They are two of Scottish football’s greatest characters who have spent a staggering 91 years working in the game.
Old foxes Dick Campbell and Jim Jefferies will brace themselves for yet another almighty scrap when League One leaders Forfar take on second-placed title favourites Dunfermline at East End Park on Saturday.
Campbell, 60, has enjoyed 44 years in football as a player then manager. Jefferies is a veteran of 47 years and like the bold Dick, still going strong.
Loons boss Campbell, former manager of Dunfermline, summed up perfectly what the game means to him when he revealed: “I don’t want to spend my Saturday’s at Dobbies!”
That’s a sentiment shared by Hearts’ Scottish Cup winning legend, 63-year-old Jefferies.
He said: “We have both had a long time in football, especially in this day and age when jobs are so precarious. But we have managed to stay in the game.
“Dick is still as passionate as ever about football and we are both the same in that respect. We are passionate about getting our teams to win.
“We will have a drink after the game on Saturday and no matter the result nothing will be decided because there is a long, long way to go.”
Campbell revealed: “At the end of the day Jim and myself are football people, it’s as simple as that. It’s why we have been in the game for as long as we have, we love the game.
“I don’t want to go to Dobbies on a Saturday. I don’t want to do anything else other than football. I just want to build football teams and try and win as many games as I can. That is what drives me on.
“Saturday is just another game. Whether we are playing Dunfermline , Stenhousemuir or Stranraer, it’s the same three points that are at stake. That’s what you are playing for.
“It’s a right good league.”
As for Forfar’s impressive march to the top of the table they have lost only one game Campbell insists he’s not surprised because he has managed to assemble a bundle of talent allied to the wealth of experience already at Station Park.
“I have brought six players to the club who were full time last year Danny Denholm , Derek Young, Jim Paterson, Dale Hilson, Stephen Husband and Andrew Steeves.
“Very rarely does that happen in a part-time environment for them to come to us is a tremendous accolade for Forfar, to be able to attract players of that caliber.
“They are also playing alongside a lot of good players with the likes of Darren Dods, Rab Douglas, Gavin Swankie and Stuart Malcom, Mark Baxter and Chris Templeman.
“We have got a right good team here I’m excited without getting carries away because that big custard pie is always waiting round the corner.
“Byt any team that beats us will have to play well. Our players enthusiasm for the game is magnificent and I love it here.
Jefferies added: ” We are on a good run and the boys definitely feel they are getting better.
“Forfar are on a good run themselves and what they have got is some experienced players who have played at a higher level. It should be a great game.”