HOW many people can say that Billy Bremner wrecked their life?

It’s been recorded that one-time Leeds United manager Brian Clough reckoned the Scottish star to be the bane of his life, giving his captain’s refusal to work with him.

But how did Bremner impact so negatively upon the life of comedy writer Philip Differ?

The Only An Excuse? creator explains how the foundations of his life collapsed underneath him back in 1970.

“My new comedy show is entitled Billy Bremner and Me and that’s because of the impact Billy had on me,” says the writer, smiling.

“My plan for life, when I was 12 in 1968 and in First Year at St Modan’s in Stirling, was to become the next Billy Bremner.

“Indeed, it was probably the plan for every boy of that age. Billy was our hero. He’d gone to our school and he’d made it.”

Yet, two years later Philip had to come to terms with the fact he’d never be a Billy Bremner

“I wanted to be a midfield general like Billy but there was a basic problem in that I was a fearty,” he admits, laughing.

“So the theme of the play is what happens when your fantasy goes in for a fifty-fifty ball with reality?

“What do you do when you realise you’re not as good as you think?”

He adds; “The play isn’t just about football. It’s about coming to terms with your life.

“Anyone who has ever played football will get this theme, but those who didn’t will realise it’s about shattered dreams, about not becoming what you thought you might.”

Philip explains how he felt when he took the tackle, figuratively speaking, that brought about the sore leg of reality.

“When you play down the park with your pals in your own mind you’re a hero.

“But then you start to play other teams and it dawns on you that you don’t really have the stomach for it.

“You realise you can’t cope with the physical side of it.

“I had a couple of experiences which confirmed I was too scared to play football at a big level.”

Yet, idolisation of Billy still continued.

And when the legend back to St Modan’s school in 1973 Philip brushed shoulders with greatness.

“I didn’t say very much to him then, but that hasn’t stopped me introducing a fantasy element to my show,” he says, smiling.

“I include all that I wanted to say to him back at the time.”

Philip, who lives in Glasgow’s south side, uses old pics in the show to illustrate how close he was to his dream – and yet so far away.

Philip Differ’s football career loss however has been comedy writing’s gain.

The young man when on to write gags and sketches for the likes of Naked Radio and Naked Video before coming up with the Only An Excuse? format which has become a television classic.

Does he feel he’s found his position in life? “Not exactly, I’m still searching.

“But I don’t feel pressure these days to come up with new material.”

In recent years he’s written a series of successful plays, including Double Feature, starring Andy Gray and Grant Stott.

Philip didn’t get to emulate Bremner on the professional football park, but he still enjoyed some great moments.

“I played in a showbiz eleven a few years back against a team of MSPs, at Celtic Park,” he recalls, smiling.

“They were the biggest bunch of cheating b******* I’ve ever come across in my life.

“At one point, Jim Murphy, who was my MSP at the time, dived and got a penalty. I said to him ‘Jim, you’re a cheating, diving b****** and he said ‘I don’t make the decisions’. As if that made it right.

“And he took a penalty and scored. So there was no justice, but it was incredible to be on that pitch.”

Philip’s Billy Bremner show will be his first visit to the Edinburgh Festival as a stand-up.

“I’m doing ten gigs in a row and it’s daunting,” he says with a wry smile.

“It’s not the ordinary situation of turning up at a gig and then going away again.

“This means being judged night after night. But I’m looking forward to it.”

It’s only the world’s media who are judging, Philip. And it’s only the world top comedians who descend upon Edinburgh and could well have a look in?

“You’re so right,” he says, laughing. “I’ve directed at the Festival, I’ve had plays on, but this is different. It’s just me, and I’ve bu**** myself up in the process, so you just have to hope that someone will come and see you, in spite of the fact there are 10million other shows on at the same time.”

It’s no surprise to learn Philip Differ still loves football. But it is a surprise to hear he’s still playing.

“I can still delude myself I can play a bit,” he says, smiling.

“Thanks to Neurofen Plus, at 62 I can still dream.”

Billy Bremner and Me, The Stand’s New Town Theatre, Aug 1, 3-13.