BY IAIN COLLIN – @CCP_sport
Window cleaner Ally Adams is desperate to help extend Linlithgow Rose’s Scottish Cup run tonight as he sets his sights on a dream step up the football ladder.
The Linlithgow keeper and his team-mates hit the road again this evening full of belief they can prevail in their fourth round replay against Forfar at Station Park and set up a trip to face Ross County in the last 16.
A remarkable tie at Rose’s Prestonfield finished 3-3 10 days ago, with the junior outfit roaring back from 3-1 down with just 10 men to keep alive their hopes of progressing.
And, although his short-term focus is fully on helping bring success to ‘the Gallant Rosey Posey’, Adams admits a high-profile run in the cup might just help him follow his dreams of a full-time football career.
The 24-year-old joined Rose in the summer from Musselburgh Athletic in the juniors, where he saw the likes of Jordyn Sheerin and Michael McKenna (who is now with Berwick Rangers) leave for Livingston, and Graeme Beveridge and Andy Munro earn moves to League Two.
And he confesses he would love to leave behind his bucket and sponge for a chance to make it as a full-time footballer.
He said: “The game against Forfar is the first time I’ve played against an SPFL club and then there’s the opportunity to maybe go and play against a Premiership side.
“Here’s hoping there might be somebody watching us in these games – because it’s not great weather for cleaning windows!
“That’s what I do for a living just now, so if anybody’s watching then great.
“I’ve worked for the same boss at Edinburgh City Window Cleaning for years and he’s great for giving me time off I need it.
“But I’m still young and I’ve never had a crack at playing senior football. Everybody dreams of being a professional football player.
“I was at Musselburgh before Linlithgow and I’ve seen some of my mates, like Jordyn Sheerin, Andy Munro, Michael McKenna and Graeme Beveridge, make the step up to senior football and done quite well.
“It would be nice to get the opportunity one day.
“But, for just now, it’s important to focus on this game and try and get Linlithgow through to the next round.”
Miles
Rose have certainly racked up the miles in the tournament this season, facing trips to Gala and Inverness before two trips to face Wick Academy in the previous round because of a very late postponement.
With Forfar to visit tonight, Adams wonders whether any other club has had quite so much travelling to do on the road to Hampden.
However, he admits he would love to have the chance to make another long journey to Dingwall to face County in the next round.
He added: “It’s going to be a hard game against Forfar, there’s no doubt about that, but with the way the last game went, and the way we came back, it gives you a great buzz for the game and gives you belief.
“Having come back with the 10 men from 3-1 down, it definitely gives you confidence we can go there and do it.
“They’re an SPFL side and, at home especially, they’ll definitely be expecting to go and win the game.
“We’ve been a bit hard done-by with the draw – I would love to know if there’s ever a team that’s travelled more than us in the Scottish Cup?
“Gala, Clachnacuddin, up to Wick twice, with the first game getting called off, and now Forfar away.
“Then it’s Ross County if we do manage to get past Forfar, but I don’t think there would be any complaints if we have to make that journey.
“We would be delighted, that’s what the cup’s all about.”
