Clingfilm, St Mirren and cup glory: the making of John McGinn and Kenny McLean
Former team-mate recalls formative years in Paisley with two of Scotland’s World Cup heroes
Paul Dummett had a front-row seat as John McGinn and Kenny McLean announced themselves in senior football and the ex-Newcastle United defender will be in the USA next month to see his former team-mates grace the game’s greatest stage.
Dummett, McGinn and McLean were all part of the St Mirren side which won the League Cup in 2013, a success that helped launch their respective careers.
Dummett, who was on loan from Newcastle, went on to make over 200 appearances for his boyhood club and retired last year; McGinn and McLean, who have also prospered in England, became cornerstones of the national team and will be key men in Steve Clarke’s squad as they look to become the first Scotland side to qualify from the first phase of the World Cup.
McLean’s ability was what caught the eye initially for Dummett but the defender was quickly won over by McGinn’s personality. Even as a teenager, the midfielder was a lively character who was sometimes on the receiving end of his team-mates’ pranks.
“I was 21 at the time and he was only a 17-year-old lad when he started breaking into the team,” said Dummett of their time together in Paisley.
Such a likeable and funny person
“I look back thinking about myself and I never thought I would go on to play for Newcastle for many years. But you look at him and what he's done in football, it's an amazing achievement for him and his family.
“And it's something he probably would never have thought he would have been able to achieve. But it's probably down to his dedication and hard work that he's put in for so many years. I'm happy that he's done that because he's such a likeable and funny person to be around.”
As young men making their way in the game, there were plenty of scrapes along the way and one memorable incident involving McGinn’s Renault Clio.
“I think I've still got a picture of him on my phone, actually, when he was 18. He had a Clio at the time and someone cling-filmed his car!” said Dummett. “He's just that kind of character, I think everyone loves him. I don't think you can dislike him.”
The Clio is long gone, you’d imagine, but McGinn remains one of football’s most engaging characters and the heartbeat of the current Scotland team. Having led Aston Villa to their first European trophy in 44 years last month, his focus now will be helping Clarke’s squad try to make history in the US. McGinn is vice-captain to Andy Robertson, and the perfect foil for the Liverpool man.
“He is that character everyone likes,” added Dummett, who was in Edinburgh to promote the pre-season friendly at Murrayfield between Newcastle and Everton which will be played on August 12. “You need players in the squad that are going to listen and like you. For him to have that role is probably an important part of the squad, as a player and obviously as a character. Managers like players that have a good character.”
‘Kenny was more the technical player of the two’
While McGinn is universally popular, McLean’s abilities are not always appreciated, by some supporters at least. The Norwich City midfielder is assured of his place in Tartan Army folklore following his goal from the halfway line in the decisive qualifier against Denmark but there have been occasions when his selection has been questioned.
Dummett has never doubted his credentials and, interestingly, felt McLean would go on to have a better career than McGinn given the former’s technical excellence.
“Kenny was such a good player as well. He's obviously a little bit older, I think he's roughly the same age as me, and he’s gone on to have a brilliant career as well. Obviously, John’s won trophies at Villa now and gets bigger headlines in a higher-up league, but Kenny playing in the Championship for a lot of years is such a great achievement.
“For St Mirren to produce players like that is good for them as well. Other young players will look up to them and want to do what they've done.
“I guess at that time and stage, you would probably say that Kenny was more the technical player of the two. Both left-footed, both still technically good, but I think if people would have looked at that moment of them playing together, they probably would have said Kenny was probably going to go on and have a better career.
“So, like I say, it's fair play to John for how hard he's probably worked to keep him at that level that he's been at for so many years.”
Dummett and McGinn started and McLean was on the bench when Danny Lennon’s Paisley side beat Hearts 3-2 in the League Cup final 13 years ago and it remains a fond memory for the former who credits his time at St Mirren for helping make him the player he became.
“As a young boy, you never know what your career path is going to be,” said Dummett. “Obviously, the opportunity came along to go and play at it. It was a successful one, winning the trophy, playing every week.
“I think as any young player, you want to go and play games. It helped me for my future at Newcastle, really.
“If I didn't go to St Mirren, you never know, I may never play for Newcastle. I've got a lot of good memories there. Thanks to the manager for taking me there.”
See Premier League rivals Newcastle United and Everton clash at Edinburgh’s iconic Scottish Gas Murrayfield on 12 August. Tickets available now at Ticketmaster.
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