AUCHINLECK TALBOT are one of those Junior clubs who inspire loyalty judging by the amount of players to have given long and unstinting service down through the years, yet someone from outwith Ayrshire who has few peers in this regard is Tam McDonald.

The current Shotts Bon Accord gaffer's move to Beechwood Park from Glenafton in 1986 was the start of an involvement with Talbot spanning the next 18 years in capacities of player, scout, coach and team boss.

His no-nonsense midfield style earned him recognition for Junior Scotland as well as the nickname of Rambo, and he had accumulated an astonishing haul of 56 winner's medals (including five Scottish Junior Cup gongs) upon his departure in 2003, which saw him go on to manage - with varying degrees of success - Lanark United, Bellshill Athletic, Lanark again, and Shotts.

His has a background in the Juniors perfectly suited for selecting a Dream Team, however Tam felt it best to join forces with loyal lieutenants John Gibson and Paul McAnenay to only make picks from when his own playing days were ended ... with one exception.

GOALKEEPER

Kris Robertson (Pollok) and Stuart McIntosh (Auchinleck), epitomised everything Tam looks for in a goalkeeper, yet he still opted for current Hannah Park No.1 Gary White, saying: "Gary is already a top-notch shotstopper, whose displays with Shotts over the past couple of seasons have been nothing short of sensational, and I cannot understand why he has not been snapped up by the Seniors before now.

"And, if like all keepers, he gets better with the passing of time, then who knows what he can go on to achieve in the game?"

DEFENDERS

Tam was torn between tough-as-teak battler Gary Shearer (Blantyre Vics) and Gavin Duncan (Arthurlie and Auchinleck), for the right-back berth, before he decided the latter named's greater athleticism won the day.

But no such deliberations were needed for the role on the other side of his backline with him unashamedly going back on his word to select Talbot legend Billy Young as the left-back and skipper of his Dream Team.

He insisted: "I said I wouldn't pick anyone from my former Talbot side, but every great team needs a leader and I can think of none better than Billy, who led by example and commanded the utter respect of Auchinleck dressing rooms packed with strong and opinionated characters."

In between his full-backs, Tam has gone for the rugged Gavin Collins (Auchinleck) alonmgside Kevin McDonald (Bellshill).

MIDFIELDERS

Tam has always admired the strong-running Stevie Swift (Benburb and Irvine Meadow), as well as the competitive attitude shown by current Hurlford flank wizard Paul McKenzie, but felt he could not overlook the pace, drive and ability of ex-Talbot winger Paul Hyslop.

He revealed: "The big fellow ended up at Beechwood by accident after Dennis Gray sent me to run the rule over Ardrossan striker Mark McCann and I came away so impressed by Hissy that we ended up signing both players."

Inside of the marauding Hyslop, he deliberated long and hard over the respective playing merits of one-time midfield adversaries Ian Ashcroft (Arthurlie) and Gerry Hamilton (Larkhall Thistle), but plumped for Lanark United stalwart Craig Stark of whom he said: "Starky was mobile, good in the air, could tackle and score goals, so a place just had to be found for him.

"I toyed with naming another ex-Lanark player, Grant Cuthill, as his engine-room partner, but the outstanding playmaking skill of Martin Nelson (Shettleston and Pollok) won the day on that front.

Tam went further back in his reminiscences when thinking of someone to play wide left as he vividly recalls the skilful John Creechan, who he played alongside at East Kilbride Thistle back in the early 1980's, while in more recent times he recalls some impressive showings from a young Paul Woods (currently Queen's Park) at Moor Park.

But, pushed for an answer, he could not deny the claims of his former Bellshill Athletic flank ace, Gary Fleming, currently with Dumbarton.

Tam lauded: "I remember signing Gary from Carluke Rovers and thinking he was a half-decent prospect, yet within months he had established himself as the team's star turn with his pace and great delivery from both sides of the park."

FORWARDS

Tam, Gibby and Macca have a decent track record of helping develop strikers for the Senior ranks, most notably Brian Felvus (Albion Rovers) and Stefan McCluskey. However, all are in agreement that nobody has gone on to better themselves more than Hamilton forward Dougie Imrie, the star of their 2004 Lanark side that won the Evening Times Cup-Winners' Cup.

Tam said: "Dougie could be hard work, but he was also an absolute genius on his game, and his ability and vision allowed him to score some of the most audacious goals I have ever seen."

One-time Bellshill hitman Stewart Boyd came close to getting the nod to partner Imrie, but Tam insisted there has been no better goalscorer come under his wing than penalty-box predator Willie Watters.

He said: "If Willie was on the end of the ammunition supplied by Hyslop, Fleming, Nelson and Imrie, then I would bet on him bagging a barrowload of goals."

Tam reckons all his trophy dreams would come true if he could manage an XI of White, Duncan, Collins, McDonald, Young, Hyslop, Stark, Nelson, Fleming, Imrie, Watters. Subs: McAnenay, Woods, McCluskey, Boyd, McIntosh (GK).