IT’S the numbers more than anything which gives some more than a little credence to the notion that Hutchison Vale Football is the most successful club of their kind in the country.

As far as can be worked out, there are currently 97 current professional footballers who have come through the Edinburgh, some 120-ish have now retired from the senior game, there have been 63 Scottish Cup winners in 24 finals and literally hundreds of international caps. To count them all would take too long.

It would be a biblical take to log each and every player who are least made it to the junior ranks

They can go right back to Tommy Younger, the outstanding goalkeeper who played from 1948-1963 and captained Liverpool and then went on to become president of the SFA.

The name has changed. Celtic could face Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale in the next round of the William Hill Scottish Cup fifth round, the two clubs had a link and joined forced at the start of the 2011/12 season, should they beat East Kilbride next week.

However, what remains the same is the philosophy of ‘Hutchie’ continuing to put young players on the road to stardom. Want some names to impress you?

John Collins, Darren Fletcher, Kenny Miller, Steven Whittaker, Kevin Thomson, Garry O'Connor, the Caldwell brothers, Leigh Griffiths, Gary Naysmith and the current young Hibs strike Jason Cumming are all ex-Hutchie boys. The list could go on. And on.

There are bigger names in Scottish football but is there on that follows through on its raison d'etre than the one based in Saughton? No, would be the answer to that.

On the website, there is statement which sums up what Hutchison Vale has always been and will always be about.

“So players when wearing the famous "black and yellow", wear the jersey with pride, a lot of excellent players have worn it before you, and it is up to you all to carry the tradition on. This helps to bring the best out of players at the club and always inspires the opposition to try that bit harder against you.”

And if that doesn’t get the blood pumping then you are probably not cut out for pro football.

Ian Murray, former Hibernian captain and until recently the St Mirren manager, is one of the alumni who owes quite a bit to the grounding and teaching he got when he was still at primary school.

“I joined the kid’s school, a long time ago now, and spent six years there and had a great time,” said Murray. “They were then the main boys club in Edinburgh and, in fact, they could claim to be just that in the whole of Scotland.

“It was the values they thought even that that stand out now. They installed discipline in you in terms of what they expected from you as a team player. It wasn’t strict as such but they were teaching things that others were not.

“You were well aware of the standards that were set and had to be reached by us. These are things that stayed with you and helped you out way down the years.

“There is no better club in the country in terms of producing players at boys clubs level who then move onto senior teams. It’s not just up here, they have really close links to clubs in England and there are plenty who get a chance of making it down there.

“When you read the names of everyone who has played for Scotland, been to the Premier League or won a cup, nobody else comes close to Hutchie.

The club has changed since Murray’s day. The fact they could be just 90 minutes away from playing Celtic in the Scottish Cup suggests that there now more to the new club than just producing the stars of tomorrow.

“I don’t think anyone could have envisaged Hutchie playing Celtic in the cup and yet that could happen,” said Murray who also has Rangers and Norwich City on his CV. “I am delighted with everyone, from the board to the committee members who work really hard.

“It will be the biggest game in the club’s history, the same goes for East Kilbride, and I wish them well. There are a few of us who would like to see Hutchie enjoy such a big day.”