Ryan Catney has recalled how he once "came to blows" with teammate Barry Johnston ahead of a game at Stangmore Park back in their heyday at Cliftonville.
The two midfielders were known for their fighting spirit on the pitch, but one pre-match warm-up descended into chaos as Dungannon Swifts players and officials watched on.
Thankfully for best mates Catney and Johnston, the Reds went on to win the game after they made up in the changing rooms before kick-off.
Read more: Cliftonville pay poignant tribute to ex-player on anniversary of death
But the moment of madness didn't go down well with captain George McMullan.
"It was more than cross words, it actually came to blows," Catney told Belfast Live's That's What I Call Football podcast.
"We were down at Dungannon one day and we were doing a warm-up. Janty was being Janty, wearing bright yellow boots.
"He actually thought he was a player back then. He was trying to nutmeg me and everything.
"I was like, 'I am not having any of that'. I remember we both grabbed each other by the scruff of the neck and the next minute there were a few punches being thrown.
"We looked up and there were people on the Dungannon viewing gallery looking down going, 'what are these two maniacs doing?'.
"But we went out and won the game. We got the response we wanted.
"And there has never been a cross word since. We went into the changing rooms afterwards and shook hands and that was it done. There were no grudges and we look back and laugh about it to this day.
"We actually travelled up and down in the same car that day. At the end of the day winners win, and both of us were winners.
"Sometimes you overstep the mark, but there were no grudges held. And we still laugh about it."
Johnston believes the bizarre pre-match moment actually spurred the Reds on.
He said: "The Dungannon ones were watching this all unfold. Georgie (McMullan) came over the said 'would you two f****** wise up'.
"And we wanted to prove a point that we weren't divided. The team wanted to prove that wasn't us.
"We are in it together, and after that scuffle ended we knew we had Dungannon. And we went out and did the business.
"Was it a tactic? Well I ended up with quite a sore cheek with it!"
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