Linlithgow's Danny Smith is blessed with a sense of true grit

IF grit, determination and a will to win was enough to take the silverware then Linlithgow club captain Danny Smith could win Sunday's Emirates Scottish Junior Cup final all on his own.

During a 13-year career at Prestonfield he has suffered two broken legs, three cracked ribs and a host of other injuries that many say if he had been a horse or a dog he would have been put out of his misery a long time ago.

The true grit of the man is apparent when one considers his achievements in 13 years with his only club. Broken legs are notoriously difficult to recover fully from but he has done it twice in his career. He missed out on the 2007 Scottish Cup success because of a broken leg but was determined that his career would not end there.

"This is my club. Not in a selfish manner but, the love I have for the club, the committee and of course the supporters, who have become friends, is real," Smith explained. "I've spent my entire football career here, apart from six months at Dumbarton, and I want to end my career here but not yet.

"I'm the only survivor of the cup-winning side of 2002 and I know just how special it is. Then, the game flashed past in an instant because everyone was caught up on the occasion. I want to make sure I enjoy this one more than that. It's difficult for lads who have never reached this level because, during a career, most players never reach this stage. When they do, the occasion takes over their lives.

"They can't sleep, their families and friends talk to them constantly in the build-up. Then on the day they leave their energy in the dressing room. It's nervous energy that causes all the problems. Hopefully we have enough players in the squad who have been over the course before. Players like big John Ward, Mark Bradley and I can settle the other younger lads down," Smith went on. "This season has been a funny old one for me. I broke three ribs against Bo'ness and was out for 16 weeks. At times I think I've been the luckiest boy to be here. During my time here I've managed to win over 20 trophies and of course the Senior Tennants Scottish Cup adventure which was unbelievable."

On Monday night Danny Smith was the first to turn up for training, again leading by example. Sunday, at Rugby Park against Largs Thistle, will be the fourth Junior Cup final he's been involved with – he's played in two, winning one, losing one and missing the other due to that broken leg. Even then the club showed just how highly they regard him that he was still the club captain on that glorious day in Dunfermline in 2007 when they beat Kelty Hearts 2-1.