A PUB in North Cumbria was over the moon after a Scottish footballing legend visited for a pint.

Ally McCoist popped into the Howard Arms in Brampton for a drink with his friends, and word quickly got around town.

McCoist is perhaps best known for his playing career with Rangers where he played as a striker and later became the manager.

During his playing days, he was Rangers’ all-time leading goal-scorer, scoring 355 goals for the club.

He played there from 1983 to 1998, winning many titles and cups, and then after retiring became a manager, then a pundit.

He was down just across the border to commentate on the Newcastle vs Manchester City match on Saturday, January 13, and before going back home to Glasgow, decided to wet his whistle in the historic pub.

Andrew Seggie, manager of the pub, said: “He came in with two other men, one of them asked me if we sold real hand pulls, which we do.

“He asked us what was the most popular one, which was our Thwaites IPA, and they ordered two.

“I looked at Ally and said ‘did you used to be a footballer?’.

“He told me he did, and I recognised him, and within about 10 minutes the word got around and the pub was full of people wanting to meet him.

“They were all really nice, down to earth, buying drinks for people, and everyone had a really good time.

“He had a few more pints, and had some photos taken with customers, and said he’ll be back again.”

Andrew said he believed he used to drink at the Howard Arms when he played for Sunderland, as a stopover before he went back to Glasgow, so the pub had an element of nostalgia for him.