Because Ure worth it

Every now and again, an event will come along and remind everyone that football is actually about football, the game, as opposed to a big business. With football dominating front and back pages of newspapers for what seems like an eternity for matters associated with, but not actually anything to do with playing the game, it will surely be a pleasure to read about a player who simply just plays football.

East Stirlingshire’s Derek Ure is in his tenth season with the Third Division club and his loyalty at a time of great change, at both the club and football in general, is to be recognised with a Testimonial Match on Wednesday, 27th April.

Local rivals Falkirk will provide the opposition and the venue for the match and it would be great if a bumper crowd turned up to acknowledge Ure for his contribution to the game.

Ure was a striker when he signed for the then Firs Park based club in January 2002, making his debut at Hampden Park the day after signing from amateur football aged just 17.

“I was with a team that were called ICI in those days and are now called Syngenta. I had been with them for about eight or nine years and had trials with Falkirk and Celtic but nothing ever came of them. I was delighted to sign for the 'Shire and the Manager there at the time Brian Ross.

“Making your debut at Hampden is not too shabby either although we did get beat 1-0 and I came on for the last 10 minutes.”

The following Saturday, Ure came off the bench early in the second half as his side were four goals down to Albion Rovers and he had the satisfaction of netting his first senior goal shortly afterwards however, the Coatbridge men ran out 5-1 winners.

Ure went on to score more than 30 times in black and white colours although the majority of these goals came in the early days of his career as he explained: “I was a centre forward in those days looking to progress myself and scored most of my goals in the first few seasons.

"I have not scored many lately as I seem to be getting pushed further and further back in the team.”

Two goals stick out in Ure’s mind as being of the highest quality as he explained: “I scored a goal back at Hampden when I chipped their goalkeeper. I was straight through and everyone was expecting me to put it low past him but I just dinked it over him and took everyone by surprise.

“I also scored a really fierce volley against East Fife back in our Firs Park days. Those two are the goals that really stick out as being top class.”

Shortly after Ure joined East Stirling, they adopted a policy of paying players £10 a week in a bid to keep the club afloat.

The cost cutting measures had an impact as for the next five seasons, the 'Shire, who were placed seventh in Ure’s first season, finished in bottom spot. Despite this record and the small remuneration being received, Ure happily stayed.

He said: “We were at the bottom of the table but I enjoyed being at the club. It has always been a very friendly club and I realised fairly early on that I was not going to make it to the highest standard so I decided to play at the best standard I could. I was offered the chance to go to Junior clubs but I was happy to remain here.

“I was completing an apprenticeship in plumbing and heating and that was my livelihood. The 'Shire was handy for travelling, had good people at it and was a senior club so I had no reason to leave.”

Towards the end of the five year spell at the foot of the SFL Third Division, Yorkshire based entrepreneur Spencer Fearne emerged as a benefactor to the club and Ure remembers the beginning of the changes that Fearne brought.

“We played Rangers in a Scottish Cup tie at Ibrox in January 2008,” said Ure before adding, “Spencer had just started to get involved with the club as we had strips on that night advertising his record company.

"That game has been the highlight of my career at the 'Shire even though we were beaten 6-0.”

Fearne’s involvement brought positive change as well as an improvement to ninth place in their final season at their Firs Park home with Ure saying: “It is hard to describe what Spencer brought to the club but put it this way, things like training kit became a lot more available.

"Things to help the players and the club could be obtained whereas beforehand, they were not available. It was a different club, much more professionally run.”

That professionalism brought rewards as under the guidance of Head Coach Jim McInally, third spot was earned in the last two seasons with Ure saying: “It was great to be involved at the other end of the table and fighting for promotion.

"We made it to the Play-Offs but were hard done to in them in both years although I am sure everyone says that.”

The man management skills of McInally is one of the reasons the now Ochilview based club prospered with Ure observing: “Jim is a top guy and has been great for us. The way he speaks and deals with players is first class. He is not an in your face shouter, I have had a couple of them, but Jim is not like that. He knows what players will respond to best and will give the ones that need a cuddle a cuddle whilst with others, he will take a different approach.”

Ure was asked who the top players had been during his spell at the club and he advised: “Simon Lynch and Colin Cramb were terrific players and really good finishers. Our big Norwegian Carl Thywissen was another great player, he was Mr. Versatile and could adapt to any position.

“Our Assistant Head Coach, David Nicholls, also played briefly and you could see he was a class act. He has a terrific left foot and he graces reserve games every now and again for us.”

As well as the Rangers game, Ure pointed to three other games that have been the highlights of his stay and one came very early in his career.

He explained: “My first start came against Stirling Albion at Firs Park a month after I joined the club. I scored after 19 minutes and we went on to win 3-0. Big Craig Tully and I were talking about another game just the other day when he was with Peterhead and they beat us 3-2 at their place.

“It was an incredible game as both side’s missed heaps of chances and it was probably the most open game either of us has ever played in. Having said that, he probably still tried to kick me!”

A win for the 'Shire in August 2006 is another highlight for Ure who recalls: “We played Stenhousemuir at Firs Park and beat them 5-0. They had given us a couple of heavy defeats so it was nice to turn the tables.

Ure thanked the fans of the Third Division club for their support during his time at the club saying: “The supporters have been incredible during my 10 seasons at the 'Shire.

"They have been brilliant and they are not the type of supporters who would ever boo you off the pitch, they always support the team. It is probably one of the reasons that we have been able to keep hold of our coach as he has seen fans at other clubs get on the backs of his players whereas the guys here do not do that.”

Ure added: “My ten years will be up next January and in reality, it has flown by. I am only 26 and Testimonials usually go to players that are a lot older but I am delighted with the plans the Testimonial Committee has come up with.

"I damaged my ankle against Stranraer earlier in the season but I am back playing now and looking forward to ending the season on a high.”

As for next season, Ure said: “I have been here for a while now and you cannot take anything for granted but I want to be asked to sign on again and hopefully, that will happen soon.

Finally for football followers, Ure was asked to clear up the confusion there has been throughout his career as to whether or not he was a relation to Ian Ure, who won a League Championship medal with Dundee back in season 1961/62. That Ure went on to serve Arsenal and Manchester United as well as also being capped for Scotland and ironically manage East Stirlingshire as well as gaining fame for a less than complimentary mention in Nick Hornby’s Fever Pitch book.

“Well, my dad is called Ian Ure but it is NOT the same Ian Ure,” said Ure before adding, “I have heard that mentioned a few times.

"I looked into his career so I knew a bit about it as it came up a few times but he is not a family relation as far as I know.”