BISHOPBRIGGS veteran Robert Arnott was a promising teenage talent with Rangers Boys' Club until injury kicked his football dreams into touch.

These days, the 50-year-old has new golfing goals to shoot for after securing a card for this season's European Senior Tour.

Arnott, who turned pro back in 1986, has been campaigning on the domestic Tartan Tour for almost three decades but is now ready to start "a new career" as a rookie on the over-50s circuit.

He said: "I played for Rangers Boys' Club for three years but broke my knee and that was the end of that. I'm glad I took up golf in the end, to be honest.

"You get more longevity out if it. It's one of those rare sports that when you get to 50 you still feel like you are starting afresh."

Arnott, who has racked up over 60 Tartan Tour wins and has career earnings of over £300,000 on the Scottish scene, shared 11th spot in the Senior Tour qualifying school recently to gain a conditional category.

He added: "It's not easy to get on the tour and there are only six full cards on offer at q-school; they are quite mean.

"All the guys who are 50 on the main European Tour get on straight away and the likes of us are well down the pecking order.

"But there are opportunities and for someone like me, this is my wee shot at the big time. This is like a new career."

Arnott served his PGA apprenticeship under the wonderfully-named Donald Slicer at Falkirk Tryst in his early years and has remained on the straight and narrow thanks to a great dedication and desire.

He said: "I still enjoy practising and that's a big thing. I actually enjoy practising more than playing.

"Every year I work out something to try and improve on. As long as you think you can get better then you keep going."