Football manager celebrates win on 1000th game with same club

He said the secret to longevity as a manager was passion.

"Football is my thing, I've always had an enthusiasm for it, and it has passed on.

"My two boys, my daughter and my grandkids play as well, so it must be in the genes. "

The 61-year-old has to fit managing the club around a busy job as a forklift driver [BBC]

Sloan has to fit two training nights and matches around his full-time job.

"When I played I always worked and then I was coaching before I was managing. It's something I've done for the last 40 odd years. "

"It's certainly not easy and it can be hard work. If me and the wife go in and she says we'll watch a film, usually I don't see most of it. I'll nod off and be asleep on the couch after half-an-hour."

Despite it being 23 years ago, Sloan still remembers his first game as manager as it was against Cumnock FC.

He said: "They are our biggest rivals. That's the big derby for us.

"Cumnock were hot favourites, we were struggling in the league at that time and we won the game 2-0."

Massive support

His fondest memory is winning the Scottish Cup for the first time against Bathgate in 2006.

"We went into that one as underdogs, Bathgate were a big spending team at the time with a lot of ex-pros in their side, and it was a Rugby Park which is local for us but not so much for them," he said.

"We had a massive support there that day and it was a great day and we won two-one. it was a good occasion for us, really special."

Sloan says he hasn't given much thought to what the next milestone will be, but has no plans to retire anytime soon.

"When you've got good players and a good side it's hard to get away from," he said.

Henry Dumigan is secretary of Auchinleck Talbot and said Sloan was "a great role model" [BBC]

Club secretary Henry Dumigan said Sloan had won 36 honours in his time at the club and had shown "unbelievable service and loyalty".

"He is probably the most successful manager ever at our level and very humble with it," he said.

"He's a great role model for any manager coming into the game."

Dumigan said Sloan was a "very popular fellow" with both players and fans.

"I don't know anybody that's got a bad word for Tommy because everyone really appreciates what he has done here and appreciates his modesty - even those he's won all those honours."

"I know Tommy has had opportunities to leave here, to take a bit more money, but he's been as good as his word and remained loyal to Auchinleck Talbot."

• Celtic 'just like visit by The Who' for Auchinleck
• Auchinleck Talbot 0-2 Celtic: What O'Neill said
• Celtic make hard work of seeing off sixth-tier Auchinleck Talbot