John Gemmell made a name for himself at Queen’s Park and he’s backing Cambuslang Rangers team-mate Scott Williamson to do the same next season because the Fernhill forward “has the world at his feet.”
The striking duo have been racking up the goals in West of Scotland League Conference B this season and have 61 goals between them so far.
Williamson, however, has bagged 48 of them and it is that sensational scoring return that has secured him a three-and-a-half year full-time deal with the Spiders.
League One Queen’s Park have loaned Williamson back to Camby for the rest of this season as they close in on the Conference B title, something they could wrap up this weekend if results go their way, and he will soon be treading familiar ground to Gemmell.
The veteran forward started his career with the Spiders back in 2001 and his two seasons there eventually led to a crack at top-flight football with Partick Thistle in the Premier League in 2003.
And Gemmell believes his strike partner has the makings of a top player - even if the two of them might be at loggerheads on the pitch from time to time.
The 37-year-old club captain, whose fomer clubs also include Hamilton Accies and Albion Rovers, said: “Scott’s a pain in the a*** but he’s got great potential, the boy.
“He doesn’t listen to me much because he thinks I’m just an old b****** who moans at him all the time.
“But he’ll understand when he goes up [to the SPFL] and maybe in 10-20 years’ time he’ll understand I was only trying to help him.
“I was 16 when I first played for Queen’s Park. I played for my school in the morning and then I got a call from John McCormack to ask: can you sit on the bench for the first team?
“I went and played, I started the game and scored a goal away to East Stirling. It was the first win Queens had in months.
“That got me a spell there for about 18 months and then I signed for Thistle full-time when they got promoted to the Premier League.
“So I know the situation he’s in.
“He’s definitely a lot fitter and faster than I was at that age.
“Scott is a great talent. He’s getting a move full-time and it’s great for him.
“All the boys are buzzing for him as well.
“He’s got a phenomenal amount of goals. This is my 22nd season and I can’t remember a boy at any level hitting almost 50 goals at this stage, even when Nicky Clark was playing for Dunfermline and he had a great run with goals.
“We are in March now, but if we hadn’t had so many games called off I’m sure Scott would have hit 50 in December or at least January.
“He’s got the world at his feet, if he wants it.
“I wish I could turn the clock back 20 years when I moved to Queen’s Park and then Partick Thistle full-time. It’s a great time.
“It’s really exciting for him and it’s testament to the club and the boys that have got him the move.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how he does.”
Williamson has already made a good first impression with his new club, having scored one and set up the other two in a 3-3 draw with Celtic B in a City of Glasgow Cup clash last month, which was played behind closed doors. He also featured in a defeat to Rangers B on Tuesday.
That experience is already rubbing off and Gemmell has seen a noticeable improvement in Williamson’s overall game since he signed his contract with the Lesser Hampden outfit.
“He has been training a bit with Queen’s Park and I can see that in the last few weeks,” Gemmell revealed.
“We’ve played really well together up front in the last few games, so he’s learning a bit more already and it’s starting to show.
“Scott’s actually been passing me the ball as well, which is unbelievable, because when he goes through on goal you just expect him to score anyway.
“I think he gets a headache playing up top with me, but he’s returning the favours for all the assists I’ve given him this season.
“I’m glad he’s getting that chance to work on his game because the finer things need to get a bit better, like holding the ball up.
“He’ll know when he plays in the SPFL he’s going to be up against quicker and fitter players, but it’s exciting for him.
“I’s the best thing that could happen to Scott because, the level he is at right now, he’s not going to get any better training.
“I keep saying to him, he needs to work on his touch. He needs to work on that element.
“He’s a nice boy and he just needs to take in what the boys are telling him.
“But I think he’s had enough of me moaning at him. I’m on to him every game and he’ll be delighted to see the back of me.
“Him and his dad probably think I’m the biggest pain in the world, but if he can take it off me, he can take it off anyone, put it that way.”
When Williamson does bid farewell to Somervell Park, he will depart as a club legend for his contribution this term and, almost certainly, as a league title winner.
But Gemmell warned ascending a few tiers in the Scottish pyramid system will be a big step up for the youngster.
He added: “I think it will be a wee bit of a wake-up call to him next season, stepping up a level.
“The demands of training and moving to a level where guys are serial winners, and that’s their livelihood, will be a big change.
“At the moment, we’ve got a lot of young boys who don’t understand what it’s like to play for a good club and win things.
"I don’t think they understand the magnitude of what Cambuslang are on the verge of - being part of a team that wins a title.
“But it will be a massive transition for Scott. Everyone hopes he takes his chance.”
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