by Joe McHugh
Mark McNally was the unexpected matchwinner at Saturday's Masters Event at Braehead with the goal that beat Dundee United 3-2 in the final.
VIDEO INTERVIEW with Mark after the Masters, a bit rushed and uncordinated but I'll get better, it's never easy in pre-season.
Mark had a strange Celtic career, playing under four different managers during his 113 first team appearances.
Originally from Newarthill he first appeared at Celtic during the Centenery season benefitting from the decision to play in the Reserve League West which was basically for the youth team with the main reserve side playing in the Premier Reserves.
A good number of players progressed into the game from that period with the reserves managed by Bobby Lennox with Benny Rooney taking the 'third team'.
Gerry Crainey and Stevie Fulton made an impact at Celtic before being transferred for useful fees while Gerry Britton, Davie Elliot, Stuart Balmer and Alex Mathie all had good careers in the game playing into their thirties.
When former youth team players start turning out in the Masters it's a bit of an eye opener, much like finding Owen Archdeacon's son Mark playing senior football.
Despite leaving Celtic in 1995 Mark McNally has been a regular at matches and functions and made a few appearances on Celtic TV as well, never hiding the fact that he was a keen supporter.
His Celtic playing career brought only one medal during that difficult period of the early 90s, ironically that came in his last ever Celtic match when he stood in for the suspended Tony Mowbray and injured Brian O'Neil in the 1-0 Scottish Cup Final win over Airdrie in 1995.
After Celtic he went on to play for Southend, Stoke City and Dundee United before running his career down at Ayr Utd, Clydebank, Partick Thistle and finally Stirling Albion where he went on to become assistant manager to Allan Moore.
During his time at Stirling he took the team to Celtic Park for a Scottish Cup tie in January 2008 before taking up a coaching post at the SFA.
Further videos to follow from Tom Boyd, Stewart Kerr and Pierre van Hoojidonk.
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