Eastbourne Borough boss Garry Wilson has yet to get the better of fellow Scot Steve Evans in two meetings against Crawley.

And as Evans was delighted to discover this week, it was the same outcome when they crossed swords on the pitch rather than the dugout.

Both had decent careers in the Scottish Leagues during the 1980s. Wilson played for Queen’s Park and Stranraer while Evans had spells with Clyde, Albion Rovers, Hamilton, St Johnstone and Ayr United before their careers were both cut short by injury.

Their memories of three Queen’s Park versus Albion meetings – two draws and a 5-1 win for QP – are hazy, although Evans insisted: “A 5-1 defeat at Hampden? I never played in that!”

Just over 22 years ago the pair were in opposition on a freezing Wednesday night at Somerset Park when Ayr, with Evans in the No.11 shirt, beat Stranraer 2-0 in a Scottish Cup second round replay. Wilson, who could also operate at full-back, played at centre-half, the match was sponsored by the local fishmonger and the referee was also called Evans.

Wilson said: “He was playing up front and I was at the back but I can’t remember much about the game to be honest.”

While it was Wilson’s job to stop the goals, Evans, who played in midfield or up front, got his fair share including 28 in 76 games for Albion Rovers.

He laughed: “I don’t remember the actual game but I would have torn Garry apart – there’s no doubt about that!

“Ayr was a lovely place to play and my spell there sticks out because we had a good team under George Caldwell, who had taken over from (former Scotland manager) Ally McLeod.

“I’m sure Garry will agree that playing are the best days of your life and you don’t appreciate them at the time. Of course I enjoy management but you can’t beat playing. Even Sir Alex Ferguson will admit that and look at the success he’s had.”

Although both come from Glasgow, Evans jokingly claims some subtle differences in their background. But he agrees their passion for the game was forged on those Saturday afternoons in front of a few hundred fans at some of Scottish football’s less salubrious outposts.

He said: “Garry and I are both passionate managers and I think that has something to do with our backgrounds.

“People might see Garry as a quiet guy but when we played them in December he was probably more vocal than me.

“Mind you, he speaks very posh! Don’t let anyone kid you – Garry came from an upmarket Glasgow council estate, mine was a lot worse!”

Evans’ passion can occasionally boil over on the touchline and may not be to everyone’s liking but his approach is not a problem for a sympathetic Wilson.

He said: “I like passionate people. I probably understand Steve and the way he acts a bit more than other people as I am Scottish too and it is in our nature. We both tend to get a bit het up and we might have a rant at each other but we will shake hands afterwards.

“It is odd that two Scots are in charge of teams in Sussex. Jimmy Quinn (former Lewes boss) and I played together for a season at Queen’s Park before he moved on to Clyde, where Steve played as well, so our paths are bound to have crossed a few times.”

Evans is full of respect for the job Wilson has done in a decade in charge at Priory Lane.

He added: “They are the only team we have beaten this season when I thought we didn’t deserve to win. A draw would have been a fair result but if any side was unlucky not to win it was them.

“I expected them to do reasonably well because they were on a high after promotion and are playing big clubs even by our level, never mind what they are used to. They have recruited some very good players and it will be a difficult game.

“He has an unbelievable chairman and committee and as long as they keep working as hard as Garry and (assistant) Nick Greenwood their success will continue.”

Whether Evans retains his unbeaten record against Wilson or not, there will be no hard feelings afterwards. “Whatever happens we will shake hands and be friends,” said Evans.