Football: Bernie's rub of the green; VICTORIA PARK PHYSIO'S A REAL UTILITY MAN.

Byline: BY KEVIN McGOLDRICK

BERNIE MOROCCO loves all the dressing-room banter but it's out on the park he's at his happiest.

The Newtongrange sports therapist spends his weekend treating injuries on Saturdays and refereeing youth football on Sunday mornings.

And Premiership players should look no further if they fancy a pedicure as Morocco is also a chiropodist.

The 58-year-old can turn his hand to most things and New Victoria Park boss Gordon Rae had better watch out as coaching could be his next target.

Morocco said: 'I played for Gala Fairydean many years ago and there was an old guy who used to give rubs before the games.

'He would use stuff that would burn all the hairs on your legs. I used to think that wasn't right so I ended up going on courses through in Glasgow and it all stemmed from there.

'I'm now a member of the Scottish Massage Therapist Organisation and the Sports Therapy Organisation which I joined 10 years ago.

'I've always been involved in football in some capacity but it was when I became a therapist that I noticed there were so many players with foot problems like verrucas and in-growing toenails.

'I was lucky as it so happened the college I was attending had chiropody courses so I signed up for that as well and passed.

As a player Morocco was always in trouble with referees and once he hung up his boots things didn't change that much - except for the worse.

He said: 'I was forever in bother with the men in black as a player. Then when I went on the sidelines it seemed to get worse.

'All that changed though when, during a match, the referee stopped play to have a word with me as we had a slight disagreement.

'I was taken aback when he said, 'Since you're so smart with your mouth why don't you buy yourself a whistle and become one of us?'. And that's exactly what I did.

'I passed my referee course 15 years ago and every Sunday morning I don the black outfit.

'I love being a ref and get big kicks every Sunday morning. But the one thing I can't stand is mouthy players or dads standing on the sidelines - changed days, eh!

'There's so much good talent coming through at that level it's important we try to keep them interested when they approach their teenage years.

'Since becoming a referee I've developed thick skin. All the abuse I take goes in one ear and out the other.'

Refereeing isn't the only reason Morocco takes abuse as Rae and his assistant at Newtongrange are also prone to giving him stick.

He said: 'I'm a big Hearts fan and with Gordon being a Hibs legend and Kenny Davidson also playing for THEM I'm forever on the receiving end. But they're very quiet just now, maybe because we're the best team in Edinburgh.

'I've helped out at Tynecastle a few times and my claim to fame is scoring past Craig Gordon which can hardly be said for the majority of the Hibs team.

'Anyway, big Rae better watch his back because on Saturday two of our goals against Haddington were scored thanks to me.

'The park was very heavy and we were still trying to play passes along the deck so I roared for the boys to get the ball up and within minutes we netted twice. Coaching is something I might take up next.'

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LINFORD Pic:ALISTAIR