ARDROSSAN
Winton Rovers manager Chris Strain's association with the Juniors dates back to 1974 as a teenager with Irvine Vics.
So it's no surprise that taking time out to pen a Dream XI gave him plenty to think about in terms of the special players he has shared dressing rooms with down the years as a player with Vics, Whitletts Vics, Kilbirnie Ladeside, Irvine Meadow and Ardeer Thistle.
He won every trophy in the game except the Scottish
Junior Cup before going on to replicate those feats as a manager with Ardeer, Troon and, most notably, the Medda.
His eight-year reign at Meadow Park was rewarded with a haul of 14 trophies, which included a hat-trick of Evening Times Cup triumphs.
The names of his 4-4-2 starting choices and full bench will raise eyebrows and stimulate debate.
GOALKEEPER
THREE former Medda No.1's were to the fore in his thoughts for the gloves - Michael Wardrope, Jim "Bomber" Brown and Ally McLean.
Chris said: "Bomber was an outstanding shot-stopper and Ally was so good with the ball at his feet he could have played outfield. But I have gone for Michael, whose sheer consistency makes him a standout."
DEFENDERS
OBE-TIME Medda fans'
favourite Billy Mason pipped Stevie Swift and Auchinleck defender George Gemmell to the right-back berth, while Chris deliberated long and hard over who should operate on the other side of his defence.
He recalled: "Jim Leckie of the late 1970's Darvel team possessed terrific overlapping qualities, as did Mark Pickering, who played under me at Ardeer.
"But I'm going with Ian Baillie of Kilbirnie Ladeside, whose defensive qualities saw him step up to Celtic at the age of 25."
Chris was spoilt for choice in the central roles, but memories of partnering Willie Frew in an Ayrshire League Select made him opt for the Darvel colossus.
He said: "I would partner him with George Struthers, who had been on the books of Rangers before becoming the cornerstone of the Irvine Vics side that were crowned North Ayrshire League champions in 1974."
MIDFIELDERS
JOHNNY WALKER of Irvine Meadow got the nod over Kilbirnie legend Bobby Davidson for the right flank attacking role.
Chris said: " Johnny had the talent to grace any level of the game. He did well in stints upstairs with St Mirren and Kilmarnock, before reacting in Eric Cantona fashion to some Rugby Park hecklers ended his Senior career."
For the main engine room roles, Chris chose the brains behind the Scottish Cup successes enjoyed by Irvine Meadow (1974) and Kilbirnie Ladeside (1977) - Ada McLaughlin - in tandem with ex-Kilmarnock and Hearts ace Ian Jardine, yet another product of that 1974 Irvine Vics team.
He declared: "Jardine was an often under-rated box-to-box type who was good for 20-plus goals per season. Ada was simply the heartbeat of those cup-winning sides with a workrate second to none."
"Down the left flank, Chris contemplated playing the touchline terror that was Bobby Dickson (Auchinleck and Cumnock). However, he again plumped for an ex-Irvine Vics team-mate in the relatively unknown Hugh Arkinson.
He said: "Hugh was the 16-year-old baby in that 1974 Vics side, but his ball control and skill saw him waltz past the hard hitting full-backs with ease. It was said back then that Kilmarnock were going to sign either Hugh or myself, and I had no complaints when he was picked to step up."
FORWARDS
CHRIS reckons modern
defenders would be quaking in their boots at the prospect of coming up against the phenomenal frontmen he encountered in his playing days such as Dennis Gray (Auchinleck), the gifted John McKenna (Beith), Gerry Peline (Kilwinning Rangers ), and two former Medda team-mates, Gary Faulds and Alan Johnstone.
Nevertheless, he insisted: "Gordon Mills (Auchinleck), rates as the most difficult striker I came up against. Alongside him, I would have Kilbirnie legend Paul McGuire, who was snapped up by Shrewsbury and later transferred to Stoke for just over £250,000. Not many Junior frontmen can lay claim to that price tag."
Chris was hard-pressed to pick his back-up bench but eventually went for the following: Wardrope, Mason, Struthers, Frew, Baillie, Walker, Jardine, McLaughlin, Arkinson, Mills, McGuire. Substitutes: McLean, Swift, McDonald, McKenna, Peline.
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