When Roy Tunks injured his hand in a 1988 pre-season match against Reading, John Bird was left with youth-team player Paul Norton as the only available goalkeeper. Thinking this to be too much of a risk, Bird acted by drafting in the experienced Dave McKellar on loan from Dunfermline Athletic. The former Derby, Carlisle and Brentford stopper played the opening seven games of the 1988/89 season while Tunks recuperated, and did a decent job as Pools made an impressive start to the season.