Image: SSE Enterprise apprentice Bernard is in the front row, second from the left.
An apprentice electrician with SSE Enterprise Contracting will line up against Scottish champions Celtic in a televised Scottish Cup tie on Sunday 7 February.
Left back Bernard Coll had a hand in both goals as he and his East Kilbride FC team mates saw off Lothian Thistle 2-0 in the fourth round to earn the dream tie against the Glasgow giants.
Now the 21-year-old from The Gorbals is counting down the days until he takes the field against the club he has supported his entire life – live on BBC Scotland. Bernard also played in Celtic’s youth team for six years, is a former season ticket holder and has been a ballboy when the club played in the Champions League
He said: “When I was growing up I always wanted to play for them but I suppose the next best thing is to be on the same pitch as them. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. Everyone at the club is excited about it and the days before the game are really dragging in now.”
Semi-professional club East Kilbride FC was only formed in 2010 and normally plays in front of crowds of 250 in the Lowland Football League. The club’s reward for winning the Lowland League Cup was automatic qualification for the second round of the Scottish Cup and they proceeded to eliminate Forres Mechanics, Stenhousemuir and Lothian Thistle from the competition. It has been reported the club could make as much as £200,000 from the Celtic tie, which will take place at Airdrie’s 10,000 capacity Excelsior Stadium.
Bernard says he is enjoying life in the spotlight following the victory over Lothian Thistle, when the sell-out crowd included Scotland manager Gordon Strachan, Celtic coach John Kennedy and striker Leigh Griffiths, and former Rangers player and manager Ally McCoist.
Bernard said: “When we played Lothian Thistle in the last round it was the first time we felt any pressure. We had been underdogs for the first two Scottish Cup ties but we were the favourites for that game, plus we knew the winner would play Celtic so that meant there was a bit of added pressure on us.
“Since we beat Lothian Thistle we have just been enjoying it. There is no pressure any more as we are playing the best team in Scotland and nobody expects us to get a result.”
Before joining SSE, Bernard studied Mechanical and Electrical Systems Engineering at Glasgow Caledonian University for two years but found it difficult to combine his studies with playing football. Bernard had broken into the first team at Glasgow club Queen’s Park, but his playing opportunities became limited following a change of manager. He joined East Kilbride midway through last season and says he is enjoying his football once again.
His role with SSE sees Bernard work on a cycle of six weeks on site then four weeks attending college and he says only a good offer from a Scottish Premiership club would persuade him to consider football as a full-time career.
Bernard said: “It’s much easier to combine the apprenticeship with playing football. I’m really enjoying it and while it’s hard work I don’t feel as much pressure as I was putting myself under at uni.”
As the Celtic game draws closer, the only pressure Bernard is feeling is from friends, family and colleagues looking for tickets.
He said: “I think I’ve been asked for more than 100 tickets already. My mum is even trying to run a bus to the game from The Gorbals!”
Jim McPhillimy, Managing Director of SSE Enterprise, said: “East Kilbride is my home town and it’s great to see the local football team involved in such a high-profile tie. We’re all very proud of Bernard and the part he has played in getting them this far so hopefully he can go out and enjoy the occasion now.
“I’m sure all his colleagues in SSE will be rooting for East Kilbride, apart from the Celtic fans of course. If they can overcome the odds and get a result then we might have to see about giving him the Monday off so he doesn’t miss out on the celebrations!”