Gauntlet is thrown down for Jackton’s historic day

Oct 8 2008 by Paul Thomson, East Kilbride News

JACKTON All-Stars boss Gordon Chisholm has started a full-scale battle in the Queen of the South dressing room – by setting up his coaches Billy Dodds and Kenny Brannigan for a Showpark showdown.

Queens gaffer Chissy will take charge of the star-studded side who will take on TV personality Chick Young's Dukla Pumpherston on Sunday afternoon in an eagerly-awaited charity clash.

The game kicks off at 2pm and it is pay at the gate with the prices set at £3 for adults and £1 for kids.

This match – with a sports panel night featuring Rangers captain Barry Ferguson and Celtic legend John Hartson to follow in the East Kilbride Thistle Social Club – is designed to raise funds for Jackton Boys’ Club under-13s side's trip to Canada next summer.

Jackton are dreaming of playing in the world-famous Robbie tournament in July 2009 and Chisholm said: "Doddsy is playing for my Jackton All-Stars and big Kenny is supposedly a mainstay for Dukla.

"I've been telling Kenny that Doddsy is going to embarrass him in front of a lot of people in East Kilbride and he's raging.

"We've singled out Kenny as their weak link and we have a plan to expose him if the wee man Dodds lives up to his all-star billing."

Top of the table Chisholm – fresh from masterminding a 6-1 thumping of First Division title rivals Livingston is looking forward to Jackton's big day at the Showpark.

The former Dundee United manager was the fairytale story of last season as he guided his underdog side to the Scottish Cup Final against Rangers – where they lost 3-2 – and the UEFA Cup.

And he smiled: "For all the unbelievable highs there was no silverware so I'd love to win the Ferrari Packaging Cup for the Jackton All-Stars.

"My monthly supper club includes Doddsy and Jackton's coach sports journalist Iain King.

"If it's not Doddsy going on about Dick Advocaat and Rangers then it's Kingy rabbiting on about his coaching methods at Jackton!

"They tire you out to be honest and Kingy has warned me that if I lose out I'll get sacked which is poor conduct after one game but what do you expect from a journalist?

"Still, the lure of this one is too much, I wouldn't miss Dodds against Brannigan for anything."

Chisholm's side will include SFA chief executive Gordon Smith, Rangers legends John Brown and Gordon Durie, former Scotland stars Rab McKinnon and Brian Martin, Dundee supremo Dave McKinnon, ex-Kilmarnock midfielder Alan Mahood and local favourite Ally Graham.

Dukla will also bring a side full of household names as they get behind Jackton's quest to make it to Toronto.

Guests at night will have the chance to bid for a host of unique items including a signed Brian Laudrup shirt as well as jerseys from star guests Ferguson and Hartson.

And as a bizarre bonus East Kilbride golf hero Marc Warren has donated the signed, full length Chinese silk dress jacket he was given when he won the World Cup alongside Colin Montgomerie.

Jackton coach King said: "This day is the culmination of a lot of hard work and Marc's gesture in giving us such a prized memento to auction says it all.

"I'm proud of what we have achieved so far as a fledgling club in our first season – but we're just starting. The goal has to be Canada and we will get there."

On the field last Sunday Jackton could have no complaints as they fell to their first defeat of the season and lost out 3-1 in the Scottish Cup to excellent local rivals EKYC.

The nerve-ridden home side simply never got started in the first-half and, but for the defiance of brave goalkeeper Jacob Kean, would have been more than 2-0 down at the break.

Reshuffled Jackton improved hugely after the interval and hauled one back through Adam McFarlane but saw YC stave off the comeback before snatching a late third to break their hearts and send them spinning out.

A harsh lesson and a deserved defeat with only man of the match Sean Kelly, Ross McKechnie and keeper Kean truly gaining pass marks.

Jackton would like to wish YC all the best in the next round.