He was recommended to local junior side Johnstone Burgh signing for them for a £500 fee.[1] He completed a trial for Partick Thistle playing in a single game where he was sent on as a substitute only to be substituted off in the same game and be told by manager Bertie Auld that he would never make a career in the game of football.[3] Before turning professional, he had joined the Territorial Army and later had trials with the British Army but was not accepted for a role with them due to his inability to hit the target during shooting practices.[4] He also had a spell working as a road sweeper.[1] He did not move into professional football until he joined St Mirren in 1980, at the age of 20.