Alan Redford may be able to walk away from Cove Rangers with an unofficial Scottish football record.
The long-serving defender, now in his 10th season at Cove, was part of all the Highland League title successes of the noughties, under Kevin Tindal and John Sheran.
But achieving promotion to the SPFL last season, being the first Highland League club to do so, brought the opportunity for a potentially unique accolade.
Redford made his SPFL debut as a 39-year-old in their 2-1 defeat to Edinburgh City in December, which may well make him the oldest player to make their league bow.
He said: “I’d not thought about it at all. I think I debuted for Cove in League 2 against Edinburgh City as possibly the oldest player to have debuted. I don’t know if that’s a fact; I don’t think you expect to make your debut in the professional leagues at 39. We lost the game, so that put a dampener on it, but it’s nice to say I’ve played in that league.
“It wasn’t anything I thought about when I signed for Cove but when it became an option, made everyone a little bit more determined to win the league with the prospect of going up to the next level. A lot of players stay in the Highland League for a long period of time because it’s an enjoyable league to play in and it’s competitive.”
The Bucksburn Academy PE teacher, who signed from Huntly in 2010, accepts this is likely his last season for the club.
Injuries and illness have hampered his availability this season, while the success of Cove in League 2 has made it difficult for manager Paul Hartley to alter his squad too much.
Redford has had to manage tendonitis in his knee, which may well prompt him to hang up the boots at the end of the season.
If such an eventuality comes to pass then it is one he is comfortable with.
Redford added: “Having to manage a knee injury at my age, it doesn’t seem fair to a club to go and play for them if I’m not fully fit and it’s no good for my health either. I am at ease with it – I’ve played football for the majority of my life and I’m at an age where I feel lucky I’m able to play. If I don’t play next year, then I’ve thoroughly enjoyed playing football and I’ll leave happy with what I’ve done and been part of.”
“If there was a chance to get back for the last part of the season, then I’d do that. Cove are looking strong favourites at this stage to progress to the next stage and I imagine there’ll be one or two changes in that. I’m out of contract and I’ve got to be realistic, I don’t think I’m going to be here next year. If I’m injury-free, then I’ll certainly look to go play elsewhere. If I’m not injury-free, then I don’t see the point.”
He does not keep track of his appearance tally, instead enlisting the help of club secretary Duncan Little to track down his total mark at Cove.
Tindal and Jerry O’Driscoll, who were co-managers at Allan Park at the time, brought him to the club and delivered a dramatic league title, on the final day of the 2012-13 campaign.
Redford has been part of three further league successes, lifting the trophy under Sheran in 2016, 2018 and 2019, which eventually culminated in promotion to League 2.
Redford said: “For the club, getting promotion is probably unbeatable. But I just loved that season (2012-13) and winning the league on the last day of the season. That’s probably my favourite memory. It could have gone either way on that one day, so it’s hard to beat.
“Going into the last day of the season against Formartine, that’s right up there with my best times at Cove. The majority of success has come under John (Sheran) but there was that really great league title under Tinds.”
- Alan Redford’s testimonial dinner will take place on March 21 at the Douglas Hotel, with guest speaker Craig Brown. For more information contact aredcovetestimonial@outlook.com
