A LARGS Thistle legend is up for the cup - after discovering an old match programme with a column from one of the game's greatest ever managers.

George Wall found the publication - priced 30p - during a clear out of his home and was astonished to discover the piece penned by Sir Alex Ferguson.

The 30p programme from the 1990-91 season was the start of a golden period for the club as it went on to win the Whyte and Mackay West of Scotland Cup and the Scottish Junior Cup three years later.

In the piece, Ferguson, who at the time had just started as manager of Manchester United, is glowing in his praise for the club and their role within the local community.

George said: "The programme as for the first round West of Scotland tie against Vale of Clyde and the guest writer was Sir Alex Ferguson.

"How we pulled that off I don’t know but I guess former president George Pratt was likely involved."

Mr Pratt, who was a former St Mirren director, maintained his connection with Sir Alex, a former manager of the Paisley club.

George added: "It is a great article. Sir Alex writes about our programme, about raising the standards at the club, about ambition and about luck.

"That season Largs were lucky. Lucky that we brought in Dickie Brock as manager as he raised the standards across the club.

"It was an honour to be captain at that time.

"From the story Sir Alex told about East Stirlingshire in the article it was obvious he had ambition, which is very much the club's focus now."

Fergie's words of wisdom worked wonder as the club went on to win the cup that season, its first major honour in decades.

The programme features adverts for businesses long-gone, including Papa Luigi's, Wham's Seafood Restaurant, and the Elderslie Hotel, and some surviving ones such as Nardini's, Morris's and the Willowbank Hotel.

George added: " In his own note, George Pratt wrote, 'Clubs don't come any bigger than Manchester United' and managers don't come any greater in stature than him.

"Critics would be well advised to have a long hard look at St Mirren and Aberdeen football clubs where they will find that the results of Alex's work continued to flourish long after he had departed the scene.

"Our sincere thanks to him for taking time and effort to contribute to our programme'."