WILLIE PATTERSON and Paul Kelly have been close acquaintances for a number of years so it was only natural for them to team up together in the Petershill dugout at the end of last season when erstwhile Peasy co-gaffer Scott Smith called time on his Junior career.

His departure left a considerable hole to fill, but sidekick Willie had no qualms about bringing in Paul who has a great knowledge of the juvenile ranks as well as Junior playing experience with Pollok, Cambuslang Rangers and St Roch's among others.

Willie, a take-no-prisoners full-back, started out under Paddy Turner when Glasgow Perthshire were a Central Premier League side and he also saw service with Ashfield and Rutherglen Glencairn.

Injury then led to him taking up a coaching role alongside John Conlin and Stevie Rankin at the Glens, Maryhill and Cumbernauld United before taking the Glens reins with big Smith back in 2006.

Paul is five years the elder, but he looks up to what his close friend has achieved in his managerial tenures up to now and is committed to helping his rebuilding work at Petershill.

Both are opinionated men so their Dream Team deliberations were tasty to say the least...

GOALKEEPER

Willie played with terrific Rutherglen Glencairn keepers in Andy Monaghan and Scott Black while further back in time he recalls being in the same Possil Under 21's side as Andy Heafey, who went on to earn acclaim with Kilbirnie Ladeside and Benburb.

He insisted: "All these guys were imposing goalkeeper types who commanded their box and were brave into the bargain but nobody was more adept at pulling of outstanding saves when all seemed lost than Andy so he gets the gloves."

DEFENDERS

To fill the right-back berth, Paul wanted to insert the name of a certain Willie Patterson.

But the gaffer was having none of it as he deliberated over the merits of John Logan (St Roch's) and George Porter (Glasgow Perthshire).

Eventually, Kelly tipped the scales by saying of the Keppoch Park ace: "George started out as a more than decent Junior striker, but found his true vocation at full-back where his displays earned him trial outings with Hamilton Accies and Partick Thistle."

Shoring up the opposite side of the defence came down to a straight fight between Stevie Rankin (Glencairn and St Roch's) or the every bit as formidable Eddie McGonnigal (Petershill) with Willie opting for Stevie because "opponents stayed down longer when he hit them with a full-blooded tackle ."

A heated debate ensued between the management pair as to who should make up the central defensive combination, with Paul favouring an any two of three pairing from Pat Cairney (Petershill), Willie McAlaney (Cambuslang Rangers) and Sammy Harper (Vale of Clyde).

In contrast, Willie couldn't see past one of his former Glens sweepers Andy McPherson alongside the highly-robust Danny O'Halloran (Pollok and Petershill).

Neither man was for giving an inch so compromise was reached on the combative O'Halloran (whose career was cut short by a serious knee injury teaming up with the sadly deceased Wee Gers stalwart McAlaney.

MIDFIELDERS

The impression made this season by current Peasy winger Mark Lamont had both men mulling over his inclusion and Paul admitted to a liking for former Pollok team-mate Andy McQuade and Gordon Young (Cambuslang).

However, Willie would not be dissuaded from having the irrepressible Jo-Jo Gardiner (Glencairn and Cumnock) for the right-flank berth.

Willie recalls having his hands full trying to deal with various left wingers during his own playing days, with Willie Gibson (Petershill) proving a particular thorn in his flesh.

However, he just misses out to the class act that was Sean Bainbridge (Ashfield and Maryhill), yet another of those truly gifted types who it can be said never made the most of his God-given talent.

The vital cog in any midfield is the playmaker and both men had no hesitation in plumping for Martin Nelson, whose talents they recall gracing Glencairn, Shettleston, Maryhill and Pollok.

Finding a more defensively minded partner for Nelly was not quite so straightforward with Paul stating a fondness for the ball winning attributes of Frank Lovering who played alongside him in Pollok's midfield under Tommy Reynolds however he admitted to being trumped when Willie came up with the name of Jake Oliver (Glasgow Perthshire ) and describing him as "someone who could win the ball and protect it but while able to thread a pass through the eye of a needle .

"Jake's only fault was that he wasn't an ambitious type as otherwise he could have played for the top Junior sides."

FORWARDS

Paul has fond memories of playing behind the formidable Pollok pairing of Rocky Crichton and John O'Brien.

While Willie believes the label of "Ashfield Legend" could easily be applied to Stevie McNab who had a sniffer's nose for the goal yet was anything but a model professional in his attitude to the game.

"If Nabbers had been more committed then he would have played at a higher level than the Juniors ... he was that good," said Stevie, who also waxed lyrically about a striker from bygone days whose physicality made him a nightmare to play against ... big Pat Daly (Shotts Bon Accord and Petershill) .

Paul had a liking for the goal snatching qualities of Tony McDonald (Arthurlie) but reckons few if any front men can compare with Tam Brown (St Anthony's and Glenafton) who went on to even greater scoring feats with Kilmarnock and St Mirren.

The good friends agreed once again to compromise and Brown was slotted in alongside Daly though their haranguing didn't finish until all the substitutes were named.

The Peasy pair's dream selection thus comes out as Heafey, Porter, Rankin, McAlaney , O'Halloran , Gardiner, Oliver, Nelson, Bainbridge, Brown, Daly. Substitutes: McPherson, Lovering, O'Brien, McNab, and Monaghan GK).