Visiting the office today is Dave McPherson, pictured here with FirstPointUSA founder and chief executive, Andrew Kean.
McPherson began his football career at Gartcosh United before starting his professional career with boyhood favourites Rangers in 1980, breaking into the first team while still a teenager. His impressive form ensured he achieved Under 21 recognition, as well as a place in the Rangers 1st team, by 1983.
McPherson then played for Hearts from 1987, helping Hearts achieve regular high league finishes while enhancing his own reputation. Within two years he became both a Scotland international and club captain. However, despite several close calls, the Jambos were unable to break their trophy famine, and when debts began to rise, McPherson, by then the club's most valuable asset, was sold back to Rangers in 1992, for £1.3m.
McPherson's second spell at Rangers was much more successful than the first, as he helped Walter Smith's dominant side achieve the treble in 1992-93, then a double in the 1993-94 season.
Financial troubles at Hearts dictated McPherson's next move, as he returned to the Edinburgh club in part exchange for Alan McLaren, Rangers also paying Hearts £1.25m. By now approaching the veteran stage, McPherson played an important role in nurturing Hearts' next generation of defenders such as Paul Ritchie and Gary Locke. He also helped the club to victory in the 1998 Scottish Cup, their first silverware in 36 years.
After leaving Tynecastle in the summer of 1999, McPherson wound down his playing career in Australia with Carlton S.C. in Melbourne.
McPherson was first selected to play for Scotland against Cyprus on 26 April 1989, a match Scotland won 2-1 at Hampden Park. Despite remaining a relative novice at international level, he was selected in the Scotland squad for the 1990 FIFA World Cup, appearing in all three group games as Scotland just missed qualification. McPherson's solid performances resulted in him then becoming a fixture in the national side, missing only qualifying 1 game as Scotland reached the 1992 Euro Championships. He started all three group matches in Sweden.
