THEY came from far and wide and emerged in all shapes and sizes but ultimately they shared a common goal - to win a contract worth roughly £20 a week.
Hundreds of wannabe Bully Wees descended on Clyde's Broadwood Stadium this week as the skint second division club gave anyone willing to have a shot a chance at winning a professional contract.
It conjured up memories of schoolboy trials and not knowing who you were going to come up against as you tried - probably too hard - to impress the hard-faced teacher watching from the sidelines.
Of course, in this instance, that domineering character was Clyde boss John Brown.
This was football's version of the X Factor where dreams could be made or shattered.
And while he might be no Simon Cowell, Bomber had to make the call on whether these guys made it to the next round or were dumped unceremoniously on the hind quarters.
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Clearly, going by some of the hairdos - or dont's - emerging from the changing room, a few of these trialists thought they had the X Factor.
But a few moments later, when they were presented with a ball, it was a case of X-rated factor for a sprinkling of wannabes.
Put it this way, it didn't take long to separate the Leona Lewis' from the Steve Brooksteins as Bomber put the hopefuls through their paces.
Just take the chancer hoping to fill Pat Clark's boots who fired a shot over the 15ft fencing behind the goal in his first effort at goal. He trudged after his errant effort to a cry of 'just keep walking son'.
But these were serious trials designed to find 18 players to complete the second division side's 20 man squad next season. And there was talent to be found.
From the Monday morning session alone there were a handful of guys worth another look. I'd pick out former Alloa and Ross County keeper Allan Creer as having a decent shout of getting a contract. Shout being the operative word as the big shotstopper never shut up.
Midfielder Pedram Ardalany, recently released by Partick Thistle, also showed up well and has a left foot which could trouble many keepers at this level.
John Neill, who has just left Queen's Park is another who showed good touches as did former Ayr United and Portsmouth midfielder Mark Casey.
And the darkhorses in this slog might just be a couple of junior aces in the shape of Glenafton frontman Jamie Doyle and bustling ex-Maryhill striker Willie Sawyers.
Clyde and Brown in particular have their work cut out in trying to cobble together a squad which will compete in the second division before the August 8 start date.
The challenge facing the players is no less daunting.
But if they look at where some of their predecessors have landed since leaving Broadwood they will realise that £20 contract might be worth a whole lot more in the long run.
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