ASKING the Maryhill management team of Brian Heron and George Wall to pick the cream of the crop from players they have come across saw an unbelievable array of names brought to the table.

Both men admit to going back a long way, and that is reflected in well-informed choices dating from the 1970s to the present day, which are sure to provide plenty to think about for Central and Ayrshire-based supporters.

Former midfielder Brian, snatched from under the noses of Greenock and enticed to Port Glasgow by Morton legend George Anderson, leans heavily on his memories of the next 20 years at Woodhall Park as a player, coach and manager, while George has limited himself to picking players he shared a dressing room with at Dalry Thistle, Irvine Meadow, Kilbirnie Ladeside and Greenock.

GOALKEEPER

BRIAN played with Port legends Evan Conway and Mick Dorrian, while George recalls Jim Marner (Kilbirnie) as a great talker and outstanding at organising a defence, as well as the highly-rated Kenny Meechan, however he trumped even this pair with his pick of Jim Leighton, who he teamed up with at Dalry when the manager was another goalkeeping great, Erik Sorensen.

The Aberdeen and Manchester United No.1 is hard to beat for the gloves, even though Brian paid tribute to current Maryhill keeper Grant Hay, of whom he said: "He's a breath of fresh air with a great future in the game, and he'll be a big name one day."

DEFENDERS

GEORGE could not see past Ronnie Adams (Irvine Meadow) at right-back. He said: "Ronnie could tackle, had pace, positional sense and, in my book, no-one could touch him."

But Brian plumped for a former Port great in David Sweeney, who he recalls being reinstated from Morton to form a terrific full-back partnership with the equally-robust Albert Burnett, while George's left-side preference was for Graham Mills (Kilbirnie and Largs), who he described as "hard as nails, but more skilful than he was given credit for."

With neither man for conceding, compromise was reached with Adams and Burnett getting the nod.

In the central positions, Brian could not be shifted from his choice of current Brighton and Scotland stopper Gordon Greer, saying: "I cannot think of any Junior player over the past 30 years who has gone on to make the same impact in the game that Gordon has since coming to the fore with Port Glasgow."

George bowed to this argument, and was keen to partner Greer with either Barclay Feeney (Kilbirnie) or Peter Monan (Meadow), but Brian was adamant a place should be found for current Port centre-back Eddie Walton, who was previously with Largs Thistle.

He said: "Eddie has been a stalwart in Junior football circles for the past decade and a combination of him and big Greer would have been sensational."

MIDFIELDERS

ALLY MAUCHLEN (Meadow), who played alongside George and went on to star with Motherwell, Leicester and Hearts, just edged the right flank position ahead of David Elliot (Largs and Pollok), but George then had to concede the left-side berth, where his preference for Bobby Stevenson (Cumnock and Largs), came second best to Brian's selection of former Morton signing Joe Gillies, who enjoyed sparkling spells with Arthurlie and Port Glasgow.

Brian said: "Joe was unbelievably talented, and on his day could destroy any defence, so I had to find a place for him, even though he's more naturally right-footed."

George's extensive list of midfield greats from bygone years was whittled down to an engine room pairing of John McCool (Kilbirnie) and Frank Lovering (Largs), however the latter was shunted aside by Brian's determination to include another Port legend, Rikky Cabrey.

He said: "Ricky could sit and play passes with great skill, but he was also a ferocious ball-winner when needed."

FORWARDS

GEORGE felt a frontline pairing of Stephen Quigg (Largs) and Alan Johnston (Meadow), would guarantee goals, while Brian strongly argued the merits of Port trio Eddie McNab, Phil Cannie and Davie MacCabe, saying: "Davie was the fastest thing on two legs on a football pitch, while Eddie and Phil were the types who would always come up with the unexpected to unlock defences and either would be a perfect foil for Davie."

Just as in his playing days, George was not easily shunted aside and he prevailed until MacCabe was partnered with goalscoring hitman Johnston.

TEAM

Leighton, Adams, Greer, Walton, Burnett, Mauchlen, McCool, Cabrey, Gillies, MacCabe and Johnston. Substitutes: Mills, Lovering, Quigg, McNab, Hay (GK).