VALE OF CLYDE boss Ian Currie and his No.2 Alan Prosser do sterling work in developing young talent before introducing them to the Junior ranks when they are ready to make the step up.

But it still sends a shiver down Ian's spine when he recalls his own blooding as a teenager in the 1970s, which left him with fond memories of many fantastic players down through the years.

Ian played in the old Central Leagues and Ayrshire First Division, while Alan played in goal behind him at Shettleston before forging his own career at Thorniewood United and, most notably, Dunipace.

The pair's experiences led them to select the following Juniors Dream Team:

Goalkeeper

Alan's first-hand knowledge of life between the sticks did not get a look-in as Ian pointed out: "I played with and against some of the greats in Eddie Pryce, Jim Brown and Ronnie Lowrie, but two names leaping out more than most are Jim Marner at Kilbirnie Ladeside and another ex-Shettleston shot-stopper, Willie Devine.

"They were both relatively small - a huge disadvantage in a time when keepers were not as protected as nowadays - but their bravery, agility and domination of the penalty box made them stand-outs.

"I can't separate them, so I'd give them a half each, with Devine to start purely due to alphabetical reasons."

DEFENDERS

Auchinleck Talbot's George Gemmell, fearless Shettleston competitor Pat O'Hara, Mark McLaughlin of Arthurlie and Petershill legend Dougie Freedman were all in contention for a full-back spot before it was agreed to pair Ian's former Irvine Meadow team-mate Neil Muggins with Jim McGee, who played for Vale and Baillieston.

Ian explained: "Neilly was so level-headed and just a terrific professional.

"Along with me, he played in all 36 league games when Medda won the Ayrshire title. Jim was at Dumbarton before coming to Baillieston. He was so under-rated but had few, if any peers, in terms of overlapping to great effect and delivering quality crosses."

No mean centre-half himself, Ian picked Petershill and Arthurlie great Pat Cairney as one of his twin stoppers alongside the former Irvine Meadow and Glenafton giant Nigel McCreath. He also gave honourable mentions to his ex-Baillieston colleagues Davie Thomson and Billy Beattie, plus Stan Rankin (St Roch's) and Pat Fagan, from Glasgow Perthshire.

But he insisted: "Pat Cairney was the best ball-winner I ever came up against.

"And Big Nig was an inspirational character who organised everyone around him. His desire to be a winner was second to none."

MIDFIELDERS

There were lots of candidates, given that Ian and Alan played with and against the likes of Baillieston's Jim Donaldson and Ian Wotherspoon, plus Shettleston's Bobby Russell, who achieved fame at Rangers, Tommy Yule (Irvine Meadow) and "tremendous" Auchinleck player Kenny Paterson.

The vote for the right flank went to ex-Baillieston stalwart Jim Murdoch, described by Ian as "a class act".

Filling an unaccustomed role on the left is Pollok great Tommy Carberry. Ian recalled he'd started out as a left-sided midfielder at St Roch's before his aggression and fearsome tackling led to Tommy being shuffled inside.

Yet, even someone of The Cad's renown could not get an engine-room place because of the Vale duo's desire to pair former Talbot and Kilbirnie hero John McCool with Ian's one-time Baillieston skipper Alex McLaren. The Tin Pail boss explained: "Coolser had the best footballing brain of any player I have seen in the Juniors. You could put him in any position to great effect."

As regards picking McLaren to play for, and also captain, his dream XI, he added: "Alex had everything in his locker. He was a great talker and a hard-as-nails sort blessed with telescopic legs for winning tackles. Alex had outstanding energy levels, making him the first box-to-box midfielder.

"There was nobody better than him back then and few, if any, since."

FORWARDS

Ian and Alan have experienced the full repertoire of striking types and come up against many born goalscorers who graced Junior football with their presence.

They included the Pollok and Petershill legend Norrie Fulton, Baillieston's Jackie Goodall and Billy Paterson of Cambuslang Rangers. Ian also lauded East Kilbride Thistle's Hughie Farrell, who "made goalscoring look easy by just passing the ball into the net".

He added: "These guys were superb penalty box predators, but our team would need more mobile frontmen who could run the channels and have the strength to take the ball in despite strong challenges."

Then, turning to shock your humble correspondent, Ian insisted: "For that reason I'm going to pick Jim O'Donnell."

He told me: "I hated playing against you, Jim, in your East Kilbride days, when you lined up alongside Farrell.

"But your partner has to be Gary Faulds, who was simply awesome in his time at Irvine Meadow when no defender in the country relished coming up against him."

So the Vale management duo's team is (4-4-2): Devine; Muggins, Cairney, McCreath, McGee; Murdoch, McCool, McLaren, Carberry; Faulds, O'Donnell. Subs: Marner (GK), Freedman, Kenny Paterson, Farrell, Billy Paterson.