Forty years' involvement in the Juniors - 26 of them as a player - is a surefire way to live long in the memory of followers of the game at this level.

Not that Eddie McKim failed to make his mark in countless other ways during a career in which 326 goals notched as a Benburb winger between 1977 and 1991 earmarked him as the Govan club's all-time record goalscorer and brought added recognition through a Scotland Juniors call-up.

Paisley-born Eddie surfaced at St Mirin's Academy in the town, playing alongside another schoolboy prospect - Willie Young, who was to move from Arthurlie to Aston Villa and make his first-team debut against Manchester United.

A stint with Williamsburgh United Boys' Club ended when they amalgamated with Pollok St Convals, from where Eddie was snapped up at Under-18 level by then Pollok match secretary Bobby McIntyre to join a Newlandsfield side containing such as Dickie Brock, John Redburn, goalkeeper Bruce Livingstone and striker Joe Ball.

Tam McAllister's appointment to the Southside hotseat led to Eddie experiencing the highs and lows of Junior football - inside 24 hours.

He said: "Tam McAllister was assisted by Tam Young, who I don't think was overly impressed with me as a player and I think this was borne out after we won the Central League Cup with a 3-1 Friday night victory over Cambuslang Rangers in what was our last game of the season.

"The following morning saw everyone in at the park for signing talks and I was the only one of the cup-winning team put up for sale."

Benburb boss Bob Burnett won the race for his signature and Eddie's 1978/79 season move to Tinto Park saw him team up with the manager's son Albert, Ally Marshall, Ally Edmiston, Grant McIntosh and Billy Walker in a side coached by former Celtic full-back Ian Young.

Experienced defender Jim Quigley and striker Stevie Whitehead arrived the following season and the wing ace thrived as part of an all-out attacking side that went all the way to the Scottish Junior Cup final, only to lose out 2-0 in a Hampden Park replay to Baillieston following a 2-2 first-game draw in which Eddie netted.

He said: "That Bens team was packed with smashing players and had the perfect mix of dig and flair, so it must go down as the best I ever played in. It was a huge disappointment not to win the cup, however we did come up against the top-notch Baillieston side of that era - inclusive of quality front-men Billy Patterson and Jackie Goodall, who scored their replay goals.

"Rusty Craig was their manager and he was a fearsome looking character with flowing long hair and beard, while we had Tommy Douglas in charge, who had sworn not to have his hair cut until Benburb went out of the Scottish that season.

"Arthur Montford commentated on the televised final along with ex-Celtic striker John Hughes, who back then was the first-ever Scotland Juniors manager and he picked both myself and Benburb's goalkeeper Ian Kilpatrick to play against England that season in a side containing Norrie Fulton and Ian Balmer."

The majority of that cup final side were still on the Govan club's books two years later when the West of Scotland Cup was lifted through Eddie netting the decisive spot-kick in a 4-2 penalty kick shoot-out triumph over Port Glasgow.

Bens keeper Billy Peacock, who saved a couple of penalties in the West success, was to team up with Eddie as Tinto Park co-managers, following the sacking of Jim Leckie, and the pairing steered the Bens to the old Central 'B' Division title by staying unbeaten over 26 matches.

They also signed winger Andy Dailly from Pollok, whose arrival paved the way for Eddie's 1991 departure at 36 years of age to sign for Johnstone Burgh, where his teaming up with highly-rated trio Norrie Anderson, Joe Rae and David Malarkey led to the Keanie Park outfit winning the Central 'C' Division.

Unbelievably, he was to be retained as a player for the next nine seasons, but being left out of their losing 2000 Scottish Cup final side against Whitburn prompted him to hang up the boots at the end of that season when, ironically, his last league outing came in a game against Benburb.

His stepping up to help George Walker on the coaching side of things, along with Archie Halley, saw the Burgh famously win the last-ever Central First Division championship in 2002 - with a side containing Eddie McGuinness, Davie Brolly and Alan Donahue, but the title celebrations were still going strong when the experienced Walker quit to take up the reins at Kilbirnie Ladeside, taking Eddie in as his No.2.

They duly returned to Keanie Park in 2005 and have remained there ever since, however their tenure is fast running out of time as both men have announced their intentions to walk away from the Juniors at the end of this season.

Eddie insisted: "You can never say never in this game, but I'm puffed out dealing with non-football matters and do not derive anything like the same enjoyment as I did in years gone by.

"It's maybe best that George and I step aside for some new faces."