Linlithgow Rose’s blooming talent Gary Livingstone has eye on Scottish Cup silverware

Jan 28 2010 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

GARY LIVINGSTONE skipped past Cumnock’s beleaguered left-back once again and delivered a cross with more whip than an ice-cream parlour writes Eric Mackinnon.

The ball was inch perfect for the lurking John Ward who nodded home his sides’ second goal as Livingstone notched yet another assist.

It was his second assist of the match after an earlier shot had been spilled by the Ayrshire keeper before being stroked home by Tommy Coyne.

Livingstone, who turned just 19 last month, has exploded on to the junior football scene this season with Linlithgow Rose.

Blessed with natural spring, raw pace and a devastating delivery from wide, he has sparkled alongside other blooming Rose talents like Roddy McLennan, Steve Manson and Coyne.

In Livingstone, Rose have on their hands one of junior football’s most talked-about-teenagers. On Saturday he was virtually unplayable, having a hand in two of the West Lothian side’s four goals in their Scottish Cup win over Cumnock.

But he admits that as much as he loves laying on goals he is keen to get his own name on the scoresheet more often.

“One thing I know I need to improve on is my goals tally and I hope to get a few more before the end of the season,” admitted Livingstone.

“I have managed to set quite a few up for my team-mates though, and I made two on Saturday against Cumnock.

“I’m happy creating goals and I know if I put the ball in the box the likes of Coyne, Gordon Herd and Paddy Flannery will be there or thereabouts.”

The winger started his career with Celtic but found it hard to break into a first-team scene packed with internationals.

He knew he had to quit the Old Firm giants for the good of his football career and Rose came calling at the right time.

He said: “I was at Celtic but things didn’t work out and I simply came to the end of my time there.

“I wasn’t playing so I wasn’t happy and I had to make a move and go elsewhere. The move to Linlithgow came about through the former manager Brian Fairley.

“He knew about me and invited me up to do a bit of training to see if I liked it and I really enjoyed it.

“The standard is a bit different coming from full-time to part-time but it is good, as is our training.

“It really went from there and it has certainly turned out to be a good move for me.

“I’m only contracted until the end of this season and I don’t know what the future holds for me yet but at the moment I’m enjoying my football.”

Rose, who were Junior Scottish Cup winners in 2002 and 2007, are inching towards the latter stages of the Cup once again with Livingstone admitting the squad are already dreaming of lifting the prized silverware.

“I’ve had a fair run this season and we’re still in the hunt for the Scottish Cup which we will be doing our best to win,” continued Livingstone.

“It is getting closer and closer and if we can win another couple of games we’ll be in sight of it.

“Our league placing is a bit disappointing and it is draws which have really cost us.

“We’ve hardly lost a game but have drawn far too many and that’s why we are where we are as the Superleague is such a tight league and all the teams are bunched together.

“I would say Bo’ness were the most impressive team we’ve played this season but to be honest I don’t think they are much better than us.”