FRANK LOVERING appreciates the terrific contribution made by his Benburb backroom team Ian Gray and Anton Smith ...

yet he refused point-blank to take their opinions into account when it came to his Dream Team XI.

He explained: "George Wall says he selected me, but was over-ruled by his Maryhill gaffer Brian Heron when they named their best-ever team a few weeks ago. Therefore, I'm making sure Ian and Anton don't gang up on my picks."

Little chance of that happening to gnarled warrior Frank, a relatively late arrival on the Junior scene with the Bens at the age of 24.

But he has stoically made up for lost time with stints at Camelon, Largs Thistle, Pollok, Cumnock, Greenock, Beith, Largs again, St Anthony's and, most notably, the past 14 seasons at Tinto Park.

As might be guessed about someone who played Junior football aged 45, Frank has many a story to tell of guys he embraced and crossed swords with alike.

He insisted: "My only regret is not winning more trophies, but no real surprise there as I was arguably at my peak when the Auchinleck Talbot team of the late 80s-early 90s were ruling the roost and that comes across in my deliberations."

GOALKEEPER

ANDY HEAFEY, who was at Benburb in a player/coach capacity in his later years, boasts the remarkable record of never being on the losing side whenever he was asked to fill in between the posts, however Frank believes the best goalkeeper he has come across is Robert Burns.

"It's not just coincidence Robert was a team-mate in the Largs Thistle side which won the West of Scotland Cup and was also between the sticks for the Scottish Cup-winning sides of Blantyre Vics and Whitburn.

"He was top-notch in his heyday, and we are fortunate his son Robbie is currently the Benburb No.1 because if he is a chip off the old block then we are on to a winner."

DEFENDERS

LOOKING at his back four, Frank said: "Brian Lannon of Auchinleck and the man who took his Talbot jersey, George Gemmell, were smashing full-backs.

"But I simply cannot see past Mark McWilliams, who was an outstanding youngster at the Bens and became an even better player with Pollok."

Frank had to wrestle over the left-back berth, with his No.2 Gray (Glenafton) and Talbot stalwart Willie Young to the fore, but went for the highly-skilled Raymond Day (Cumnock).

He said: "Raymond could mix it with the best and his approach is similar to that of my shoe-in pick for the sweeper role - George Wall - who gets the nod ahead of my old Cumnock buddy Peter Monan."

Another from the Townhead Park dressing room, Bobby McCulloch, came under consideration along with Bens legend Davie "Soap" McInally and Pat Cairney (Petershill), to operate as a no-nonsense ball-winning stopper.

But further back in time Frank recalled turning out for Camelon against ex-Celtic star George Connelly, who was at the heart of Sauchie's defence.

He said: "George's ability to deliver 30 and 40-yard raking passes to the feet of team-mates always caught the eye. But it also overshadowed the fact he was also a marvellous defender and far from shy when it came to letting strikers know he was around."

MIDFIELDERS

FRANK has the greatest respect for right-sided flank men he played alongside and faced during his career. However, he believes nobody holds a candle to the boundless energy, trickery and goals return of Camelon winger Kevin McAllister.

He insisted: "Crunchie was only a teenager back then, but you could tell he was destined for greatness from the moment he made his debut.

"To boast Falkirk, Hiber-nian and Chelsea on his CV shows he more than delivered on all that early promise and I definitely rate him as one of the best-ever Juniors."

On the other wing, Frank flirted with the names of John McLaughlin (Beith) and David Sharkey (Benburb),

before jotting down Billy Muir (Kilbirnie Ladeside and Pollok), with whom he teamed up at Newlandsfield Park.

He said: "Billy was called The Ghost because of his whiter than white complexion, but the nickname could equally have come from his ability to come in at the back post and score so many vital goals."

His electing to go with two forward-going winger types is understandable in the context of Frank's preference to omit Kenny Patterson (Auchinleck) and Ian Currie (Irvine Meadow and Vale of Clyde), to go with a pairing of Dougie Fontana (Pollok and Benburb) alongside Tam McDonald (Auchinleck).

He added: "The wide players wouldn't have to worry too much about defensive duties with that pairing alongside them.

"They were competitors from the 'thou shalt not pass' school, hard as nails to boot and, for good measure, you have a midfielder in big Tam capable of getting forward and scoring 25 goals per season."

FORWARDS

WHEN it came to choosing his frontline, Frank said: "The Talbot partnership of you [Jim O'Donnell] and Gordon Mills would really work in the team I've selected, but I had to find a jersey for my great friend, Dennis Donnelly, now sadly deceased, but still the greatest penalty box predator I've ever seen.

"He could look half asleep at times, but put the ball into the box and Dennis would be on full alert, which is why I would pair him with an equally-sharp partner in Benburb great Andy Dailly. Defenders would be quaking in their boots at the sight of those two lining up against them."

THE TEAM

Burns, McWilliams, Wall, Connelly, Day, McAllister, Fontana, McDonald, Muir, Dailly, Donnelly. Substitutes: Gray, Currie, Mills, O'Donnell, Heafey (GK).