only 20 years ago

Twenty years seems like whisper away now. As I think back to 1988 so many moments resonate in my life and its difficult to think of them so long ago.

Within the Scottish Football community it also marked the debut of a nineteen year-old midfielder by the name of Billy McKinlay. A splendid player for Dundee United, who along with good field management and vision, I remember best for his tenacity, grit and that he possessed the heart of the Lion. After nearly twenty years on the pitch, his playing career concluded a few years go but every time I take a look at Fulham, where he know coaches their academy, I wonder how many of those young men will capture that same level of competitiveness that was a cornerstone to his career.

Oddly enough Billy was awarded the Scotland’s top young player of the year in 1988, the same year that marked the relegation of Hamilton Academical from the upper tier of Football. Ironically now twenty years later, The Accies opened the campaign against the club Billy debuted, Dundee United.

Cutting straight to the chase, Hamilton was brilliant today. They flew all over the pitch in their own brand of beautiful Football on the way to a commanding 3-1 victory over Dundee. Certainly it could be said that Dundee looked rather unsettled tonight but truth-be-told, it was the Hamilton squad that displayed a extraordinary work-rate, challenged every ball, were creative on the pitch but far more importantly wanted to win the match. Hamilton manager Billy Reid could probably talk a great deal of crisp passing and point-out the tremendous play of David Graham and the young James McArthur but the real story was the attitude of the squad and sheer tenacity to refuse anything but three points.

After twenty years somethings never change and the never-say-die attitude of the Scottish Premier League resonates loud and clear.

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