Whitehill legend David tells current crop not to hold anything back against Montrose

Whitehill Welfare travel north on Saturday to face SFL Third Division side Montrose in the third round of the Scottish Cup and one man familiar with both clubs is David Smith who played for, and managed, Whitehill before taking the step up to manage the Links Park team.

Smith was one of the most successful managers of his time in the 1990s when he led Gala Fairydean and Whitehill to a host of honours.

Smith said: "Non-league clubs like Whitehill Welfare are not expected to beat SFL clubs. But if Whitehill play to their full potential against a Montrose team which is in the bottom half of the Third Division then who knows?

"It is also an opportunity for the Whitehill players to put themselves in the shop window. Players can get a lot of recognition by playing well in the Scottish Cup and I would advise the Whitehill players to go there and enjoy themselves. Also, give it your best shot and do not hold back.

"The prize could be a game against Scottish Premier League opposition and it does not get any better than that - just ask any of the Whitehill Welfare players who played against Celtic in 1996. We all meet up regularly and we still speak about it."

Smith was in charge in January 1995 when Whitehill were paired with Montrose in the second round of the Scottish Cup at Ferguson Park.

Whitehill were the holders of every trophy available in the East of Scotland League with the Premier Division title, the Scottish Qualifying Cup (South), the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup, the King Cup, the League Cup and the City Cup all in their possession.

The Whitehill team included some of the best players ever to perform in the East Seniors with Raleigh Gowrie, Derek Steel, David Millar, John Bird, Mike Sneddon and Stewart Purves all in their line-up.

The game finished goalless and with a replay the following week Whitehill knew that the winners of the tie would be playing Hibs in the next round - the team that Smith has supported all of his life. "There was a huge carrot for us in the replay but to be fair to Montrose they just proved to be too strong for us and they beat us 5-2," lamented Smith.

Smith, however, must have impressed the Montrose board of directors and the following season - when Whitehill lost 3-0 to Celtic in the third round of the Scottish Cup - they appointed him as manager.