raith Rovers, Dumbarton and Stranraer but he also had his Junior moments as an Ayr loan signing at Largs Thistle and Glenafton.

He then teamed up with Swift at Meadow Park, Newlandsfield and Valefield.

Their backgrounds in the game ensure that when they speak, people listen.

So I will be interested to find out what others make of their Juniors Dream Team picks.

In a 4-4-2 formation, they came up with.

Goalkeeper: Straight away we had opinion divided, with Swifty singing the praises of the former Benburb No.1 Buzz Lamont, whom he recalls for his agility and as a great talker when they played together at Tinto Park.

But Crills stuck to his guns and won the day with his choice of one-time Glenafton shot-stopper Henry Smith, although he is probably best known for the 15 years he spent at Hearts.

Defenders: No argument over the sweeper's role, with both men plumping for Derek Wingate. Crilly described him as the best central defender he played alongside after sharing a dressing room with "Dexi" at Stranraer and Medda.

Swifty, meanwhile, reckons the defensive cornerstone was never better than when he operated at the heart of the Bens team that lost out to eventual winners Whitburn in the Scottish Junior Cup semi-final of 2000.

Finding a stopper-type partner for Dexi provoked plenty of heated debate with the names of Bens legend David "Soap" McInally, Tam Courts of Kelty Hearts, ex-Whitburn defender Joe Mbu and current Beith centreback Kevin McDonald to the fore.

Crills came up trumps with his pick of Hurlford's summer signing Chris Robertson, who was previously with Cumnock and Irvine Meadow.

Crills then nominated close pal Swift for the right-back berth but, deeming it a rule that co-managers cannot be considered, the position was filled by Joe Carruth, formerly of Pollok and Glenafton.

Swifty admitted: "I only played alongside Joe when he was an outstanding sweeper for Scotland Juniors but I just couldn't leave someone of his pace and athleticism out of my dream team."

Both men thought long and hard about choosing their ex-Medda team-mate John Dillon to play at left- back, only for him to miss out in the end.

Swift pinned his colours to the mast of another Bens star from a bygone era, Andy McFarlane - not least because of his "wand of a left peg" and ability to win aerial challenges against attackers towering over him.

Midfielders: Unity prevailed again as both men unhesitatingly picked Davie Hamilton for his goalscoring prowess at the back post.

But protracted and heated debate ensued between Swifty and Crills until agreement was grudgingly reached that nothing could compare to the wing wizardy of ex-Linlithgow Rose ace Mark Corcoran when it came to supplying balance on the left side.

A parade of highly-revered Junior names from the not-too-distant past, such as Frank Haggerty, Dougie Fontana and Danny Smith, were suggested as candidates for the central boiler room.

But finally the management duo decided on energetic and combative ex-Glenafton star Neil Scally as the ideal partner for the more technically gifted Alan Jack, who played with Shettleston, Benburb, Clydebank and Arthurlie.

Forwards: Arguably the most difficult area to call, yet both men immediately felt they couldn't leave out former Medda and Lok goal machine Brian McGinty.

Crills described him as a "a total winner who never hid out on the pitch and was underrated by many supporters but never by team-mates".

Another former team-mate, current Arthurlie frontman Richie Barr, was given due consideration. As was diminutive ex-Benburb forward Gary McGrotty, whom Swifty rates for his outstanding skill and for being the bravest striker he ever played alongside.

In the end, though, it was Castlemilk-born and raised John McLaren who won the day for the phenomenal skills he displayed when leading the Glenafton forward line back in the 1990s.

So their all-time best Junior XI, which will undoubtedly divide opinion, reads as:

Smith; Carruth, Wingate, Robertson, McFarlane; Hamilton, Scally, Jack, Corcoran; McGinty, McLaren.

Substitutes: Barr, McGrotty, Fontana, Mbu and Lamont.