Clyde full-back Lee Sharp was a favourite in the colours of Stranraer for a long time and he will be delighted if they go on to be involved in the promotion race until the very end of the season however, he has no qualms about delaying the Blues’ push for a further week. A win at Broadwood would secure the Stair Park side’s place in the end of season Play-Offs and keep Alloa Athletic waiting to be crowned Third Division Champions however, Sharp is in no mood to let his heart rule his head.
The left sided player started his career at Dumbarton back in 1995 and had spells at Dundee, St. Mirren, and Ayr United. He then became a Stair Park player in 2002 before leaving for a second time at the end of last season and he has enjoyed a good few ups and downs along the way.
“I joined Dumbarton a few months after they had won the Second Division Championship,” said Sharp before adding, “I had been playing with Possil YM and Murdo MacLeod signed me. Our Assistant Manager at Clyde, Chic Charnley, was a team-mate for a short while. I remember him scoring from the half-way line once when I was there although he does not actually mention that one too often.”
It was to be a tough introduction to the senior game with Sharp saying: “It was a big step up for me and I played a lot of games but it was hard for Dumbarton in the First Division. We were relegated and unfortunately, we then went down to the Third Division the following season.
“We had been running as almost a full-time club with a lot of YTS players and fortunately for me, I was able to train every day. I was working with my Dad at the time as he had a couple of hotels in Bridge of Allan but he was very flexible with me in terms of getting to training. Unfortunately, training every day was wound down when we went down to the Third Division.”
Despite the relegations, Sharp’s form had attracted interest as he explained: “I played a season in the Third Division however, Hibs took me in for a trial at the start of the 1998/99 season. I was there for about a month and then Dundee showed an interest.
“They were in the SPL at that time, managed by Jocky Scott and Jimmy Bone, and they firmed up this interest with the chance to join them in the November. I was delighted to and I went from the Third to the top division which put me on a big learning curve. I did not realise how big it was until I was there but I went on to be involved in about 40 games for them.”
Sharp added: “I would have liked to have played more but it was a real eye opener for me alongside guys like Brian Irvine, Tommy Coyne and Willie Falconer.
"I scored a couple of goals and I learned a lot about the game especially as Jocky would always spend a lot of time setting us up to match our opponents. He would change the team around to do that and explain to you why and it was great to be in amongst that environment, as you learned all the time.”
In the summer of 2000, Scott was replaced as Manager by the Bonetti brothers and Sharp said: “I thought what had happened with Jocky was harsh. What happened with a lot of the players was pretty harsh as well as we were treated much the same. Over half the guys that were there were replaced without anyone seeing them in action.”
Sharp headed to Paisley after his Dundee experience to join St. Mirren however, his stay was brief with the full-back explaining: “They were a good club to sign for but I was only there for about three months. I did not play as often as I would have liked and Ayr got in touch about moving there. Even though I had only been there for a wee while, I got the impression they wanted to move people off the wage bill so I was allowed to move on.
“Gordon Dalziel made Ayr an attractive option and my former Dens Park team-mates, James Grady and Eddie Annand, were there as well. There was a really strong squad there with players such as Pat McGinlay, John Hughes and Marvyn Wilson and we did well particularly in cup ties where we beat Kilmarnock, Dundee United and Hibs.”
Two Hampden dates in a week were secured with Sharp saying: “I was a substitute in The CIS Insurance Cup Final against Rangers in March, 2002 and the following Saturday, we played Celtic in the Scottish Cup Semi-Final. We lost them both but being there showed what a good side we were.”
At the end of that season, Sharp left Somerset Park for a Stranraer side that were in the Second Division. It was to be the start of a roller-coaster period in Wigtownshire with Sharp saying: “Billy McLaren took me there and at first, it was really good and we were the top of the table in October but eventually, we were relegated at the end of that season.
“Billy left and Neil Watt came in and I really liked his vision for what he wanted to do with the club. The three years we had under Neil and Stuart Millar were fantastic and the team spirit that was built at that time was brilliant.”
Success quickly came with Sharp adding: “We won the Third Division Championship the following year and then finished second to Brechin and were promoted to the First Division. For a club that size to go through two promotions was a fantastic achievement and it was great for players like Allan Jenkins and David Graham to get good moves on the back of it.
“However, they could not be replaced and we were relegated from the First Division although we gave it a right good go in the Play-Offs against Partick Thistle.”
Stranraer dropped down another division at the end of the following season under the guidance of Manager Gerry Britton and Sharp’s first spell at the club came to an end.
“I played under Gerry and I enjoyed it but I wanted a change of scenery,” said Sharp before adding, “I went to the Juniors for a couple of seasons and played with Arthurlie where I met up with my former Stranraer team-mate Stevie Aitken.
“We won five trophies during that time which was great as Arthurlie had not won anything for a wee while.”
Aitken moved back to Stair Park to be Assistant Manager to Stranraer and Clyde legend Keith Knox and Sharp were asked to help out a squad left thread bare due to cost cuts.
Sharp made his second time around debut in a 2-1 win over Queen’s Park at Hampden in October, 2009 and he said: “That was not too bad a place to restart my career.”
He stayed until the end of last season to bring his career appearances as a Blues' player to close on 250 and he said: “Stranraer was a big part of my playing career and I was not sure what I would do at the end of last season. I am nearly 37 but I felt fit enough to keep on playing.”
The answer was literally on his doorstep as he explained: “Neil Watt, who was the Director of Football at Clyde, had recruited me at the start of last season to be in charge of Clyde’s Under-17 side so I was already here.”
A move to playing in the first team was then agreed for this season with Sharp saying: “Jim Duffy and I quickly got things sorted and now I work on two fronts for Clyde.
“Despite being in the game for so long, I have learnt loads this season. Jim is such an experienced Manager and Coach that you cannot fail to pick things up.”
The youth team job had seen Sharp team up with Annand a third time as he explained: “Eddie came on board after coaching at Celtic. We started off at Under-17 age level and have moved up with the boys to the Under-19 side. We are now seeing some of our boys break into the first team.
“I enjoy working with them and Drew Ramsay and Kieran Daw have stepped up recently into the first team. It can be hard for kids to break in when a team is on a disappointing run in the bottom half of the table but hopefully, they can show what they can do.”
It has been a mixed season for the Bully Wee with Sharp saying: “I have actually enjoyed this season. The rest of the team are really young and we have not won as many games as I would have liked. We started off well but a number of injuries around Christmas time to Felipe Mentel, Iain Gray, Gavin Brown and Declan Gallacher really hurt us and we have been up and down since.”
A Clyde success could hand the Third Division title over to Alloa and delay his former side from clinching a Play-Off spot and Sharp said: “Stranraer will qualify for the Play-Offs but hopefully, not this weekend as we need a result. I will put old loyalties to one side as I am a Clyde player now.
“We have five games to go and want to finish the season on a high.”
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