Watching determined young Scot tear down snooker’s old guard was wonderful — even on a black-and-white telly.

Welcome to a new episode of the My Sporting Hero podcast, part of Nutmeg FC. The home of brilliant football stories — made in Scotland.

So far this month, Nutmeg FC subscribers have enjoyed....

* The exclusive column from our tactics guy Adam Clery — on Scotland’s friendly double header against Iceland and Liechtenstein.

* Daniel Gray’s Slow Match Report from the Shelbourne v Shamrock Rovers League of Ireland clash.

And still to come....

* The latest column from Nick Harris — author of the brilliant Sporting Intelligence blog.

* The latest three-part investigation from award-winning sportswriter Stephen McGowan.

Only paid subscribers to Nutmeg FC get every piece we produce straight to their inbox.

This time on My Sporting Hero, our guest is Maurice Ross.

Dundonian Maurice played as a full-back, most famously for Rangers under Alex McLeish.

He won two league titles, two Scottish Cups and two League Cups (scoring the opener in the 2005 final) with the Ibrox club. After leaving Glasgow in 2005, Maurice embarked on a globetrotting career that took him as far and wide as England, Turkey, Norway (most notably with Viking FK) and China. He was capped 13 times by Scotland.

Maurice went on to coach and manage different clubs in Norway and the Faroe Islands, was boss at Cowdenbeath and his last coaching role was as assistant manager to his old Gers team-mate Charlie Adam at Fleetwood Town. Maurice takes a particular interest in teaching youth footballers not only soccer skills but also life lessons and self-motivation.

Maurice’s sporting hero is Scotland’s snooker superman Stephen Hendry.

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Midfield maestro mesmerised a Hibs-daft kid… later, his wise counsel would salvage his fledgling career at Sir Alex’s Aberdeen.

Welcome to a new episode of the My Sporting Hero podcast, part of Nutmeg FC. The home of brilliant football stories — made in Scotland.

In June, Nutmeg FC subscribers will enjoy a feast of exclusive content, including:

* Daniel Gray’s Slow Match Report from the Shelbourne v Shamrock Rovers League of Ireland clash.

* Our tactics guy Adam Clery breaking down Scotland’s double header with Iceland and Lichenstein.

* The latest three-part investigation from Stephen McGowan.

* Another Sporting Intelligence data dive.

Only paid subscribers to Nutmeg FC get every piece we produce straight to their inbox.

This time on My Sporting Hero, our guest is Gordon Strachan.

Edinburgh-born Gordon was the midfield dynamo in Sir Alex Ferguson’s mighty Aberdeen side of the early 1980s, winning two league titles, three Scottish Cups and, of course, the 1983 European Cup Winners’ Cup. He won the FA Cup with Manchester United before being reunited at Old Trafford with Ferguson, then captained Howard Wilkinson’s Leeds United to the 1992 league title. Gordon won a half century of Scotland caps, and graced the dark blue at the 1982 and 1986 World Cups.

As well as managing Scotland — for five years — and three English clubs, Gordon led Celtic to six domestic trophies and deep into European competition. He has been a media analyst and has worked tirelessly for the good of the game of football, notably assisting hometown outfit Spartans FC.

Gordon is currently technical director at the club he started out at, Dundee.

Gordon’s sporting hero is the great Pat Stanton, Hibernian’s humble hero and the original midfield Mr Cool, Calm and Collected.

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You don’t need to be half French to worship Zizou the magnificent, but it probably helps

Welcome to a new episode of the My Sporting Hero podcast, part of Nutmeg FC. The home of brilliant football stories – made in Scotland.

So far this month, Nutmeg FC subscribers have enjoyed....

* Former Dundee United, Aberdeen and Hibs star Mixu Paatelainen telling us why his dad Matti is his sporting hero.

* Iain Macintosh giving us the skinny on Duncan Ferguson’s sensational autobiography, with nine things we didn’t know about the Everton legend.

* Adam Clery analysing how Scotland’s Lewis Ferguson became the tactical lynchpin to Bologna’s brilliant season.

Great content still to come includes....

* The Slow Match Report from Daniel Gray reporting on the Premiership playoff final.

* Stephen McGowan’s three-part investigation into plastic pitches in Scottish football.

Only paid subscribers to Nutmeg FC get every piece we produce straight to their inbox – including the full version of today’s episode.

This time on My Sporting Hero, our guest is Christophe Berra.

Christophe was a central-defensive stalwart for Hearts during two spells at Tynecastle, which bookended eight years south of the border at Wolverhampton Wanderers and Ipswich Town. He sat on the bench for Hearts’ 2006 Scottish Cup triumph over Gretna but received a winner’s medal, and won the second tier with the Jambos in Scotland and with Wolves in England, going on to grace three Premier League seasons with the Molineux club. He also won the Scottish Challenge Cup with Raith Rovers in 2022.

Christophe has such a cool name because his dad Christian is French. However, while he retains a soft spot for Les Bleus, Edinburgh-born Christophe’s allegiances are firmly with Scotland, and he proudly donned the dark blue of his nation 41 times.

Christophe retired from playing three years ago and is currently based in Alabama, as interim head coach of professional outfit Huntsville City.

Christophe’s sporting hero is former midfielder Zinedine Zidane – France’s World Cup-winning Monsieur Magnifique.

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