Hamilton Academical's powerful defender, Simon Mensing, is looking to put a trio of cup Semi-Final disappointments behind him and help propel the New Douglas Park side into the Final of The Ramsdens Cup.
The 29-year-old said: “I do not have a very good record in this competition. Six years ago, I was with St. Johnstone and they were in a Semi-Final and I was suspended. Ironically, the game was against Hamilton and the Accies won 2-1.
“The Quarter Finals that season is probably the best I have got to in the Challenge Cup as I was away from Clyde by the time they reached the Final in 2006.”
Mensing talked through his other cup disappointments saying: “I played in two Semi-Finals with St. Johnstone in the one season, 2006/07. We reached the last four of both The CIS Insurance Cup and Scottish Cup.
“The CIS Insurance Cup was a great run as we beat Rangers at Ibrox on our way there when Steven Milne scored two goals in the Quarter Final. We then lost to Hibs 3-1 when a David Murphy free kick edged them ahead in extra-time after Jason Scotland had dragged us level.
“We also fell short when Celtic beat us 2-1 in the Scottish Cup Semi-Final after Martin Hardie had forced an equaliser.”
The six foot one inch stopper is looking to put that right this weekend saying: “I am really looking forward to the Livingston game as it would be great to finally get through to a Cup Final.
“Livingston are a good side full of good young players who play in an enthusiastic manner. They also play good football and whilst the last time we met was not the best of days for me, as I was sent off, the boys were fantastic in giving everything they had to get a draw. In fact, we very nearly won it by going in front when we had been rerduced to nine men.”
Whilst cup football has not been kind to Mensing, he has enjoyed success in the decade he has spent in Scotland since coming up as a teenager to play for Stenhousemuir on a loan deal from former English Premiership side Wimbledon.
He said: “The highlight of my career so far has been winning the First Division title with Hamilton and that is something I would like to do again this season. Staying up in the SPL for two seasons was a great achievement as well. It was hard to get to the SPL and it was even harder to stay there and doing that two seasons in a row is to the great credit of the players and the management.”
After spending ten years further north than he ever imagined when he started his playing career, Mensing is settled in his adopted homeland saying: “Scotland is home for me now but I have to say that when I first came here, I thought I would be here for three months and then back down the road.
“I came up to Stenhousemuir on loan from Wimbledon and when I arrived, it was up to my waist in snow. I was staying with one of the Stenhousemuir Directors and it was great for my career as it got me playing the first team football that I wanted.”
Within a few months, Mensing headed back north to join Clyde and the weather and the living arrangements were different this time as he said: “Bryn Halliwell and Simon Vella were playing up here and they had a flat in Glasgow so I stayed with them the next season and that made the transition easier. Leigh Hinds, who was two years above me at Wimbledon, also came up and after my loan deal ended, Wimbledon left it up to me whether I wanted to move to Scotland permanently.”
Mensing added: “I have never regretted making the decision to stay and Scotland is my home now. I have a wife, two kids and a mortgage up here now so I am definitely staying.
“My Dad and my little sister visit as often as they can and I can only take London in small doses now and I did not think I would be saying that when I first came up.”
The Mensing household is therefore looking for a hat-trick of wins this weekend as he explained: “My two kids are Scotland supporters so I will be keeping an eye out for their result this weekend and England, of course, have to beat Montenegro to qualify for the EURO 2012 Finals. I have to say though that if England ever play Scotland again, I will still want England to win.”
As for Livi, Mensing knows he is in for a tough Sunday afternoon shift as he explained: “Gary Bollan has done well there and back to back promotions is a really good success and we are certainly under no illusions that this will be anything other than a hard game.
“Iain Russell really impressed me in the first game and they can mix things up a bit by bringing on Kenny Deuchar.”
The game could be decided by one of the talented youngsters on either side producing a moment of magic with Mensing saying: “They have good youngsters and so do we with the likes of Grant Gillespie and Ali Crawford so it could be a day for one of them to shine.
“We have a great record of bringing young boys through at Hamilton and we have others such as Lee Kilday and Nicky Devlin who are improving all the time as well. It is an exciting time for them and bodes well for the club. The youth coaches have done a great job and it just shows you how well structured this club is.”
Mensing is glad to play a leading role at New Douglas Park as one of the senior figures as he explained: “The youngsters have to grow up quickly here as they are playing most weeks and I would like to think I can advise and help them on their way. I would like to help them get the best out of their game and I am sure they are fed up with me telling them to get their head down just now and reap the benefits later.”
A Cup Final place would be great for young and not as young at the Accies with Mensing adding: “At 29, I am not even at the veteran stage myself but I am one of the oldest ones in our side and I would enjoy a run to The Ramsdens Cup Final and winning the First Division Championship just as much as our young players.”
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