As the worst left-back in the history of Tranmere Rovers, my late teenage Saturday afternoons were occupied by Lancashire League fixtures that took in games against Everton, Liverpool, both Manchester clubs and all points between Burnley and Blackpool. But it became evident very quickly that bags of enthusiasm didn’t compensate for a lack of talent and ability.

As I think back to reflect on Saturday afternoons since then, it’s a Scotsman to whom I owe a massive debt of thanks.

Dave Russell had won the Scottish Cup with East Fife in 1938 and after spells with Sheffield Wednesday and Bury, he served Tranmere as manager, then general manager. One Saturday Dave suggested my career in football might be better served working “off pitch” rather than on it.

I snatched his hand off, and while working in Tranmere’s commercial department my attention was drawn to the local radio broadcasters. ‘These guys are getting paid to talk about football,’ I thought, and immediately threw myself headlong into trying to do the same.

So, it is all Dave Russell’s fault I have been able to talk nonsense about football for close to four decades now. And I remain eternally grateful to Dave.

I read the Sunday League results; “Coach & Horses 2, Fur & Feather 1; Croxteth Royal British Legion 3, Dingle Rail 3. But with a lot of luck (and hard work in equal measure), suddenly my Saturday was about following Everton and Liverpool. Remember, this was the mid-80’s when the two Merseyside clubs were dominating English Football, the central characters being names Herald readers will be familiar with; Souness, Dalglish, Hansen in red, Sharp and Gray in blue. It was fantastic.

Before long, it was time to move and Saturdays changed, dramatically. Having joined the ‘Question of Sport ‘ production team, my job was coming up with questions for David Coleman to ask Emlyn Hughes, Bill Beaumont and their guests. “Who has written this ridiculous ‘away’ question’ David would bellow, ‘no need to answer’, he would say, “it’s so bad it has got Stubbs written all over it, Change it, now!”

He was demanding, but brilliant and I learnt so much. He’d put his stamp on Grandstand, broadcasting the ‘final scores’.

I eventually got the chance to follow him, watch the famous vidiprinter telling us all we needed to know, letter by letter, number by number. It is something very special to me.

Soon, Saturday’s were spent at what are now Premier League grounds to report for ‘Match of the Day.’ Please be patient, I’ll get to Scottish football soon …

Fast forward through a decade of Saturday lunchtimes with Mark Lawrenson on Football Focus. By the way, he really did think those shirts looked good. Afternoons were with Garth Crooks on Final Score, and occasional Saturday nights on MoTD, usually when Gary (Lineker) was in Barbados.

And, guess what? Another switch. Alongside their Premier League coverage that I signed up to work on, ESPN were rights holders for the SPL. We had a great team. Derek Rae is an accomplished commentator and Darrell Currie, an incisive touchline reporter who has developed into a first-class presenter.

It was a pleasure to be in the company of Scott Booth, and this was the first time I worked alongside Craig Burley.

I haven’t worked with anyone who has generated such a reaction as Craig, who didn’t get on with Scott and the atmosphere could be tense, so it was never dull. Craig throws verbal grenades like no-one else and they still land over here, even though he is hurling them from the USA. But the SPL team was a tight group. It was a privilege to be a part of it.

We stayed in the Glasgow Malmaison. I recall late Saturday night route marches from the bottom of the hill, with Steven Craigan acting like a sergeant major. He thought it was a pre-season. And I took stick from Celtic and Rangers fans alike so I thought I must be steering a reasonably steady course.

England beckoned again so it was back to the Premier League, interviewing managers for BT Sport. That meant lots of glares, and stares, and very, very few smiles. Maybe that’s a chapter for a book if I ever get brave.

And now, my job is Monday to Friday on talkSPORT2, often with regular and welcome conversations with The Herald’s Head of Sport, Stewart Weir.

So for the first time in my working life, I have Saturday’s off – but still full of sport. Twickenham, London Scottish, who play down the road from me, National League South club Hampton and Richmond, caught a train to Dover to watch Tranmere, popped up to see the grandchildren with Whitley Bay FC just around the corner. My daughter lives out Highbury way, so that is great, and with my mobile phone in hand, I can follow everything.

Great fun, happy days, but where did those years go? PS a suggestion Mr. Weir; How about ‘My Sporting Saturday Nights.’ Could be interesting … very interesting!