KEVIN “TACKLES”LINLITHGOW ROSE WINGER MARK CORCORAN IN THE 2002 JUNIOR CUP FINAL
It would be churlish in the extreme to try and find fault with Kevin Biggart, a former player of considerable renown whose distinguishing qualities …an eye for a pass, liking for a ping at goal and a crunching tackle or two as well as a pair of lungs eminently suitable for allowing him to get around the pitch at full throttle in his heyday …marked him out as one to keep your eye on during a Junior career spanning all of 17 years.
Unselfish to his very core, he would be the very first to tell you that he was fortunate to be part of some of the best teams going the rounds from the mid-1990’s through the noughties and onwards – Auchinleck Talbot and Kilwinning Rangers instantly come to mind..
However where Kevin probably stands alone is when it comes to chalking up hard luck story after hard luck story, the prime example of which has to be his 2003 decision to bring the curtain down on six Beechwood Park years in favour of joining the Buffs just as a certain Tommy Sloan took hold of the reins and set about steering Talbot to a remarkable and unprecedented eight Scottish Junior Cup triumphs over the following twenty years.
Kevin laughed in recalling,” Whenever it crops up in conversations that I played for Auchinleck Talbot , someone is sure to l ask `So how many Scottish and West of Scotland Cups did you win` and the faces are always a picture when I answer `not a one`?.
“There could and would have been plenty to talk about had I just rode out the storm in 2003 when I was 29 years of age and arguably in my prime however I truly felt I was at a crossroads after playing under Dennis Gray for four seasons and then big Tam McDonald for another couple.
He went on, “Tam had just been replaced as manager by Tucker and people in the game , myself included, were of the belief , Talbot were on the verge of a transitional period so I was convinced my longing to get hands on the big silverware prizes would be better served by moving to the Buffs where Mark Shanks had been on my case for months and had even resorted to popping written signing terms through my letterbox.
“But Lady Luck didn’t smile on me at Abbey Park either and to this day it’s still my biggest regret in football to have walked away from Auchinleck and Tucker when I did …If only eh?”
Turning back a few pages reveals Mauchline born and bred Kevin as a pupil of St Convals High School in Cumnock where a decidedly smallish roll meant more often than not there were barely enough players to make up a school team able to compete in organized competitions so he and other like-minded football mad youngsters had to make do with friendly matches against the likes of Auchinleck Academy.
What was to be a significantly more successful venture saw him throw in his lot with Galston Boys Club where he featured in a more than decent side containing Billy Woods (Kevin thinks he had a spell at Hurlford Utd) ,future Rangers winger signings Jamie Martin and Gary Layburn as well as a highly regarded centreback Gordon Tannoch who joined Dundee only to have his playing career cut short by serious injury before going on to take up a behind the scenes role at Arsenal?
Kevin by his own admission was more of a late developer and continued to show promise with Galston up until Under 15’s level where his abilities caught the eye of Senior scouts and led to him taking part in coaching sessions with Hibs and Dundee as well as Rangers with whom he often alternated between attending their Maybole and Glasgow camps however it was to be Dundee United boss Jim McLean who eventually won the race for the up and coming youngster’s signature during the 1988/89 season.
The nowadays near-50 year old reminisced,” Paul Sturrock and Graham Livingstone worked with the potential West Coast youth signings through at Hamilton most weeks and I recall having been converted by them to a full back role ahead of a friendly match staged against a Scotland Schoolboys Under 15 side comprising of my former Galston Boys Club team mate Jamie Martin as well as a number of other Ayrshire players I knew from my age group such as Tommy Harrison, Antony Smith, John Walker and Ian Stephen.
“ Christian Dailly and David Hannah played alongside myself in the United team and I had one of my better games which as luck would have it led to Jim McLean signing me on an S form after the game and I duly left school in 1990 to go full time.
“ One of the stringent club rules stipulated that every player had to live close to Tannadice so I was among a group of younger guys staying in digs up in Dundee from Monday-Friday but back then it didn’t seem too much of a chore when things were going so well on the playing side.”
A YOUNG KEVIN SHOWING A UNITED FRONT
The versatile teenager , he could play as a full back on either side of the defence, was to figure regularly in a Reserve team comprising of star turns Andy McLaren, Gary Boland, Dave Bowman, John Lyndsay, Robbie Winters as well as the aforementioned Dailly and Hannah that won the BP Scottish Under 18 Cup in his first full season though similar success was to elude him in his further three years on the United books
A much sought after first team breakthrough never materialized, not altogether surprisingly seeing as no less than Alex Clelland and Maurice Malpas were holding down the No 2 and No 3 jerseys respectively however Kevin’s aspirations were dealt a further blow in 1993 when mentor McLean resigned and his managerial replacement Ivan Golac came in with his own fresh ideas, one of which was to habitually select the hitherto recognized midfielder Bowman in a full back capacity.
Around this time, former Dundee manager Simon Stainrod was appointed to the helm of Ayr United and he got in touch to arrange a meeting with a then disgruntled Kevin, the upshot of which saw him agree on a transfer to Somerset Park to satisfy both his craving for regular first team football and a return to his Ayrshire home , albeit a downside saw him dropping down to Division One in the process.
He takes up the story, “ I was Simon’s first ever signing as Ayr manager and I played a lot under him during the next three years alongside top notch guys of the ilk of Sammy McGivern, Hughie Burns, Duncan George, Cammy Duncan , big Malcolm Shotton (also Stainrod’s assistant), Stevie Bryce and not forgetting veteran striker Ross Jack , coming to the end of his career, but a wonderful professional who was always willing to give advice to younger players like myself “
KEVIN IN HIS AYR UNITED DAYS
A poor start to Ayr’s 1996/97 campaign brought about the dismissal of the flamboyant Stainrod and heralded the arrival of the similarly outgoing Gordon Dalziel for whom Kevin has fond memories of playing under in a Coca Cola Cup tie against Rangers in front of a full house at Ibrox but latterly he found himself making fewer and fewer starting appearances for the new gaffer and was compelled to ask away.
He recounted, “It might have looked to outsiders like a spur of the moment decision however it was anything but as the club previously making the call to go part-time had necessitated me taking up a job outwith football so I had no choice other than to turn my back on Ayr and take a few months out of the game to try and sort my affairs out .
“Once I had some semblance of order back in my life , I then desperately wanted to get back playing and the Juniors seemed to tick all the boxes however Auchinleck were only ever going to be the club for me so I took the bull by the horns through getting hold of the team manager Dennis Gray’s number and telephoning to ask if he’d be interested in signing me?
”I remember it was a Friday night because Dennis was dead keen to get a look at mein action so he asked if I would be available to appear in Talbot’s opening pre-season friendly match away to Bonnyrigg Rose the following day and I was only too happy to oblige.
“I had a slight problem insofar as I didn’t have boots or shinguards so I made my way to an Irvine Sports Shop the next morning to buy them and found myself there at the same time as Talbot winger Billy Thomson who didn’t know me from Adam though I recognized him immediately.
“We got chatting and after hearing I was lined up as a Talbot trialist , he gave me a lift over to Kilmarnock to meet the team bus and I ended up playing at left back and scoring a goal in a side containing Billy, Sam Frew, Barry McCorriston Chris Ellis Gary Graham , Hughie Findlay ,Tam McKenzie and Raymond Walsh.
“ A good night was had by all after we won the game 4-0 but the icing on the cake came after I went along to a training session on the Monday night and Dennis offered me signing terms .”
His first full Beechwood season which brought Jackie Scarlett Cup success via a 3-1 defeat of Beith in the Final ended on a somewhat sour note after Kevin and his team mates lost out to Kilwinning Rangers in their final league match allowing Cumnock to take the Ayrshire First Division honours.
And further near things with a similarly disappointing outcome were to follow in his ensuing five years with the Ayrshire big guns, most notably the Dennis Gray managed side’s 1-0 West of Scotland Cup Final reverse at the hands of Maryhill as well as the even more devastating single goal defeat suffered against Linlithgow Rose in the 2002 Junior Cup Final when Tam McDonald was at the helm.
It was a painful playing period but also one that brought recognition for Kevin at Scotland Juniors level and he has fond memories (and pictures) from finishing second best in Portrush before finally tasting Quadrangular Tournament success in Dublin while teaming up with Joe Carruth(Pollok) ,Darren Bonella ( Carnoustie Panmure), Boris McLaughlin ,Danny Smith, Barry McMahon, and Mark Corcoran (Linlithgow Rose) the late Paul McGrillen ( Bellshill Athletic), Brian Smith (Petershill), Paul Kerr (Cumnock) and Talbot team mates Gavin Friels and Derek McCulloch among others.
Among those “others” were Tom Currie, Paul Mullen, Alan McTurk and Charlie Adam who along with other Buffs notables such as Mark Cameron, Roland Fabiani, Stevie Farrell, Gareth Armstrong and a young Ian Cashmore held down pegs in the fairly established Abbey Park dressing room which also came to house the post-Talbot midfield stalwart from 2003-2006.
KEVIN CELEBRATES SCORING FOR THE BUFFS
He could have been forgiven for thinking greater glories were in the offing after the Super League Premier Division title was won at the end of his inaugural season however that was to be the sum total of the silverware prizes to go the way of him and his illustrious band of team mates before the near constant badgering of Irvine Meadow team boss Chris Strain enticed an understandably green-eyed Kevin (former club Auchinleck had just won the Junior Cup with a 2-1 victory over Bathgate Thistle) to up sticks and join Kilwinning’s long standing rivals where Strainy was in the process of putting together a previously unheard of 20 man playing squad that was already boasting Andy Essler, Johnny McMillan, Mark Crilly, young Chris Strain, Brian McGinty and Kenny Gillies to name but a few.
“A strongly backed club with a very ambitious manager however it has to go down as a particularly ill-advised move for me seeing as I only lasted six months“ lamented Kevin before explaining ,” I was then in my early 30’s and wanted to be playing regularly so it wasn’t to my liking that Chris was all for rotating his players to keep them fresh and things came to a head when we faced Girvan in a local Cup tie and I was left out of the starting X1 for a third time in five weeks.
“Billy Thomson was the Girvan manager back then and after listening to my moans ,he approached Chris and brokered a loan deal intended to cover the remaining six months of that season but in actual fact I enjoyed such a great time of it that I ended up down at Hamilton Park until my 38th birthday some five and a half years later.”
Girvan excelled with Kevin ensconced in their midfield and using his vast experience to get the best out of feted striking pair Michael Moffat and Darren Mitchell while his very presence within their ranks helped attract other decent quality types Tony Murphy, Stevie O’Donnell and Alan Love to put pen to paper for Brian McLuckie , previously Thomson’s No 2 but subsequently appointed to take charge of Girvan playing matters after Thommo was lured away to manage Kilwinning Rangers.
Kevin laughed in remembering, “ Brian’s teams certainly punched above their weight in those days even if the only trophy put in the cabinet was the South Ayrshire Cup which every Girvan manager down through the years is expected to win .
“ Among the more eye-catching results instantly springing to my mind are losing to Pollok in the West of Scotland Cup semi-finals, a 4-3 defeat by Cumnock in the Ayrshire Cup Final, winning promotion to the Super First Division , and not forgetting the fright of their lives we gave Stranraer in the big Scottish Cup when they needed a last minute Pat Keogh penalty kick goal to run out 2-1 winners.”
KEVIN WAS INSPIRATIONAL FOR THE SEASIDERS
McLuckie’s against all odds feats with the Seasiders was not enough to save him from being unceremoniously sacked in 2012 by club officials who then posed Kevin with something of a dilemma by turning to him and asking if he would take over the running of their team ?
He recalled, “I carried out the role for the final three months of the season but I decided to delay making any definite decision about continuing in the job or not until I came back from holiday.
“But right out of the blue, Derek McCulloch. who had been managing Hurlford United, threw a spanner in the works by making contact to ask if I would consider becoming his No 2 at Blair Park.
“Right away the travelling suited me better and with Del also prepared to come and go with my shift work commitments, I joined forces with him and we set about putting together a team built around Martin Brown , John Craig, Scott McGilp,George Wallace , Paul “Tiny” Stewart and a young Jamie Wilson that along with being crowned West Region First Division champions ,made it through to the Evening Times Cup Final only to be beaten 3-0 by Auchinleck.”
A stunning development in the aftermath of that Newlandsfield staged finale saw Hurlford oust McCulloch from his manager’s position and replace him with Darren Henderson whose backroom team plans did not include a role for Kevin even if he’d been of a mind to take it on.
He likes it known he was only ever disposed towards working with former Talbot and Junior Scotland team mate Del Boy yet though their names were initially linked with other jobs , Kevin has endured a “cold turkey” existence ever since and has quietly drifted away from the Junior scene other than a handful of over 35 matches and a notable 2012/13 season swansong when Derek “Freddie” Frye persuaded him to sign for his predominantly youthful Ardrossan Winton Rovers side badly needing an experienced head at the heart of their defence .
KEVIN AS HE IS NOWADAYS BELATEDLY WINNING TROPHIES
Sadly it wasn’t a season of any note and nowadays Kevin only strays from his home in Dalrymple to take in games involving his son Mark Shankland , currently on the books of Troon after a rewarding nine year-long shift with Auchinleck Talbot which saw him pick up no fewer than four Scottish Junior Cup winners medals .
“ Four more than I ever managed and he never lets me forget it” reflected his doleful but proud Dad.
FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY 28th OCTOBER (Kick Offs 2 PM unless stated): SCOTTISH GAS CUP Second Round (3PM) .Kilwinning Rangers v Cowdenbeath, Beith v Broomhill(2PM), Formartine Utd v Clydebank, Pollok v Gala Fairydean, Cumnock v Turriff Utd . P.D.M HUWS GRAY Premier Division. Largs Thiste v Benburb,, Auchinleck Talbot v Rob Roy, Darvel v Troon, Irvine Meadow v Gartcairn (Friday 7.45PM) St Cadocs v Arthurlie, Glenafton v Hurlford Utd.P.D.M HUWS GRAYFirst Division. Blantyre Vics v Renfrew, , Kilbirnie Ladeside v Neilston, Cambuslang Rangers v Maybole, St Rochs v Ashfield, Drumchapel Utd v Shotts Bon Accord, Petershill v Whitletts Vics, Rutherglen Glencairn v Thorniewood Utd.PDM HUWS GRAY Second Division. Glasgow Perthshire v Maryhill, St Anthonys v Craigmark, Yoker Athletic v Forth Wanderers, Cumbernauld Utd, v Maryhill, Vale of Clyde v Ardrossan Winton Rovers Muirkirk v Larkhall Thistle, Wishaw v Kilsyth Rangers, Glasgow University v Bonnyton Thistle, Glasgow Perthshire vCaledonian Locomotives. PDM HUWS GRAYThird Division. Threave Rovers v Lanark Utd, Bellshill Athletic v Vale of Leven, Port Glasgow v Irvine Vics, West Park Utd v Finnart, Kello Rovers v Glasgow Utd, Greenock v Lesmahagow, Kilsyth Athletic v Ardeer Thistle, Dalry Thistle v Girvan. PDM HUWS GRAYFourth Division. Royal Albert v Thorn Athletic, Campbeltown Pupils v Rossvale, Giffnock SC v Lugar Boswell, v Eglinton, Easterhouse v BSC Glasgow, East Kilbride Thistle v Glenvale, Newmains Utd v Saltcoats Vics, Knightswood v Eglinton, St Peters v Carluke Rovers.
Regards
Jim O’Donnell
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