MATT McGINLEY holds the hopes of East Kilbride’s next generation of supporters in his hands after convincing a classroom full of converts to get out and get behind the Lowland League club in their William Hill fifth round Scottish Cup tie against Celtic.
Goalkeeper McGinley works as a Physical Education teacher at Calderglen High School, just round the corner from Kilby’s K-Park base, and admits his involvement in Sunday’s match has caused his pupils to give up their Old Firm allegiances in support of their local team.
Most of them will make the journey to the Excelsior Stadium in Airdrie for the big match and McGinley admits he is struggling to get through his lessons because of the levels of anticipation.
“My pupils are all coming to the game and they are all high as kites,” he said. “I would say it is a bit of a 50-50 split between Rangers and Celtic fans, but I think they will all be East Kilbride through and through come Sunday.
“The draw has certainly had an impact on my lessons. I have been trying to teach them badminton and volleyball and the game has been all they have wanted to talk about.
“It is nothing but good news for the area, though.”
For McGinley, this match is a welcome return to high-level football after a spell as a full-time footballer with Morton four years ago.
“I played a couple of games when I was full-time there, so the Championship is the highest level I have played at,” he said. “That was four years ago. I played Livingston and Raith Rovers and drew one and lost one, so I am due a win.
“I had a couple of years at Albion Rovers after that and was playing in the Highland League for six months last season after moving to Aberdeen for work.
“I would have liked to have stayed full-time, but nothing lasts forever, so I went back to part-time football and went back to university to do my teacher training.”
Morton went on to knock Celtic out of the League Cup the season after McGinley left Cappielow and he admits his former team-mates are providing a source of inspiration as he prepares for the game of his life.
“I left before they went to Parkhead and won, but that match shows what can happen in a one-off game,” he said.
McGinley is likely to face one of the busier afternoons of his career against Celtic, too, and is unruffled when asked whether the prospect of facing up to the likes of Leigh Griffiths is giving him sleepless nights.
“Not yet,” he smiled. “We have had an incredible run and it is a massive game for the club, but we have got to go out there, play our best and enjoy the day. We cannot afford to be uptight.”
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