A BETTER LATE THAN NEVER TRAIN

Les Train might well go down as one of the least eulogized players of his era but he wouldn’t have it any other way.

There have been a great many column inches filled by exploits of the footballing compadres of his time however the unassuming to a fault 66 year old has stayed firmly in the background ever since deciding to call time on his career back in 1993.

Yet doesn’t it speaks volumes when his stock has never fallen and that’s because his devilish appetite for a tackle, fiercely competitive edge and dogged defensive qualities are to this day waxed lyrically about whenever supporters of the former clubs he served are fondly comparing their current day star turns with those of a bygone age.

Kilmarnock born and bred Les is someone who was earmarked for greater things as a 1^st year pupil at Grange Secondary in the Ayrshire town after his talents saw him chosen to play as a midfielder for his school’s two years further up the tree Under 15’s side .

Trophy success eluded him there and his luck didn’t improve turning out with the Wallace Gemmell steered Ayr Boswell Boys Club however he was to experience the other side of the coin when he joined a newly formed Ayr United Under 15’s side where among his team mates were Billy Paton(team captain), Bobby Dickson and goalkeeper Ian McGiffen, all future signings of renowned Somerset Park boss Ally McLeod.

Les recalled, “ A first ever European Youth tournament, sponsored by the soft drinks company Barrs, was played in Glasgow and our Ayr side were the surprise winners thanks to beating the more fancied Eastercraigs Boys Club in the Final.

“And as if to prove our victory wasn’t just a fluke, we went back up to Glasgow and won it again the following season, this time beating a Celtic Boys side containing the likes of Tommy Burns and George McLuskey.

“I was right back and directly up against Burns who scored Celtic’s goal to earn them a 1-0 half time lead but thankfully we equalized and went on to win via a penalty kick shoot-out.

He added, “That second success is memorable for a number of reasons not least because the Final was played at Parkhead in front of a near 9000 crowd while afterwards, both teams were treated to a lavish Civic Reception in the Glasgow City Chambers.”

That same 1973/74 season saw a 16 year old Les sign for Ayr United and further recognition of his burgeoning abilities came through his selection for a Scottish Youth Team squad brought together at Inverclyde where he roomed with Paul Sturrock (Dundee United) and took part in several trial outings but alas could not displace Alun Evans (later a European Cup winner with Aston Villa) when it came to facing international opposition..

He was to remain at Somerset Park for the next two years but all the time struggling to break into a formidable first team boasting Johnny Doyle, Alex Ingram, Sanny McAnespie, former Rangers striker George McLean as well as Davie Wells, ex-Hibs midfielder Johnny Graham and goalkeeper Ally McLean, later to sign for Aberdeen.

Alex Ferguson ,after leaving Rangers, was another feted name to come on board at Somerset prior to him taking up his first managerial post at East Stirling while in addition to that somewhat illustrious company, Les faced further competition for a jersey from later to be Junior adversaries Dennis Gray, Bert Ferguson , Brian Lannon, Bobby Dickson and goalkeeper McGiffen (Largs Thistle).

LES AT AYR UNITED(fourth from left middle row)

The tough tackling full back departed the Senior outfit not long after turning 18 years of age and was persuaded by former Somerset teammates to join them at Irvine Vics where Les, by now serving an apprenticeship to be a joiner, thoroughly enjoyed playing alongside highly regarded types Chris Strain, Jack Smillie, and Jim “Paddy” McHugh under the tutelage of manager Willie Donnachie, so much so that Les turned down several transfer approaches in favour of staying on the Victoria Park books for all of five years (1974-79).

A YOUNG LES (4th from left back row) AT IRVINE VICS

His next move promised to be silverware laden but initially was anything but , when he elected to put pen to paper for Cumnock just a matter of months on from Jimmy Flynn netting the only goal of the game against Bo’ness United to clinch a first ever Scottish Junior Cup triumph in 1979.

Les revealed “ Sanny McAnespie from my Ayr United days played for Cumnock in that Final and with big Willie Frew as his assistant, had taken over as team manager before the following season got underway, when I happened to be one of their signing targets.

“Sanny had managed to retain the core of Cumnock’s cup-winning side inclusive of Tommy Reynolds, Jim Docherty, Bobby Dickson and Bobby McCulloch while also bringing in top notch newcomers in the shape of Ian McHarg, Alex Bell, Bobby Stevenson and Peter Monan yet for whatever reason we just never got our act together and ended up in a relegation dogfight .

“Our survival hopes actually boiled down to us needing to win at least one of our last two league matches against Kello Rovers and Auchinleck Talbot so things looked very ominous when we duly lost the first of those games to Kello.

“Talbot as you can imagine , were never going to do us any favours, but thankfully we managed to beat their strong side of that time, captained by hardy midfielder Cammy Hitchell and containing my former Ayr United team mates Lannon and Gray.

“And staying up by the skin of our teeth proved the catalyst for our Cumnock team to immediately come good through back to back league titles and I was also fortunate to pick up winners medals from several local Ayrshire trophy wins over the next few seasons before I upped and left in 1984 around the time Jamesie Kirkland was installed as manager.”

LES (second from left standing) CELEBRATING CUMNOCK TITLE WIN

The prospect of again playing under management duo McAnespie and Frew enticed Les to join Irvine Meadow where the highlight of an Ayrshire Cup success (1985) seemed scant reward for a dressing room that at various times over the next four seasons encompassed many highly acclaimed team mates of the ilk of Alan Johnstone, Stuart Mauchlen, Crawford Boyd , Derek McCutcheon, Gary Faulds , John “Fister” McColl, Neilly Muggins and Chris Strain.

He reminisced, “ I would gladly have stayed on at the Medda but Sanny had departed for Stranraer and been replaced by Milton Thomson who clearly didn’t think I brought enough to the team because he didn’t hesitate to offload me when Beith chapped his door with a signing bid .

“Funny thing is I’ve met up with Milton several times down through the years and without fail he always says `His worst ever piece of transfer business was selling me to Beith!`

LES (third from left back row) WITH HIS IRVINE MEADOW TEAM MATES

Jock Minford with Sammy Murray in tow as his No 2 were responsible for luring Les to Bellsdale where he established himself as a regular pick under their management as well as that of Paul Clarke and latterly Dennis Gray over the next six seasons..

He recounted, “I moved to Beith when they were in the Second Division and if memory serves me right then my time there didn’t get away to the best of starts when we lost our opening league match however it was to prove our only blip because we won every other game thereafter to romp away with the title and stepup as champions.

“ Jock McNeil and Rab Hamilton were the more Senior players along with myself before Dennis arrived on the scene and set about making his mark with such as Derek McCulloch, Billy Borthwick, Gary Graham, Barry McCorriston and Craig Shannaghey.

“ Dennis who tagged me as `The Late Train` on account of me having scored an injury time winner for Cumnock in a game against his Talbot team eventually showed me the door at Beith but not before I was somewhat unusually granted a testimonial match.”

Les explained , “ Dennis would sit in on resigning talks each season which usually took the form of players indulging in negotiations over a decent lump sum as well as the cost of new football boots .

“On one such occasion ,a Beith official Des Plott persuaded me to sign on the dotted line by saying `forget about boots as I could get a testimonial match instead `and later when the club tried to pull out of this arrangement, Dennis stepped forward to say he remembered being present when the deal was struck.”

LES (third from right standing) IN HIS BEITH DAYS

Hurlford United management pair Alan Cuthberson and Mikey Neil persuaded Les to have a brief and final hurrah before he opted to hang up the boots , aged 36 years of age, and he has steadfastly remained on the outside looking in ever since.

He admitted, “A management or coaching role has never appealed to me so most Saturdays will find me playing golf at Caprington in Kilmarnock to try and reduce my 15 Handicap (despite having two new hips) or watching my son Gary who is a Grade 3 Referee and sometimes officiates at Junior level.

“From what I’ve observed whenever he’s been in charge, the game is hugely different nowadays and not necessarily in a good way even though clubs appear better organized , playing surfaces are much improved while players are more aware of the need to look after their physical condition and are fitter and faster for it.

“But players no longer possessing the same passion, hunger and sheer desire to be a winner that abounded in my day has made for a poorer end product and I’m not confident of it being addressed any time soon.”

FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY 18^th MARCH 2023 (Kick Offs 2 PM): P.D.M Buildbase Premier Division. Rob Roy v Largs Thistle, Glenafton v Cambuslang Rangers, Irvine Meadow v Pollok Arthurlie v Cumnock,Darvel v Troon. PDM Buildbase First Division. Shotts Bon Accord, v Cumbernauld Utd, Johnstone Burgh v Thorniewood Utd, Rossvale v Kilbirnie Ladeside, Blantyre Vics v Rutherglen Glencairn, St Cadocs v Whitletts Vics.PDM Buildbase Second Division. Greenock v Maryhill, Glasgow Utd v Renfrew, Ardeer Thistle v St Anthonys, Wishaw v Yoker Athletic, Glasgow Perthshire v Ashfield, Muirkirk v Glasgow University, Kilsyth Rangers v Maybole. PDM Buildbase Third Division. Finnart v Lanark Utd , Irvine Vics v Ardrossan Winton Rovers, Larkhall Thistle v Dalry Thistle, Kello Rovers v Vale of Leven, Bellshill Athletic v Newmains Utd, Lesmahagow v Vale of Clyde, Girvan v Carluke Rovers, Lugar Boswell v Saltcoats Vics.PDM Buildbase Fourth Division. Threave Rovers v BSC Glasgow, St Peters v West Park Utd, Rossvale Academy v Glenvale, Easterhouse F.A. v Eglinton, Campbeltown Pupils v Thorn Athletic. Indigo Comms.West of Scotland League Cup.Quarter Finals.Craigmark v St Rochs.Auchinleck Talbot v Gartcairn, Drumchapel Utd v Kilwinning Rangers, Neilston v Clydebank.