OUR popular series continues as we ask John Neill for his All-Time Coleraine XI from his own playing days at The Showgrounds…

‘Neilly’ made his debut for the club as a 16-year-old under Kenny Shiels in 1998 and never looked back – also working with Marty Quinn and Davy Platt during his time at the Bannsiders.

On leaving Coleraine, John went on to serve Portstewart, Tobermore United and the Heights with great distinction and can now be found passing on his great knowledge of the game to the kids in his role as a coach in the Academy.

The local man featured alongside many great names during his playing days – all 258 of them – on the Ballycastle Road and here is his all-time XI.

JOHN’S COLERAINE XI

GK: Davy O’Hare

Big Davy is a big part of my memories at Coleraine. He was a fantastic goalkeeper. Davy could have played out, he had great feet and always played out field at training.

He might even tell you that I was his deadliest opponent!

Davy loved a carry on, I’ll say nothing about the night he ran out covered in suds from the shower and shouted “Neilly have I rinsed off all the shower gel” or the time he ran out naked to the main pitch in the snow.

RB: Stewart Clanachan

Stu could have played anywhere – LB, CB or CMF. Great passer and great defender and also a great all round lad. When he passed to you it was like he was hitting a golf shot.

One of the funniest people I know.

He is best known for his one-liners. Loved a wee bottle of Calpol too!

CB: Paul Gaston

Mr Coleraine himself. Growing up watching Coleraine he was one of the main players. It was great to play with him.

Gacky was a local like me and it wasn’t always easy being a local boy as the fans weren’t long in telling you if you had a bad game. I always thought that Gacky could have made it in England if he had pushed himself. He was the worst trainer, but the best player on the pitch on a Saturday.

CB: John Devine

One of the most influential players in my career. I learned a lot from John – positioning, defending. He made me play against him as a forward at training so that I could learn from him. He would have given me boots too, which was always a great thing when you were just coming through the ranks.

I also played with Gareth McAuley and he was a great talent too. Gareth went on to great things but never forgot his mates at Coleraine. He is a gentleman.

LB: Gerry Flynn

Gerry was great on the ball and a great passer of the ball. Gerry was Mr Flashy, a bit of a ‘Del Boy’ – he could have got you a boot deal, aftershave – you name it!

RM: Stephen Carson

The one and only. Probably the best that I ever played with.

Stephen was just something else. You just knew you had a chance of winning if he was on the pitch.

He was a very serious player in the changing rooms and before games, unlike Stu who was always up for a joke and a carry on. To this day, I think Carsie is one of the best to ever pull on a Coleraine jersey. I met him at Christmas and it was like he’d never been away. He hasn’t lost that old Ballymoney twang.

CM: Pat McAllister

Another player I learned a lot from. His leadership and his game were just something else. Win at all costs that was his motto. He was fiery, he was never far away from a scrap and if you weren’t up to it on Saturday he would let you know.

CM: Tommy McCallion

Tommy was ahead of his time. Skillful, professional. He just wanted everything perfect – training, match days, diet (he loved pineapples and bananas). I wish I had listened to him more, but it’s hard when someone is shouting at you like a school teacher (sorry Tom).

The craic with the L/Derry boys – Tommy, Paddy and big Cass – there was always a story. Wish I’d been a fly on the wall for that car journey for training and matches. It must’ve been like something out of ‘Still Game’. They love a wee stop off at the BP garage on the way home. Poor Tommy.

LM: Johnny McIvor

He was my favourite player growing up supporting Coleraine. He took players on with no fear and great skill. Getting a chance to play alongside him was unreal.

FW: Davy Patton

I use Davy as an example to my U14s – he could hold the ball up so well, his passing, his heading – Davy had it all. He had a great way of bringing people into games. Davy was the quiet man, he didn’t say much but his skills did all the talking.

FW: Rory Patterson

My dad always said that Dessie Dickson was the best finisher he had seen at Coleraine, but when Rory signed, my dad thought Rory was as good a finisher as Dessie. He made no mistake in front of goal, you just knew when the ball left his foot it was a goal.

I played with some great players at Coleraine, this was a really hard shout. Ryan McLaughlin, John Watt, Darren Boyce, Stephen Beatty, Eunan O’Kane, Jody Tolan, Kyle McVey, David McClements – the list goes on.

Football has a great way of bringing people together, you make friends with boys that you would never meet in everyday life and I am grateful that I still have contact with most of these great lads today and when you meet up it’s like we are back in the training ground again.