It is not often that a Largs Thistle player - or any player - can say that they once turned down the opportunity to sign for not just Rangers, but Jock Stein's legendary Celtic side which boasted players who had lifted the European Cup.

Tom Turner, who now coaches soccer in Cleveland, Ohio, admitted that as a precocious 17 year old player on the Barrfields Park payroll - he did just that, and went on to have a fulfilling football career across the pond, even working on the technical staff for the USA 1994 World Cup.

Last weekend, the 55 year old was visiting relatives in Largs, and it just so happened, another Thistle star of the past in Andy Elliott was also in town (1994-99), and he was also stunned at Tom's incredible story.

Tom was a left back at Largs Thistle under Erik Sorensen in his first spell in charge of the Barrfields club, and played a season for 'Theesel'.

Gordon said: "The secretary Gordon Law said that there was interest shown in me going for a trial but I was already signed up to go to Cleveland at the end of the season. The trial was with Clydebank, and it happened to be against Celtic who had Alfie Conn and Bobby Lennox playing for them at the time.

"However, Bobby Lennox scored four goals for Celtic, and it was something of a baptism of fire for me. But Celtic got in contact with me and invited me to play v Partick Thistle at Parkhead. Jock Stein came to Gourock to try and convince me and maybe stay in Scotland, but my mind was already made up, and I wanted to go to the States."

Gordon had also featured for Rangers youth team in a tournament, and Scotland schoolboys - he was offered professional terms by Rangers, Celtic and Clydebank.

Tom travelled to the United States from Scotland in 1978 to play soccer and pursue a college education at Cleveland State University.

In 1984, after playing in three NCAA tournaments completing bachelor’s degrees in education and psychology and a master’s degree in education, he began teaching at North Olmsted, Ohio, where he helped coach the high school to two state finals and a 25-0 Division I State Championship in 1985. Ohio North State were impressed and signed Tom as coach in 1985 where he stayed for six years, and posted the highest wins total in school history (14) in 1990.

In 1994, Tom was appointed to the technical report staff for the World Cup with specific responsibility for observing Sweden and Switzerland at the Detroit venue.

After five years with the Region II boys staff, Turner was asked to take over as head coach of the girl’s programme in 1994. He helped restore national respect in the region by building the quality of the staff, improving professionalism, and providing a more sophisticated form of football. In 2008, Turner achieved a unique honor in the US when he was appointed as head coach of the Region II Boy’s programme, becoming the first person to have led both regional programmes.

Asked for his reflections on life at Largs Thistle, Tom said: "Erik Sorensen was a very forward thinking manager, and professionally minded, wanting to bring in bonuses, like pay a fiver for a goal. He used to drive a nice Jaguar. I remember the training on Monday and Wednesdays consisted mostly of running and four a sides. I was only 18 and I don't think I had a fundamental understanding of the game at that point to fully understand Erik's philosophy on football."

But given his own extensive coaching knowledge now, Tom was asked if there was anything he would like to see improve in the Scottish game, and said: "I think a lot of the fields are too narrow at only 55 yards wide. It is too restrictive and makes the games too direct. The regulation is up to 72 yards and that allows players to express themselves some more and means players can go from side to side and change the rhythm of the game. The Germans show what you can do on a wider park, passing from side to side, and I think Scottish youngsters could benefit from playing on wider parks."