Strawberry blond? Who are you kidding! The best Ginga XI of all-time

By Ian Cruise in Football Banter

Published 13:15 18/03/10

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So, ladies and gentlemen, here it is... the best Ginga XI - EVER!

In honour of Paul Scholes scoring his 100th Premier League goal for Man United recently, we wanted your nominations for a team packed with carrot-topped heroes.

Thanks to all of you who sent us your suggestions via Twitter and Facebook.

There will be another one later this week, so keep an eye out on our Twitter and Facebook pages for the details.

But now, without further ado, here is the definitive all-time Ginga XI...

Goalkeeper: Jim Leighton - A man who surely could not have looked more Scottish had he taken to the field in a kilt. With his mass of ginger hair and the terrifying grin he sported courtesy of removing his front teeth when he played, he was a frightening sight for opposing strikers. Scared a few of his managers with his ineptitude at times, too.

Right-back: Wes Brown - Paul Scholes doesn't qualify for selection as he's the subject for all this ginger devotion, but the Old Trafford outfit are represented in the perhaps unlikely figure of their ginga full-back/centre-half, otherwise known as 'the human baked-bean'.

Centre-half: Alexei Lalas - A huge ginger mop complemented by a monster ginger beard, it would be a travesty if the big US defender wasn't picked in the heart of the back four. Would also be a big hit during post-match get-togethers with his guitar playing and vocal talents.

Centre-half: Alex McLeish -  Not unlike his his former Aberdeen team-mate Leighton, McLeish, too, is pretty much your archetypal Scot. The Minnie the Minx-style ginger hair and freckles, however, didn't stop him forming a formidable partnership with Willer Miller, both for the Dons and Scotland.

Left-back: Steve Staunton - Not surprisingly there is something of a Celtic theme running through the spine of this side, and Staunton is the first Irishman to make the cut. Forms part of an all-Anfield left flank with Norwegain John Arne Riise. Could be a problem with the language barrier here.

Right midfield: Robbie Slater - As Ron Millard tweeted to us on the subject of the former Blackburn, West Ham and Southampton winger, "he couldn't be more gingerer". So for nothing other than the best use of the word gingerer in a sentence so far this year, Slater's in.

Centre midfield: Stuart McCall - A real ginger terrier in midfield, McCall was at his snapping and snarling best during his days at Everton and Rangers during the late 80s and throughout the best part of the 90s. But even if he'd been utterly useless, he'd still be on our team for this and this alone...

Central midfield: Neil Lennon - In no way living up to the stereotype of auburn-haired scufflers in the centre of the park, Lennon just pips Billy Bremner and Alan Ball and gets the vote as McCall's co-enforcer. Might be struggling if the opposition fields anyone above 5ft 9in though...!

Left midfield: John Arne Riise - The man with dynamite in his left boot provides the pace and power down the left. And our big two up front will revel in the service that howitzer of a leftie will provide from dead-balls.

Centre-forward: David Kitson - Famously called for fans abusing him for his ginger mane to be punished, citing the catcalls as a form of racist abuse. Not even PFA chief Gordon Taylor - arch defender of players' rights - could agree with that though, saying, "It belittles racism to compare the two issues. It is just an opportunity for someone to have a go in the same way as if you are bald or fat. Dave should be proud of his hair. It makes him stand out if he is having a good game and he could always dye it if he wants." So there...

Centre-forward: John Hartson - Seeing as Kitson is such a sensitive soul, we'll also play Hartson up front to look after him. We're fairly sure the ex-Arsenal, West Ham and Celtic star was called worse things than 'ginger tosser' during his playing days. But we imagine his taunters were standing quite some distance away when they were dishing out the stick.

Manager: Gordon Strachan - Wee Gordon loves a bit of verbal sparring with the media, so he gets the nod over David Moyes for the seat in the dugout 'cos his post-match interviews will be more interesting.

Subs: Mike Hooper, Michael Svensson, Billy Bremner, Alan Ball, Steve Sidwell, Perry Groves and (who else but old Supersub himself?) David Fairclough.