A lack of striking options saw 18 year-old Brian McGinty thrown straight into the starting line up on 7th January 1995 as injury hit Rangers made the short journey across the city to face Partick Thistle. The match would end 1-1 with Davie Robertson the unlikely goal hero for Gers. Having lost goalkeeper Andy Goram to another longer term injury in the opening half hour, it was not the worst of results given the circumstances.
Whilst there may well have been other options within the youth side at the time, Brian perhaps had the physicality to cope with the demands of first team football. A strong and powerful boy, McGinty's best position was breaking from midfield but, crucially, he could also lead the line if required.
The following season Brian would be called into action twice as Rangers headed to Scotland's capital city on successive weekends. A 4-1 win over Hibernian at Easter Road preceded a 2-0 win at Tynecastle with midfielder Paul Gascoigne really starting to find top gear following his summer move to Glasgow.
Brian would not get the opportunity to run out at Ibrox on first team duty, his final appearance for the club taking him back to the scene of his debut, Firhill. On this occasion, Clydebank were the 'home' side with Rangers running out comfortable 3-0 winners in a League Cup tie. An East Kilbride boy, he would share the substitute's bench with EK's favourite son, Ally McCoist. McCoist, of course, would manage to grab a goal once introduced to the action.
It was McCoist's old striking partner Mark Hateley who would offer McGinty the chance of regular first team football when he signed the youngster for Hull City towards the end of November 1997. Although suffering an injury after less than a handful of games for the Tigers, he was back in the first team by the start of 1998 and would become a regular for the remainder of the season. Playing in his favoured role within the heart of midfield, Brian proved more than capable of chipping in with some vital goals.
A year after signing McGinty, Hateley was sacked and Brian would struggle to hold down a regular place going forward. Initially signing for Scarborough in the summer of 1999, he was soon back in Scotland with Airdrieonians. This was followed by a move across the water to Portadown where he would suffer a broken leg.
Having dropped down to the 'Juniors' with Cumnock, it appeared that Brian's senior career was possibly over by the age of 25. However, he showed great resolve to bounce back and clinch a move to St. Mirren towards the end of 2001. He would play regularly with the Paisley side over the next four seasons.
Eventually returning to the competitive Junior scene as a player with Irvine Meadow and Pollok, Brian would eventually return to Meadow Park as boss in 2017 where he led them to promotion. Brian is currently manager of Cumnock Juniors, another of his former sides in the West of Scotland Football League. Former Gers defender Kyle McAusland is a regular within Brian's side.

by Rick Plews