GAVIN MALIN and Joe Cardle, attacking midfield players for Spartans and Airdrie United respectively, have never knowingly met or spoken to each other although they played for the same boys club for nearly seven years at the same time!
When they line up against each other in the Homecoming Scottish Cup fourth round tie at the Excelsior Stadium on Saturday it will be the first time they have met each other.
Both players were raised in Lytham St Annes and played for Lytham Juniors
Football Club, Cardle from Under-8s level and Malin from U9s upwards. The reason they appear never to have come into contact with each other is that Cardle is one year older than Malin.
Malin, pictured, 20, who moved to Edinburgh 18 months ago to study Sports Science at Napier University, was born in Dunfermline although his parents moved south to Lancashire when he was nine years old.
He said: "I played with Lytham Juniors from then until I was about 17 with a two-year spell where I trained with Blackpool FC. After Lytham Juniors I moved to Blackpool Wren Rovers before I became a student in Edinburgh.
"My brother, Steven, who moved to work in Edinburgh at the same time, contacted Spartans and the club captain, Craig Graham, invited us both along to training. Last season we played mostly for the second team but this season I have been fortunate enough to be involved with the first team. I think that Spartans are a great club to be part of and this Scottish Cup run has been fantastic. I have managed to score in both games in which I have featured against Annan and Elgin, so I would love to get a goal against Airdrie to make it three from three. I have been lucky that I have been in the right place at the right time."
Malin will be watched on Saturday by his mum, dad and sister who are travelling up from Lytham while his grandparents from Leuchars and a host of family friends will be cheering him on.
"It will be good for them all to see me play for Spartans and hopefully I actually get on to the pitch," he said.
Cardle, 21, was born in Blackpool after his parents moved to Lytham from Barrhead before he was born although he maintains a strong Scottish accent. "I am not aware that I have ever met Gavin Malin which is weird considering we were both at the same club. I was at Lytham Juniors from when I was seven until I was 14. I then trained with Burnley for two years before I moved to Port Vale where I was for five years in total until I went on loan last season to Clyde when Colin Henry was manager. There was a change of management at Port Vale so I was released and that was when Airdrie United got in touch. I came along in pre-season and was offered a contract.
"I don't know very much about Spartans except that my uncle in Paisley, who I am staying with at present, is a St Mirren supporter and he has told me about Spartans holding his club to a 0-0 draw at their home ground in Edinburgh a few seasons ago. We are treating this match very seriously as we would any game and we will be very professional in our approach."
Cardle has already been on the wrong end of a giant-killing act when he was with Port Vale who travelled to meet non-league Hereford United and were turned over 4-0, with Cardle coming on as a late substitute.
"That was a cup disaster and I don't want that to happen again as it was not a pleasant experience," said Cardle.
It will be interesting to note if Cardle and Malin do recognise each other and which one of these former Lytham Juniors players comes away from the Excelsior Stadium with the bragging rights when they return to their family homes in Lancashire.
The full article contains 687 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
