Final curtain: Kevin McAllister's last Chelsea game at Stamford Bridge

KEVIN McAllister is quite rightly celebrated as a Falkirk legend, but the winger's mercurial talent was sufficient for him to play in more than 100 games south of the Border for Chelsea, and Stamford Bridge fans still speak in glowing terms of the little Scot.

Chelsea recruited McAllister for 34,000 from Falkirk in 1985 – John Neal's last signing before he retired due to ill-health and was replaced by John Hollins. It was a turbulent time at Chelsea, far removed from the success they have enjoyed in recent years, and the club were relegated at the end of the 1987/88 season, before bouncing back as Second Division champions the following year. McAllister found himself competing with, among others, fellow Scots David Speedie and Pat Nevin, and his appearances in six years at Stamford Bridge were limited to 106. He scored seven goals for the Londoners in that time.

McAllister's final home appearance for Chelsea was against Manchester United. In the final minute – with goals from Gordon Durie and Tony Dorigo for Chelsea cancelled out by strikes from Mark Hughes and Brian McClair for United – the score was precariously perched at 2-2. But with time running out Kevin Monkou looped in a header at the Shed End to win the game for the Blues.

Chelsea finished 11th in the league that season, while United ended up in fifth place, which only goes to show how times change.

McAllister returned to Scotland where he enjoyed successful spells with Falkirk (twice) and Hibernian.

McAllister, who was later voted by Falkirk fans as their player of the millennium, was a key member of the Falkirk side that reached the Scottish Cup final in 1997, knocking Celtic out of the competition along the way.

He left Falkirk in 2002 to join Albion Rovers, taking up the role of player manager in 2003. He retired from playing in 2004, 21 years after his first professional appearance.

Recently McAllister and Grant Johnson served Brechin City as interim managers.