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The following interview was conducted by Andrew Bruce for "Macc", the
official programme of Macclesfield Town, where Biscuits was assistant manager up
until the end of season 2000/01. However, we're assuming there won't be too many
Saints fans out there who have read it before, so here it is...
Before his playing career came to an untimely end last season, Allan "Biscuits" Preston
had been widely regarded as one of the best Scottish left-backs for a number of years.
Indeed, the vast majority of his career was spent in Scotland's top flight, with the
likes of Dundee United, Hearts, and most recently St. Johnstone. Unfortunately, he
suffered a persistent, career-ending hip injury last season. Now, however, he's a
fully qualified coach, and Macc fans now know him by his energetic touch-line displays!
Allan came to the Moss Rose in the pre-season. "The original plan was for me to
come and play," says Allan, "but the injury never got better. I'd always
intended to help out on the coaching side anyway because I've got a UEFA coaching
badge, and Macc were looking for a qualified coach." Allan has since proved
to be an invaluable and popular addition to the club, by the playing staff's own
admission.
His illustrious career began at Dundee United. "I went there when I was about 16, and
I stayed there for 8 years. Then I moved on to Hearts, which was a dream move for me
because I'd supported Hearts as a boy. In 1994 I moved to St. Johnstone, and I stayed
there until I moved here." It was during his time at St. Johnstone that he became
acquainted with Peter Davenport (current Macclesfield manager), a team-mate at the
time. "We used to share lifts with each other." At this point of the interview
Dav walks in, and jokingly describes those lifts as "the worst times of my life!"
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Forza Il Biscotti!
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Believe it or not, Allan was the subject of a major media campaign in Scotland, during
his time at St. Johnstone: "I was playing some of the best football of my career, and
there weren't a lot of Scottish left-backs at the time." St. Johnstone fans, seeing
their team become the best in Scotland outside the Old Firm, became frustrated with the
lack of attention their players received from the Scottish international team. As a
result, their "Blue Heaven" website set up "Biscuits for Scotland" - a campaign to get
Allan into the international team. A petition was started, and a few celebrities got
into the act.
The campaign became very popular, and even the odd supermodel gave it
some backing. "Eva Herzigova signed the petition. That was pleasing!" says
Allan. Other "Biscuiteers" include Leo Sayer, former Scotland manager Ally MacLeod,
Sky's Soccer AM presenters Helen Chamberlain and Tim Lovejoy, as well as Gary
McAllister and Charlie Nicholas. Eventually, the Scottish FA officially recognised
the campaign, and the speculation grew to a climax as Craig Brown was about to name
his squad for France '98. However, it was not to be; Allan was not included in the
squad, although Craig Brown said he would keep an eye on him in future.
Injury then ruined his international aspirations, and he had to stop playing for
good at the end of last season. "It was a huge disappointment, as I was playing
well before then. Because of that, I try to tell the young players that they
don't know how lucky they are, to be playing for a League club. Playing football
for a living will be the best days of their lives."
When Allan is not coaching, he has a pretty hectic lifestyle. "I don't have any
kids yet, but my wife is still working in Scotland. I try to get home whenever I
can, but that's usually only around once a week. I always end up getting home very
late, so it's not ideal at the moment, but hopefully it'll get better."
Any spare time he has got left is taken up by the pro-footballer's favourite
pastime: golf. "I play a lot of golf with Peter and Rae Ingram too"
(two Macclesfield players). "I always beat everyone. Especially Peter Davenport!"
Dav, who had been minding his own business until now, turned around in disgust
at this statement. "The manager is never beaten! I'm 2-1 up in the series,
you know!" he protests.
Despite only being at the club for a few months, Allan already looks like part of
the furniture. His experiences of club football have provided the ideal
background for a top-quality coach, and there's no doubt that he's made an
influential and positive impression on the players. It's not as if too many Division
3 clubs can boast about having a minor celebrity in their ranks, either! But one
question remains: why "Biscuits"?
That's one question we might never know the answer to.
*Many thanks to Andrew and the Macclesfield programme editors for allowing us to
reproduce the above interview in Issue 5 of the fanzine (February 2001). Rest
assured the reason behind Biscuits' nickname has since been pointed out to them!
To read the full history of the world famous Biscuits For Scotland
campaign, click here.
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