Albion Rovers and Coatbridge – affectionately known as the village of the footballing damned.
With the exception of maybe Bernie Slaven, Cliftonhill was a career port of call that usually suggested things were going badly awry. It’s a lesser known fact that MailSport colleague Mick Gannon’s hopes of making it as a keeper were ended after being rejected by the Wee Rovers and replaced by a far more-agile traffic cone just three weeks into his trial spell.
This former footballer’s own trajectory towards the top suffered a nosedive immediately after a match against Albion Rovers reserves when manager Vinnie Moore asked for a word in his office. His enquiry was over my plans for the following season and whether a move held any appeal. After explaining a return from injury was the reason for a night with Bully Wee stiffs, it was warm thanks but no thanks. I made my excuses and left. Former Rovers boss Jimmy Lindsay sent an emoji last Saturday moments after their exit from the SPFL. A relegation most foul – it read: “Albion Rovers s***.”
A man with a genuine affection for the club and one of many who were shocked that an institution with 120 years in the senior game had fallen through the trap door. Each visit to their ramshackle stadium emboldened a belief the club are servicing a community and have been sustained by their tireless servants.
Which brings us to this week’s revelation that a consortium known as Project Phoenix wants to tap into the Irish heritage in Coatbridge and rebrand Rovers as Shamrock Rovers Coatbridge.
One had to check the calendar – it’s a bit late for it to be April 1st. Anyway, it’s a novel way to save the club – by eradicating its identity while alienating a section of the fanbase if they don’t happen to share the same enthusiasm for the consortium’s passion for all things green and white.
Shyness McGonigal, aka spokesman Paul Reilly, talked of the obligatory 10,000 multi-purpose stadium. Don’t they all? The group has even designed a club badge for their rebrand – with an Irish tricolour, shamrock and burning castle turret with a Celtic cross.
Reilly is quoted as saying the following and he did it with a straight face. He said: “We are not trying to make it about religion or anything like that but you have to cater for your customer base.”
Begging a pardon? If that wasn’t enough there were also comments that had more sinister undertones if the board opt to turn down an offer they can’t refuse.
“We have said to them if this is not a route you wish to go down, we will acquire a club from the lower leagues or another SPFL team, bring them to Coatbridge and do it with them instead.”
Then came a laugh out loud moment with this olive branch. He said: “The reason Shamrock Rovers Coatbridge was picked is because there is still an element of ‘The Rovers’ there to acknowledge the club from the past.”
Reilly operates in capital market activities and private equity so it’s doubtful this “plan” is based on any sense of benevolence or the good of the community at heart.
The late but great John Kerr loved a good laugh but as a former Rovers physio he could tell the difference between a hamstring pull and a dead leg. He also had a canny sense for any player who was at it.
He’d be the first to tell these Phoenix knights – or whatever they’re calling themselves – to jog on.
