LONG-SERVING Morton kitman Andy Bryan has spoken of his shock and pride at being among the first inductees into the club’s Hall of Fame after an incredible 40 years’ service.

The Cappielow stalwart has served under a staggering 18 managers and worked with countless players during a rollercoaster four decades that have included major cup tie shocks, relegation, promotion and well-documented rebuffs to approaches from Stoke City and the Scottish national team.

His incredible service earned him an award at the first Morton Hall of Fame dinner last weekend, where he joined club greats such as Allan McGraw and Derek Collins as an inductee.

Andy, 49, will also be honoured with a testimonial match — which could take place in the summer.

The popular kitman told the Tele said: “I’m still speechless. It was the last thing I expected.

“I was flabbergasted and when I turned round to look at the screen and there was Ally McCoist, then Craig Brown and Derek McInnes. I actually thought Derek was Allan Moore (former Morton manager) so I started laughing ‘oh there’s wee Moorey’, but it wasn’t obviously.” The lifelong Ton fan, who is originally from Millport and who used to travel over to see his boyhood heroes, was twice the subject of attempts to lure him from his beloved club, once with the Scotland team and then earlier this year to Stoke City in the English Premiership.

But he says the lure of working for the team he supports has always made him stay put.

Andy, who now lives in Largs, said: “The job was advertised and someone from the SFA said I should go for it, so I did. I got an interview and they phoned me that afternoon and offered me it.

“I was taking it — there’s no doubt I was taking it — because at the time, although I was full-time, we were still in the Second Division so you don’t know what the future holds. But after speaking to the chairman he assured me it was a full-time set-up and he wanted a full-time kitman.

“We hadn’t long moved to Quarriers as well and he convinced me to stay.

“We were in the Second Division but on the up and I thought ‘I don’t want to miss this’.” Andy says it was an almost identical situation with Stoke and it wasn’t until the day before he signed a lease for a flat in the city that he was persuaded to stay put.

He added: “At the end of the day, once the chairman assured me of stuff, it was a no-brainer just to stay.

“The Stoke job came up in February when we were sitting bottom of the league and I thought if we get relegated we would go part-time. You couldn’t have blamed the chairman for doing that.

“To be fair he got me down and we had a long chat. Once again, the relegation and part-time thing was brought up and, once again, Mr Rae basically said as long as he’s here and the club is full-time, I’ll be full-time, no matter what league we are in.

“It was the day before I was due to sign for my flat down at Stoke, so that’s how far down the line we were.

“I phoned Stoke up and explained – they couldn’t have been nicer. After the testimonial announcement, I am here forever, no matter what happens!” The kitman has pretty much seen it all at Cappielow, and despite 40 years’ service, he said last season was his most memorable yet.

“Last year probably had the biggest high and the biggest low,” he said.

“We beat Celtic at Parkhead in the cup and that was incredible, but then to get relegated, especially with the Championship the way it it is this season, was definitely an all-time low.

“Even at Christmas last year, when we were bottom of the league, we thought we would get out of it.” Andy celebrated 40 years with the club on 9 November and, after digging through old match programmes, he discovered one from a match against Kilmarnock when he made his Cappielow debut.

That came about after he wrote to then manager Erik Sorensen, asking to be a ballboy.

Since then, there have been 18 managers through the door and when asked if he has ever fancied a go in the dugout himself, Andy quickly fired back: “Never. My job is safe enough I think. I’ve seen off 18 of them, I’m not going to see off myself!” The kitman is now looking forward to playing his part in the team’s title charge, but has one eye on his own 90 minutes in the spotlight.

But he says he won’t be taking the day off and will be in the dressing room making sure the players are prepared just like any other game.

Andy said: “I’ll need to make sure nobody steals the strips! Maybe I’ll get on for the last minute but if it’s a pre-season game I’d like it to be taken seriously.

“It could be Millport Amateurs. My wee mate from Millport is still involved with them and text me to say ‘listen if you’re struggling for a team, we’ll come and play you’.

“To be honest, it doesn’t matter, it could be against anybody. I also don’t care if there’s 50 people there or 50,000, I’m just delighted about the fact I’m getting a testimonial.” Andy however is hoping for a turnout — not to benefit himself, but to help local charities, after vowing to donate 10 per cent of the gate receipts to organisations including Ardgowan Hospice and military veterans’ charity Erskine, which his dad works for.

The legendary Cappielow kitman has also jokingly revealed his secret for his own longevity in the dressing room.

He said: “You probably wouldn’t get anyone else to work for less money! Seriously, I don’t know. Kitmen tend to know the background to the club and the running of the club. It’s very abnormal for a manager to come in and change the kit man.

“We’re kind of in with the woodwork, as you say.

“Some of us move on after a few years — some of us don’t!”