Skelton sets sights on lighting up Hampden

Gavin Skelton is the only survivor now of those days. The 25-year-old was an electrician before Mileson’s investment into Gretna allowed him to go full-time. On Saturday, who would be better at putting Heart of Midlothian’s lights out in the Tennent’s Scottish Cup final.

*
For Skelton, Hampden with 50,000 people will be in stark contrast to what he first signed on for at Gretna in 2001 when they were still in the UniBond Northern Premier League and the idea of joining the Scottish Football League had not even been floated.

“I started off in the UniBond League and joined five seasons ago,” he recalls. “I did three years’ YTE and a year and a half as a sparky. I was doing house lights, outside lights, sheds — all sorts of stuff. I hadn’t quite finished my qualification but it wasn’t bad because I didn’t have kids. If I had, I probably wouldn’t have been able to do it, but because I was single I was. I was never going to have another opportunity to go full-time. I would probably have got to 30 and always regretted it, especially now when I see what’s going on.

“We had no idea how big it was going to get here. It’s just grown and grown and grown, it’s a blast. We used to train out in the car park at Raydale when it was icy or too wet. We used to train behind the goals as well so we realise how fortunate we are now.

“When I was down in Derbyshire I used to start work early and then it was a mad rush to get up to play. It used to fly by. We used to train Thursday, play Saturday, then midweek games. Mind you, when you look back they were enjoyable times as well.

“We appreciate now what we’ve got. I think a few of the boys left because they didn’t fancy travelling all the way to Peterhead and Elgin but it was a real opportunity for me.

“In the regional league we were never going to go anywhere so I thought I might as well give it a go. There was always that draw. We were never going to get anywhere in the English FA Cup so there was more opportunity in the Scottish League.

“People in England are definitely sitting up and taking notice of us now. I even read something about us in the Sunday Times. There has been a good bit of publicity and people down in places like Bury have been talking about us.

“Brooks [Mileson] came with us on the bus a couple of times. I knew him before though because he was interested in Carlisle. I didn’t know him but I knew of him. When he got involved with Gretna I just thought it was a good opportunity. I never really thought too far ahead. I would be lying if I said I could see what was happening, I just thought it was a good opportunity.

“I got the Player of the Year award on Saturday night. It’s an honour and I was very touched. There are players like me and Ryan McGuffie who probably wouldn’t be here if we had been let go by other clubs. That’s football.

“There are a lot of players here who have played in the SPL and we know we have to match their standards to stay at the club. We just can’t wait to get back to Hampden. It’s been the longest five and a half weeks since the semi-final. It’s taken over our lives. You just can’t think of anything else to be honest. I just can’t wait. I’ve got so many family and friends coming, I’ve been sorting out tickets and all that.

“I’ve been getting slaughtered by the team as you can imagine because I’ve got to wear a kilt on Saturday. I think the lads are even going to leave the pub early to come in and see me. But it is the Scottish Cup final.

“A lot of people are coming to watch us now, not just because it’s the Scottish Cup final. Just because we only have 2,000 fans, it doesn’t make them care less about Gretna. We’re also going to get people from the Carlisle area and Cumbria.

“Even last season, we were getting over 3,000 for games. We’ve got 12,000 going to Hampden and because we’ve been given a big corner of the ground, there will be a good atmosphere.”

McGlynn hails Pressley and Hartley as driving force

JOHN McGLYNN, the Heart of Midlothian assistant coach, has pinpointed the contributions of Steven Pressley and Paul Hartley as the driving force behind the club’s successful season.

“What has driven the squad on through everything this year has been people like Elvis (Pressley) and Paul Hartley’s determination to win something with Hearts,” McGlynn told the Edinburgh Evening News. “They probably realise they won’t have too many more chances to be successful and have been at clubs before who are not used to winning things.They see the chance to win the Scottish Cup final and they want to grasp it.”

Taken from timesonline.co.uk