Derek was on the trail of Rangers wingers
It can be difficult for a young player to make his mark at a club in the face of experienced competition for places.
Rangers are sending rising stars Glenn Middleton and Jake Hastie out on loan because they have so many options in the wide areas. The pair will hope they can make an impression away from Ibrox, and return as firstteam regulars.
It wasn’t an option for Rangers players such as Derek Trail in the 1960s.
He was a left-winger from Edinburgh, who starred for Scotland Schoolboys against England at Tynecastle.
His trickery set up a goal for future Rangers team-mate, Dennis Setterington, and he got the other in a 2-2 draw.
Derek joined the Light Blues as a 15-year-old in 1960, and faced the daunting prospect of displacing some legendary talents. Experience was mostly gained in reserve matches, although maybe the best place to learn your trade was the club’s Albion training ground.
He said: “There were a number of great leftwingers on Rangers’ books during my time. “Davie Wilson and Willie Johnston were probably the most famous, but there was also Bobby Hume and Craig Watson.
“I travelled by train from Edinburgh to Glasgow every day with players like Jimmy Millar, Ralph Brand and John Greig.
“I only managed five first-team games in five years at Rangers because the competition was so intense.
“It was also a time when there were no substitutes, and it wasn’t really a squad game. “I would have loved to have made more of an impression, but it’s not easy if they don’t play you.”
Derek was never on the losing side for Rangers. His last game was a 4-1 win over St Mirren in January, 1966.
He went on: “I played a lot of reserve matches, and there would be big crowds when Celtic were the opposition.
“When we trained at the Albion, it would be the first team against the reserves.
“I would be up against Bobby Shearer and that was always a challenge.
“Playing on the wing was all about getting the ball and making it to the byline.
“I’d then look to pull it back to the six-yard line or hit the penalty spot.
“Manager Scot Symon would tell me that was my job done.
“I was only 17 when I made my debut against Queen’s Park, just a young laddie.
“It was quite daunting, but also a thrill to be playing with men like Harold Davis and Ian Mcmillan.”
Derek was released by Rangers in 1966 and signed for Falkirk.
He went on: “I was signed by Sammy Kean, but there was a change of manager and John Prentice took over.
“I found him quite a dour character, and I was quickly on my way to play in England. “I spent two seasons with Workington and then a year at Hartlepool.”
Football then took Derek to the other side of the world and a five-year stint in Australia. He said: “I went to join South Sydney, then I had spells with Auburn, Hakoah and Sutherland.
“There were always a lot of Scots lads in the teams over there.
“I played against former Celtic goalkeeper, Frank Haffey, and was also a team-mate of his at Hakoah.
“My wife and I flew out to Australia in 1970 and sailed back, which took 32 days.”
It wasn’t long before Derek, now 73, decided it was time to hang up his football boots and find a career outside the game.
He said: “When we came back to Scotland, I played a few games for Meadowbank Thistle and Alloa. But I gave up football at the age of 30.
“I joined the Post Office, doing a job working inside on machines.”