A PHOTOGRAPH of Jock Stein has pride of place in the Jock Stein Lounge at Stebonheath Park, home of Llanelli AFC.

Not everyone is aware of the connection between the League of Wales club and the Scotsman who was one of the greatest British managers of all time, but soccer fans in this part of West Wales are fiercely proud of the link.

Stein, who managed Glasgow Celtic when they became the first British side to win the European Cup in 1967, spent the best part of two seasons with Llanelly, as they were known in 1950-52, as centre-half and club captain.

And tragically it was in Wales three decades later that Stein suffered a heart attack and died.

John (Jock) Stein was born on October 5 1922, at Burnbank, Hamilton, in Lanarkshire.

Working as a miner, a reserved occupation during wartime, Stein played part-time for Albion Rovers in 1942. After Rovers were relegated in 1949 he faced a cut in wages and so, as a married man with one child, he put in a transfer request.

At this time Doug Wallace, a former team-mate of Stein's at Albion Rovers, and Llanelli manager Jack Goldsborough, were north of the border scouting for play-ers for the Southern League club. Wallace persuaded Stein to sign, pointing out he could earn more money playing as a professional.

Stein made a tremendous impression in his first season at Llanelli in 1950-51, captaining the side to a respectable mid-table position in the league.

As Llanelli club historian Graham Williams explained, Stein formed a formidable partnership with Welsh international defender Jack Roberts and helped to shape the club's historic 1950 FA Cup run which ended only after a second replay against Bristol Rovers at Ninian Park in Cardiff.

"He lived in digs in Mansel Street and was happy with his lot," said Mr Williams. "He was, however, terribly homesick for his wife and family who were finding it difficult to cope with his absence."

Stein's house was broken into on two occasions and just before the 1951-52 season Stein told Goldsborough of his homesickness. By Christmas 1951 Stein had returned home to Scotland and Celtic.

Within a month the Celtic centre-half was injured and Stein grabbed his chance. Three years later he led Celtic to a Scottish League and Cup double.

After hanging up his boots he left for stints as manager at Dunfermline and Hibernian. But it was after returning to Park-head in 1965 that he set about building one of the greatest clubs in British football history.

European Cup glory came in 1967 when Celtic beat Inter Milan 2-1 in Lisbon. The club reached the final again three years later, this time losing to Dutch team Feyenoord. Under Stein's leadership, Celtic chalked up 10 League titles, eight Scottish FA Cups and six Scottish League Cups.

In February 1975, while in South Wales for an under-23 international match at Swansea, Stein could not resist a spur-ofthe-moment return to Stebonheath Park. Unaware of his visit, there were no officials there to greet the club's most famous son.

"It was nice to recall my playing days there and enjoy a wee bit of nostalgia," Stein commented. "It would have been nice to have met some of the club officials at the ground, but my visit was only brief."

In 1978, Stein suffered a heart attack and, at 55, was moved "upstairs" by the Celtic board. He responded by accepting the vacant manager's post at Leeds United.

After little more than a month, however, he left Leeds to succeed Ally MacLeod as manager of Scotland, who he led to the 1982 World Cup Finals in Spain.

On September 10, 1985, Stein returned to Wales with Scotland for a crucial World Cup qualifier against Wales at Cardiff. With a place at the World Cup finals in Mexico at stake, Wales needed a win, while a draw would suf-As he walked across the pitch before the game stopping to share a joke with Welsh goalkeeper Neville Southall, 20,000 Scots chanted his name. Wales went ahead through Mark Hughes, but 10 minutes before the final whistle Scotland drew level with a controversial penalty.

With the tension unbearable as full-time approached, Stein collapsed near the Scotland bench, and despite emergency treatment was pronounced dead an hour later.

At their next home game, against Briton Ferry on September 14, 1985, the Llanelli players, wearing black armbands in tribute, observed a minute's silence for their club's most successful footballing son.

fice for Scotland.