article ... 13.10.2001  (Brighton Argus)

"Junior McDougald has plenty in common with Bobby Zamora. He joined Albion at 19, showed pace, the ability to make intelligent runs and a hungry commitment.

Significantly the striker could also find the back of the net, top scoring in both his seasons with the Seagulls. Moreover there's Leicester City.

Zamora, Albion's prized possession, has been linked with a move to Filbert Street where former Seagulls boss Micky Adams is getting his feet under the table as No.2 to Dave Bassett.

City's ground was the scene of McDougald's high point with Albion, a 2-0 Football League Cup victory.

McDougald looks back in fondness at that fleeting moment in the spotlight, but feels Zamora should resist any overtures to play on the same stage.

The 26-year-old, who was with Premiership club Tottenham prior to moving to Albion, said: "Bobby has made a big name for himself nationally with all the goals he has scored and, like me, like any player, he is ambitious. But I don't think it would be a good move to go to Leicester. He is young and needs more experience, he has plenty to learn. He can improve himself with Brighton and then a better club than Leicester will want him."

McDougald has doubts over Adams' move to Leicester this week.

"Micky Adams is a very good manager and the Leicester job could be seen as a great opportunity for him. But Leicester look certainties to go down and he could find himself up against Albion in the First Division next season. If it had been me, I'd have stayed at Brighton, but he knows what he is doing."

McDougald earned an accolade for his part in Albion's giant-killing act in 1994-95.

"That was a great effort. I remember it was over two legs and, although I didn't score in either of them, I earned the Run Of The Tournament. I beat a few Leicester players at Filbert Street to set up a goal for Kurt Nogan. Stuart Munday got a great goal that night too. We won the first 1-0 with a goal from Kurt at the Goldstone."

He played during a difficult time in Albion's history, but has positive memories.

"There was no stability off the field and that could transfer itself on to it. I was very young and Liam Brady, who was the manager, was a great help. I was pleased to have played with legends like Steve Foster, although he was coming to the end of his career.

"The supporters were fantastic and really good to me as a young player. Overall I had two enjoyable years there and I'm delighted to see them doing so well now. They've always had the potential and the fans deserve the success."

He has regrets over leaving Albion in a £50,000 switch to Rotherham after 95 appearances and 22 goals from 1994 to 1996.

"I am a bit of a nomad but when I left I did have regrets because I hadn't done what I wanted to do with Brighton.

"But it wasn't the happiest of times with the club being relegated to the Third Division. I was ambitious and felt Rotherham would be a good move as they were in the Second and it was a division I had experienced."

McDougald, who drifted out of the league after injury problems with the Millers, plans to re-launch his league career with Conference leaders Dagenham and Redbridge.

"The team is flying. I've enjoyed my time with them. We did well in the Ryman, have had a decent FA Cup run and won the Essex Senior Cup and now I believe the club will help take me back into the Third Division. I'm certainly looking at Dagenham as the platform to get back in the league."

But he is yet to play this season due to injury. I've had a hamstring problem and still about two weeks away. It is frustrating. It is bizarre really because several key players are out, but it is going so well.

"I don't see it as a setback for me personally. We are all very good friends, we are like a family. Old campaigners Mark Stein and Ken Charlery have come in up front. They have a combined age of about 75. But I wish them well."

McDougald has developed an acting sideline in Sky TV's Dream Team which has put him in touch with former Albion mates Andy Ansah and Peter Smith.

"I've only just got involved and it was through Andy who actually recruits the players who play for the fictitious Harchester United. Pete Smith told me it was fun and it is. We just do what footballers do and are filmed playing, in changing rooms and night clubs. It is a good little avenue."

He is setting up JMC Soccer Schools for youngsters in Huntingdonshire, where he lives, and Cambridgeshire.

"It is an area of talent. Nicky Rust, who played with me at Albion came out of it and played for Arsenal before he went to Brighton and, of course, I was at Spurs. but there isn't enough done for the youngsters.

"Hopefully I can help them follow their dreams with a series of camps."

JMC (Junior McDougald, geddit?) is also the name of an Eastbourne youth club of which he is chairman.

"Lee Nolan runs the club and is a friend of mine and asked if he could name it after me and make me chairman.

"I meet up with the boys and it is an exciting thing to see good young players progressing. It would be lovely to see them go on and play for Albion. Who knows? It could happen.

"I still have a lot of roots in the Sussex area and spend a lot of time there.

"When I go past the old Goldstone it is a strange feeling to see Toys 'R' Us instead of a pitch on which the players were trying to do their best for Albion."

The Texan-born front runner is a member of the Christians in Sport movement and visits Atlanta in the United States every year.

"It's not Bible-bashing, it is just going over with others in the movement to give a bit of love to some inner-city kids who need it.

"Some are involved in drug deals and other bad things but what they want is a bit of attention."

McDougald is already planning for the future as a sports agent. There aren't enough honest ones around. There's certainly a niche for me there, I think."

McDougald keeps himself busy. Even when I spoke to him, he was ferrying his brother Ted to a dental surgery.

But his mind was on the heartache rather than toothache Albion fans would suffer if Zamora the scorer swapped a South Coast city for one in the Midlands. And just how he can realise his many ambitions.

League striker, coach, chairman, actor, budding agent and Christian, Junior McDougald... this is your life."

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