Our interview this afternoon is with a nominated midfielder however didn’t win a spot in the Facebook/Twitter poll team. A player that was with the Club for 10 years + and again a firms favourite of the era.... George Allison.

I must apologise for the photos here, as said before not getting into the park to get photos am scouring everywhere! These photos would make you think that George played 50 years ago!!

Q. As a young player, who were the teams/players that influenced you growing up?

I am a massive Celtic fan so my favourite player was the midfield maestro Paul McStay. The Tommy Burns Celtic team at that time included Di Canio, Cadette, Van Hooijdonk and Andy Thom who were also a major influence and a team that played attractive attacking football and wonderful to watch.

My favourite player of all time was the legendary Diego Maradona what a player!!!! The hand of God against England was an added bonus.

Q. Who was the hardest player that you ever came up against?

I remember playing against Yogi Hughes when he played for Newtongrange and I just got battered for 90 minutes by Yogi and felt like I was playing against a Tazmanian Devil.
Newtongrange at that time were a team full of giants so if it wasn’t Yogi battering me about then there were plenty of others to dish out the hard but fair challenges.

Q. If my maths is correct you would have joined the Club in 1985 (I was 3 so unfortunately, so can’t recall!), Bo’ness had won the Scottish the season before, who and what brought you to the Club and was there still a buzz around the Club from the Cup win?

I was brought to the Club through friends of my dad and wanted to start enjoying playing again after a spell senior with Stirling Albion and Stenhousemuir. I didn’t take a signing on fee as I felt this was only a short term measure before I got a move back to senior football and 10 years later I was still there. So I reckon I must be due a fortune in signing on fees so forwarding address supplied. The club still seemed on a high but also going through a transition with a number of the players having left following the Cup win and a few younger boys like myself brought in. I probably didn’t quite understand the magnitude of winning the Scottish Cup when I joined but what an achievement.

Q. 1995 was your testimonial year with Bo’ness United, did you ever think you would have spent 10 years at the Club, I think having a testimonial at a Club is quite an achievement, and is quite rare?

The Testimonial v Celtic was the highlight of my time at the club and it is quite rare but I really loved and enjoyed my time at the BU.(I am sure some supporters felt I was there 10 years to long ). I really appreciated the gesture from the club and the late great Tommy Burns to grant me the game as this was a proud moment for myself and all the family to play against Celtic. I am not sure how many games I played in but an other that sticks out was when we beat a very good Newtongrange Star team 2-1 at Boness. I somehow managed to score both goals and managed to get myself sent off (how did that happen). I loved my time at the club and met some great characters along the way.

Q. You played in the local derby for both sides……how did you feel playing against Bo’ness United after so many years at the Club?

I now know how Mo Johnston must have felt with both sets of fans giving me some major stick.!!!!!

I did get used to it over the years and secretly loved it !!!! and hopefully it was all friendly banter ???? My first one I remember claiming shy, corners and free kicks shouting Boness ball Ref but quickly reminded by the crowd that you play for Lithgae now son.

Q. We have also got to mention one particular derby in 1997, we were up 2-0 with 5 mins to go and then lost the game and the league………broke a few Bo’ness hearts that did…? You played that game didn’t you?

This was one of the strangest and most satisfying for me personally as the game was so important for both clubs as whoever won would win the league. I had been getting the usual stick from the BU fans until we somehow managed to score 3 goals in the last 5 minutes and win the league at the home of our greatest rivals. This was also my first league winners medal. There is a picture somewhere where I am dancing about with my top off after we scored the 3rd and still hard to believe the comeback actually happened but enjoyed a quiet (!!!!) night afterwards at the Lithgae social club.

Q. Do you have a career highlight?

Being a massive Celtic fan my testimonial v Tommy Burns Celtic was a major highlight and something I look back on and extremely proud of. I would also like to thank one of my favourite players Lex Shields for allowing me to play in his testimonial against a very strong Rangers team including Davie Cooper, Stuart Munro and Mel Sterland managed at that time by Graeme Souness. I am sure I had a few mistimed tackles that night but then again nothing new there. I also played in the midfield with Gordan Strachan and Eamon Bannon in this game so a fantastic experience for them to play with someone of my talent......

Q. Do you have any regrets from your time as a player?

My only regret was not working hard enough at training and not pushing myself as I felt I could have got back to playing at a higher level but really enjoyed just playing football and finished playing in my late thirties.

Q. You may have seen the changes at the Club that the NPA have completed and the progression to the Lowland League...

I think this is the way forward for a lot of clubs to encourage and engage with the local community and identifying potential stars of the future. Anything that encourages young people to go out and exercise and then get involved by going along to watch the team can only help the team in the longer term hopefully pushing through the leagues by generating extra revenue.

Q. Question from the Chairman, how do you achieve you all-year-round glow………?

My all year round glow is down to clean living including plenty of sleep, healty eating, drinking plenty and if all this fails I just use my daughters tinted moisturiser.

Q. Lastly, the Club are running a poll on our Facebook page to make the top Bo’ness United Starting XI, who would make your squad…?

I will go for
Gavin Kirkwood in goals
Andy Dunleavie, Andy McLean, Derek Yates, Graeme Meldrum - Defence
Jimmy Fisher, Bryan Purdie, Danny Crainie - Midfield
Lex Shields, Jimmy Burns, John Sludden Forwards

Thank you George!