HELLO

MY STORY

I was born in Inverclyde and grew up in Renfrewshire, on Scotland’s beautiful west coast. My earliest memory of football is staying up late with my dad to watch Scotland at the 1982 World Cup in Spain. A year later, I was captivated by Aberdeen’s victory in the 1983 European Cup Winners’ Cup, running around my front garden in a red T-shirt and shorts, pretending I was part of the action.
 

Unlike the other kids on my street, who idolised goalscorer Eric Black, I saw the magic elsewhere. I wanted to be Neil Simpson or Gordon Strachan, threading that perfect killer pass. My first football kit was an Aston Villa strip, celebrating their 1982 European Cup triumph—small but memorable moments that cemented my lifelong love for the game.

As I grew older, my focus turned to the intricacies of the midfield. I became obsessed with the art of midfield play and the players who perfected it. Paul McStay, a world-class central midfielder, became my idol. His guile, poise, tenacity, and vision were unmatched, as if he was always several steps ahead of everyone else on the pitch.
 

However, there was one day when Paul wasn’t a step ahead—at least not when it came to his kids and a shopping trolley. I had the surreal experience of McStay’s children running a shopping trolley into the back of my Achilles in Asda. Paul, mortified, apologised profusely, but all I could muster—star-struck and tongue-tied—was, “Anytime, Paul.” Hardly my finest moment, but it’s a memory I’ll never forget.
 

McStay was the spark, but he wasn’t the only one. John Collins, the first player to score wearing Adidas Predator boots, was a left-sided maestro in central midfield. Blessed with creativity, vision, and a wand of a left foot, Collins exuded style with substance. With a chiselled six-pack that defied the traditional image of a pie-eating, beer-swigging Scotsman, he elevated the role of a midfielder. Now immortalised in Adidas' Hall of Fame for this groundbreaking feat, Collins would later leave these shores for the glittering, sun-soaked playground of Monaco’s multimillionaire elite.
 

Scotland has long produced midfielders who inspire. Paul Lambert, who won a Champions League medal with Borussia Dortmund, epitomised grit and composure at the highest level. Meanwhile, Barry Ferguson, a young pretender to the throne, emerged from the shadows of Advocaat’s millionaires at Rangers—a Caesar in the making, carving his name among gilded giants. Today, Callum McGregor, a Celtic legend in the making, carries that proud tradition forward.

Beyond Scotland, I admired the enigmatic Paul Gascoigne, the commanding Roy Keane, the wizardry of Zinedine Zidane, and the elegance of Andrea Pirlo. And who could forget Xavi and Iniesta, the beating heart of Barcelona’s dominance, whose brilliance defined an era?
 

It wasn’t just the central players who fascinated me. Pacey wingers and the unsung heroes of the game—the disciplined holding midfielders—all played a part. While strikers often steal the headlines, it’s the midfielders who win or lose matches—and they’ve always been the players I admire most.
 

This lifelong fascination eventually led to the creation of Midfield of Dreams—a celebration of iconic midfields from today and yesteryear. What makes this collection unique is that these aren’t fantasy teams; they’re actual midfields that graced the pitch together, the true engine rooms of football’s greatest sides.
 

When I was creating this site, the teams I researched brought back incredible memories from my childhood and the early years of forming my football-obsessed brain. These weren’t just line-ups—they were moments and players that truly resonated with me. From Aston Villa’s European Cup-winning team of 1982, to Scotland’s squad at the 1982 World Cup in Spain, to Aberdeen’s European glory in 1983, these teams shaped my passion for football.
 

There were so many unforgettable moments: Dundee United’s Scottish champions of 1983, Liverpool’s European Cup winners in 1984, and Everton’s English champions and European Cup Winners’ Cup victors in 1985. I’ll never forget Scotland lifting the Rous Cup in 1985, Celtic winning the Scottish Cup in 1986, and St Mirren’s triumph in 1987. On the international stage, the Netherlands’ victory at Euro 1988 was extraordinary, and the subsequent transfer of their top stars created the iconic AC Milan side of 1989, regarded as one of the greatest football teams of all time. These moments and teams are etched in the histories of their clubs and nations and in the hearts of their supporters worldwide.
 

I hope you find shirts here that bring back memories for you—whether it was your first game, first season, first trophy, or even your first footballing love. These are the teams that make football magical, and at Midfield of Dreams, we celebrate the players who made it all possible.
 

Thank you for stopping by and sharing in this passion. Whether you’re reminiscing about the magic of the past or admiring today’s stars, I’d love to hear your thoughts—good or bad. Your feedback is invaluable as I continue to refine and expand this business. Together, let’s honour these iconic teams, relive their glory, and write new memories and midfield line-ups in the years to come.
 

Regards,

The Playmaker