Football: Gilbert has Cup glory in his eyes

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Jan 28, 2007 | by IAN BROADLEY

KENNY GILBERT is eyeing Scottish Cup glory with Deveronvale - despite the grave risk to his sight.

Vale's assistant playerboss has defied doctors' orders to help the Highland League champions make history.

The entire population of the tiny Banffshire town will turn up at Princess Royal Park on Saturday to see if their local heroes can beat Partick Thistle for a place in the quarter-finals.

But Gilbert shouldn't be there because specialists insisted his career was over after a horror training ground accident.

The former Aberdeen defender was warned that he could go blind if he suffered any further damage to his eyes and had to quit.

But the 32-year-old, who ignored their advice to return to the game he loves, said: "We were training at Dingwall when a fierce shot by David Winters hit me full on the eye.

"All I could see was a grey cloud but when I got home and looked in the mirror, the eye was split down the middle.

"It needed major surgery and the eyelids were stitched up for a year with rubber to stop them tearing. The operation turned out to be a success with some of the sight being restored.

"But the specialists warned that I had to give up football or I could go blind in that eye.

"That was my career finished with Ross County and I was just 28.

"It was a devastating blow because football was all I'd known since I was a kid with Aberdeen.

"Eventually, I got back into the game as assistant manager at Deveronvale which helped compensate for what I'd lost.

"Then one day I was kicking the ball about with the lads and realised how much I missed playing.

"I decided to have a go, and got goggles like those used by Edgar Davids, although I don't use them now. I know the risks involved and I'll be gutted if I lose the eye.

"When I cross the white line, I forget about the problem for 90 minutes and focus on enjoying every minute."

Gilbert believes the Vale can create another shock against Partick if they play to their potential.

He said: "We've had Partick watched in their last two games.

"If we perform the way we did against Elgin in the last round, we definitely have a chance

"We've have not lost at home this season so we're all very confident about winning the biggest game in our history."