Time in England stands Rentons in good stead for final

Goalkeeper Keiron was the first to be recruited by 'Burgh boss David McGlynn after the Olivebank side earned promotion to the Super League last season.

Playing Junior football is a far cry to what the 26-year-old was used to earlier in his career, having come through the Scotland ranks with the likes of Darren Fletcher and Mark Wilson.

Indeed, it could have been so different if he hadn't suffered a bad knee injury when he was at Blackburn.

"I went there when I left school at 15 and I was there for five years," said Keiron. "Brian Kidd was the manager when I arrived and then it was Graeme Souness.

"Brad Friedel was there, Alan Kelly and Damien Duff, too. Barry Ferguson came in for the last 18 months or so.

"I worked with Friedel day in day out and a he was certainly a good role model. Even at 40, he's still one of the best keepers around. It was great to learn from someone like that. Unfortunately, I broke my kneecap in my last season of contract at Blackburn. I was playing for Scotland Under-19s against Yugoslavia in Slovakia. It was a 50-50 ball and these things happen, it was just unfortunate.

"After leaving Blackburn, I then went to Elgin, Raith and Stenhousemuir before signing for Musselburgh after I could see some exciting things happening here under the manager."

He was joined at Olivebank at the start of this season by striker Kris after he also saw his career take a nosedive following an untimely injury.

"I made my debut for Norwich in the Championship when I was 16 and, at that stage in my career, I was flying," said Kris. "I was doing really well.

"It was a pleasure to work with players like Dion Dublin and Darren Huckerby in training every day. Making my debut at Leicester was also a great experience.

"Unfortunately, I then suffered a leg break and it was difficult for me from then on. I started to get homesick and felt it was time to come back up the road.

"I've not given up yet, though. I still hope to go back full-time again."

Indeed, he sees Sunday's Rugby Park showdown against Ayrshire aces Auchinleck Talbot as the perfect opportunity to show clubs exactly what he is capable of.

"I'm still young enough and if I can play well in the final then hopefully I can catch the eye of any scouts at the game," added the 20-year-old. "There's no better stage at this level to show people what I can do."

Helped by Keiron at one end of the park and Kris at the other, Musselburgh recently secured their Super League spot for another season.

Now the Renton brothers are determined to play their part in giving the club and town an even bigger reason to celebrate on Sunday.

"Since securing Super League safety we've been able to start thinking about the final," admitted Keiron.