No Road To Rio For Team GB

THIS post may well be unique in the history of this blog, because, what I have to say is: Well done FIFA.

 

I say this after the news the FA has had to abandon plans to enter British Men's and Women's football teams at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, after FIFA's intervention.

 

Sepp Blatter's boys told the chaps at Wembley: "You can only enter teams with the approval of the Northern Irish, Scottish and Welsh FAs."

 

That approval was never going to come, at least from Glasgow, so, at a stroke, the FA chaps have been denied their Olympics freebie down Copacabana way.

 

Yeehaw!!!

 

British football's place in the Olympics has always been a bit of a guddle. To be fair to the English, we Scots never really bought-into the idea of playing in the Games. In the old days, up till 1972, when the Games were amateur, the SFA tended to pass the ball to the Scottish Amateur FA, in reality, the Queen's Park committee.

 

They, on more than one occasion, when push came to shove, put the interests of the Spiders before those of the UK. That has to be acknowledged.

 

However, the FA tended to treat the whole footbll issue as being England's baby; well, that's how they treat most football issues in this island.

 

With a bit of give and take on both sides, our best young players, English, Northern irish, Scottish and Welsh, could have benefitted from an excellent competition. They never will, until they sort-out their differences.

 

 

Disaster For Scotland Avoided

PHEW! Glad that one is over.

 

Having got over such DISASTERS FOR SCOTLAND as the Iran game, the 0-0 draw wit Luxembourg, the draw in the Faroe Islands and that win in Cyprus when Richard Gough's winning goal seemed to have been timed by sun dials, I had a nervy feeling about last night's game against Gibraltar.

 

Surely Scotland cannot blow this one, was my pre-game view. Thankfully, not even Scotland could blow a match against a team I would expect even my own dear, threatened by closure at the end of this season Lugar Boswell Thistle to beat.

 

I am not even bothered about the fact we allowed the real Sons of the Rock to score their first international goal, watertight defence has never been the Scotland way. We won, we move on to tougher games.

 

I am pleased for Fletcher S, he has got the "couldn't score in a brothel with £1000 to spend" monkey off his back - perhaps he will now begin to hit the net with some regularity, in any case, it was long past time for Colin Stein's name to be expunged from the record book.

 

We have not booked our trip to France next summer - yet, but, we have reasonable grounds for optimism.

 

 

 

SPEAKING about getting back to where you want to be; it might be said that the Rangers Tribute Act were facing their own "Gibraltar Moment" on Saturday, when they took-on Cowdenbeath. They came through that test well, if not with flying colours.

 

You know, perhaps, just maybe, Stuart McCall can steady the ship and navigate Ra Peepul through the play-offs this time round. However, I hope, should be fail, the new owners hold their nerve and keep him on. In the longer term, it might do the RTA no harm at all, to have to spend a second season in the Championship.

 

 

 

OFF the Ball is, in some respects, an acquire taste. Stuart Cosgrove and Tam Cowan love to bill their wee programme as: "The most-petty and ill-informed football programme on radio", then they go out there and give air time to such terrific guests as experienced (it never does to call a lady "a veteran") Scotland goalkeeper Gemma Faye, who was on the show on Saturday.

 

Some of the so-called "serious" sports programmes might do well to pay a bit more attention to our women's game. For a start, as Gemma proved, our top girl players are much more-rounded characters and, I would suggest, more-intelligent, than their male counterparts.

 

Speaking of OTB, my old mucker Chick Young came up with a cracker when guesting on the Saturday night version of the show. After revealing that his great invitation XI, Dukla Pumpherston (football's version of rugby's Barbarians) had once played against the Gibraltar international team, he revealed that he had played in surely the ultimate Scottish local derby - AC Milanda v Inter Mill Inn.

 

This surely proves, when it comes to daft team names - nobody does it as well as we Scots.   

OK - We Won, But, Where Do We Go From Here?

AS expected, Scotland beat Northern Ireland in last night's Hampden friendly. Having better things to do with my time last evening, I had to rely on newspaper reports this morning.

 

Football folk wisdom has it that: "Scotland doesn't 'do' friendlies"; this stance may have some credence. A few years ago I did a piece for one of the broadsheets, in which I compare Scotland's record in competitive internationals against our record in friendlies, and, from the days of brown Manfield Hotspur boots, with leather studs and thick woolen strips, to modern times, we have consistently had better results when it mattered, than in friendlies.

 

So, even though we won lat night, we apparently didn't rouse the Tartan Army to their singing and dancing top level of performance. This might be due in part to what I consider a genetically-generated fault in the Scottish psyche - we are World Champions at getting down to the level of our opponents.

 

If I can go slightly off-topic here; I have long contended, when playing the likes of San Marino, Luxembourg, Andorra, Liechtenstein or Sunday's upcoming opponents, Gibraltar, rather than picking what he thinks is our top players, Wee Gordon Strachan should cherry-pick the best players in the Junior game - thereby causing our opponents, who have, through necessity, honed their defensive game, to come out of their comfort zone and have a go, allowing us to pick them off.

 

Last night's game, will, however, be one of the last such meaningless fixtures, now UEFA is bringing-in their new schedule of what we might call: "competitive friendlies", whereby we will be playing other nations of roughly our own standard regularly.

 

When I first heard of this change, I thought it a good thing, I still do, but, I don't think it is good enough to meet Scotland's needs.

 

There is a definite gap between our age group teams, up to Under-21 and the full team. Only around one-third of the players whom we cap at Under-21 level ever make it through to win full caps. OK, some of the blame for this rests with our managers and directors, who, in an effort to win things NOW, seem to prefer to import more-technically-grounded foreign players, rather than sort things at source by properly coaching our raw talent.

 

The fact that, somehow, our players are presumed to not work as hard on their game as young players from elsewhere doesn't help; you could blame the Scottish diet - you might say they lack the hunger to improve as well. There are all sorts of reasons why our best young players do not train-on to contend for a place in the full team, but, there is a seeming reluctance to tackle this long-standing problem.

 

The first Scotland Under-23 team to take the field - hammered 6-0 by an England team, inspired by a Duncan Edwards hat-trick, at Shawfield, on 8 February, 1955 was: Willie Duff (Hearts), Alex Parker (Falkirk), Eric Caldow (Rangers), Dave Mackay (Hearts), Doug Baillie (Airdrie), Bobby Holmes (St Mirren), Graham Leggat (Aberdeen), Jim Walsh (Celtic), Dave Hill (Clyde), Bobby Wishart (Aberdeen), Davie McParland (Partick Thistle). Of those 11 players, Parker, Caldow, Mackay and Leggat went on to win full Scotland caps; Caldow and Mackay led their country too, while Parker and Leggat had successful full international careers.

 

Our first Under-21 team, which faced Czechoslovakia in a European Championship match in the Tartan Army's favourite destination, Pilsen - the home of Czech beer - on 12 October, 1976, was: Bobby Clark (Aberdeen), George Burley (Ipswich Town), Arthur Albiston (Manchester United), Pat Stanton (Hibernian), Roy Aitken, Tommy Burns (Celtic), Davie Cooper (Clydebank), John Wark (Ipswich Town), David McNiven (Leeds United), David Narey and Paul Sturrock (Dundee United): substitutes used: Davie Provan (Kilmarnock) and Ian Muir (Hibs).

 

Clark and Stanton were in there as over-age players, but of those 13 players, only McNiven and Muir failed to go on and win full caps, the other 11 can be covered in one word - Legends.

 

 Our Under-21 squad of ten years ago, season 2004-05, ran to 33 players, mainly because, with qualification for the 2006 European Under-21 Championships not being achieved, we fed-in some younger players with a view to the next campaign.

 

Of these 33 players, however, 14 went on to win full caps: Mark Wilson, Alan Hutton, Scott Brown, Kris Boyd, Paul Gallagher, Stephen Whittaker, Derek Riordan, Gary O'Connor, David Clarkson, Rod Wallace, Chris Burke, Shaun Maloney, David Marshall and Christophe Berra.

 

Our squad of five seasons ago, season 2009-10 was a mere 16-players strong, with only two Under-21 games played that season. Of those 16 players, only two, David Goodwillie and Barry Bannan have so-far, broken through to become full internationalists, and, to be honest, I had to look-up the record books to get anything on several of the others.

 

I accept, new talent doesn't come through at a uniform rate, there are Golden Generations, and there are others where the players are definitely base metal, but, if we can find a way of levelling-out the talent identification and development process, our big team ought to do better. This is a matter to which the SFA has never given much, or indeed any thought.

 

It is to be hoped that Brian McClair can maybe turn things around, but, he will not find it as simple with Scotland as at Manchester United.

 

I would like to see Scotland introducing an Under-23 team, or a B team, to bridge the gap between the Under-21s and the full team.

 

How about reviving the Home Internationals, as an Under-23 competition, maybe even as an end-of-season tournament, played on smaller grounds?

 

Why don't we develop the B team, to go on an end-of-season tour, perhaps to Europe, where there is still some interest in such games, or to some of the places in the old Empire, where there are overseas branches of the Tartan Army, who would come out of the woodwork to see a Scotland team in the flesh?

 

What we cannot do, is blunder along as we have.

We Should Win Tonight, But Cannot Presume As Much

SCOTLAND'S football relationship with Northern Ireland was, for many years simple - facing our closest international neighbours was an almost-guaranteed win. The annual game, whether at Hampden or Windsor Park was one of the few in which, Scotland was the "big" team.

 

In the early days of the fixture, the SFA had worked-out that, when the Irish game (against the whole of our neighbouring island back then) came around, we could virtually pick 11 names of current, Scottish-based players out of the Chairman of the Selection Committee's lum hat and still be guaranteed a win, usually with goals to spare.

 

Boy were we arrogant back then. It is worth remembering that the selection of the immortal Wembley Wizards owed much to dissatisfaction with the performance and outcome of the previous international.

 

At Celtic Park, on 25 February, 1928, we lost 0-1 to the Irish. The Scottish team that day was: Alan McClory (Motherwell), Jock Hutton (Blackburn Rovers), Willie McStay (Celtic), Tommy Muirhead (captain), Davie Meiklejohn and Tully Craig (all Rangers), Henry Ritchie and Jimmy Dunn (both Hibs), Jimmy McGrory (Celtic), George Stevenson (Motherwell) and Alan Morton (Rangers). The great McGrory, by the way, was making his Scotland debut that day.

 

When Scotland next played, against England at Wembley, five weeks later, only Dunn and Morton survived to become immortals after a 5-1 win.

 

Several Scots have filled their boots with goals against the Irish, Billy Steel and Denis Law, both of whom would be on the short leet for the number 10 jersey in any all-time Scottish team, both posted four-goal hauls against the Irish; Henry Morris of East Fife memorably marked his solitary game for Scotland with a hat-trick in 1949, while his team-mate, Charlie Fleming bagged a brace on his sole Scotland appearance four years later.

 

However, we should never forget, the magnificent Jubilee Trophy, the silverware from the Home International Championship has resided in the care of the IFA these past 30-odd years and, in the last ten meetings between the two nations, the score is three wins to Scotland, two to Northern Ireland and five draws. We can no-longer take victory for granted in this fixture.

 

So, what does Gordon Strachan do tonight? He knows, the Irish will give Scotland a game, does he send-out his big guns, in the knowledge, this one is likely to be played like a good, old-fashioned blood and thunder British cup tie, and thereby risk losing an influential player from the more-important task of putting a few goals on the minnows of Gibraltar next time out.

 

Or, does he experiment, give some of the fringe guys a start, try some different combinations? Decisions, decisions.

 

Even when Scotland were good, we had one or two hairy matches against the men in green. The way George Best virtually beat us on his own in 1967 for instance, is a salutory lesson.

 

The Tartan Army, for instance, might have to suffer some worrying moments tonight, but, in the end, we should still have too-much fire-power for the visitors. I just hope Scott Brown, assuming he plays, steers clear of Kyle Lafferty. We don't need an unnecessary international incident or two!!

 

I accept the Irish rugby team which worked over our XV at Murrayfield on Saturday was, on-paper and in-fact, the superior outfit. On-paper, we have the better football XI, although the gap is that bit narrower.

 

We couldn't beat the whole of Ireland at rugby, surely we can still beat the top bit at football.

Is There No End To This Suffering?

OK, I accept, Ra Peepul have a long and dark history in Scottish football. I forget the late "Dan" Archer's great quote, something about a constant embarrassment and occasional disgrace, I think; but, have they not suffered enough?

Bad enough to be granted a partial reprieve and banishment to the dungeon of League Two - when the crimes of SDM and Craig Whyte maybe deserved closure, or, at best, greater-banishment, to Central Division Two of the West Region of the SJFA perhaps.

Bad enough too, to suffer the long-drawn-out examination of Ally McCoist's unfitness for management, and the often hilarious to the outsiders machinations of the various investors and directors of the new Rangers Tribute Act.

Bad enough to have to suffer the Kenny McDowall interregnum, when a decent man, a life-long supporter who is a good coach, a good Number Two, but by his own admission not a manager. Who did his best, but was found lacking, in a job he never wanted.

Bad enough too, when the King Over The Water eventually gets the keys to his kingdom and appoints a favoured son as manager, to see him fail to win his first handful of games.

But, how very very cruel, on the day he finally inspires his team to victory, against their closest-rivals in the play-off race, to discover: Charles Green doing his Arnold Schwarzenegger act.

You really would not want to be a Rangers-supporting Unionist these days, with Alex Salmond, smugger than ever after Hearts' runaway Championship win,causing a tidal wave of hatred and anti-Scottish venom around Westminster. Then, suddenly, Green emerges from his French chateau and announces: "I'll be back - maybe".

Is there to be no peace and redemption for Ra Peepul?

WELL DONE Hearts. The Championship was supposed to be the toughest league in Scotland, perhaps in the UK, to win this season, but, under tyro boss Robbie Neilson, backed by a tyro chairwoman, they turned the title race into a procession.

And, well done Craig Levein - who has surely drawn-up the blueprint of how a Director of Football-Head Coach relationship can and does work in this country. Big Craig has surely now cleaned-up an escutcheon tarnished by his torrid time as Scotland boss.



THE two remaining Scottish Junior Cup quarter-finals were settled on Saturday, and, we have a very interesting semi-final line-up.

Almost inevitably, Auchinleck Talbot - the Real Madrid of junior football are once again in the final four, alongside another Ayrshire side, cup-holders Hurlford United. The other two finalists are from the East Region - Linlithgow Rose, whose cup record in recent years is probably second only to Talbot's, and Musselburgh Athletic, another club with a good record of getting through to "squeaky bum time" in the competition which truly defines real fitba.

Being an Ayrshireman myself, I would love to see a Talbot v Hurlford final, a pairing which would surely give Rugby Park its largest crowd of this season. That, however, should not be taken as belittling the two East sides. They are there on merit and, however the as yet undrawn semi-finals pan out, we should have a good final to look forward to on 7 June. 

 

Our Referees Really Are Bad

I PASSED on Wednesday night's Celtic v Dundee United Scottish Cup tie. At my age, the chance to accompany a lovely sixty-something lady to the cinema to watch another bunch of coffin dodgers - Dame Judi Dench, Dame Maggie Smith, Celia Imrie, Bill Nighy and Richard Gere, to name but a few, enjoying themselves in the Second Best Marigold Hotel was more-enticing than watching Scottish fitba.

 

Therefore, I can offer little in the way of critical comment on events at Celtic Park. From the few flashes I saw on TV news bulletins, I will say:

 

A yellow card for Scott Brown, some three seconds into the game, might have set a better tone.

 

How the Hell was the United keeper NOT red-carded for that foul on Leigh Griffiths? The challenge was pure Schumacher in its cynicism.

 

What was wrong with Ryan McGowan's red card, fully-justified.

 

Paul Paton has a case.

 

Scotland's rugby referees get a bad press - and rightly so. Apart from Andrew McMenemy, none of the current crop is ready for the top level.

 

We have one or two football officials getting quality games at FIFA official level, OK, this list includes Willie Collum, but, he's not the worst. Hampden, you have a refereeing problem - deal with it.

 

I fancy this fairly-average Celtic team could yet complete a domestic Treble, but, to do this, they have to get past Inverness Caledonian Thistle, who have previous against them in the Scottish Cup. Interesting.

 

 

 

WHILE Cetic were advancing, the pain has gone on for Ra Peepul across the city. I am now coming to the conclusion, another season in the Championship might be no bad thing for the RTA. It might give them time to become, at some point in the future, a real Rangers team.

 

 

 

JUST a thought - what does Gary Locke have to do to be taken seriously as a quality football manager?

 

His thanks for some good work at Hearts last season was to be shown the door. He then returned to Kilmarnock, where he has done none too badly in his few weeks in charge, since succeeding Alan Johnston.

 

Gary surely deserves a chance to show what he can do over a full season or two. 

 

 

Jelly And Ice Cream At The Ready Bhoys

ONE down - two to go would appear to be received wisdom following Celtic's win in today's League Cup Final, at Hampden. I still believe this current squad is, by Celtic standards, a fairly-average bunch of players, but, having said that, they are heading a league of probably less-than-average players in a poor league, and I cannot see them missing-out on all three domestic prizes.

 

So, the League and Scottish Cup are probably now, Celtic's to lose, rather than anyone else's to win; I see no reason why the longed-for Treble cannot be achieved.

 

After the shambles of last week's Scottish Cup tie at Tannadice, a red card was always on the card, and duly arrived. Thankfully, this time round, the match officials didn't come-in for heavy criticism and the controversial decisions probably evened themselves out. Nothing to see here - please move along.

 

 

 

MESSAGE for Stuart McCall - if you didn't know the size of the job you were taking-on at Ibrox - well, ye ken noo.

 

The way things are continuing to go at Ibrox, it maybe wasn't a new manager the club needed, but, an exorcist.

 

 

 

I DO not normally watch Match of the Day. I've generally got better things to do at that time on a Saturday night, ditto when it comes to the Sunday morning repeat, prior to the Andrew Marr Show.

 

But, with ra Burd otherwise engaged on Saturday night - being treated to a Mother's Day weekend by her daughter, and, still down after that poor show at Twickenham earlier in the day, I decided to watch last night.

 

I am glad I did, because we, the viewers, were treated to a cracking goal from George Boyd, a guy I have always felt ought to have a few more Scotland caps than he has. Boydie's low volley past Joe Hart from the edge of the box was a thing of beauty - as well as a coupon-buster. There cannot have been many outwith Burnley who fancied them to beat the City billionaires.

 

But, good though Boyd's goal was, it was nothing compared to the 40-yarder fired home by QPR's Phillips, which left ex-Dundee 'keeper Julian Speroni clutching fresh air. James McArthur also scored a cracker in the same game.

 

Then there was some glorious stuff from Arsenal in their match. At times, their passing was almost on a par with Barcelona at their best. Mind you, it wasn't all vintage football - if those were the highlights of Leicester v Hull, most of the match must have been gash. I know a couple of Rangers' fans who switched off in disgust.

 

 

 

IN case you blinked and missed it, Auchinleck Talbot are through to yet another Scottish Junior Cup semi-final. Holders Hurlford United are still there, their quarter-final will be played on Saturday, but, the smart money is on Talbot regaining possession of the magnificent trophy.

 

 

 

 

  

Is There To Be No End To Rangers' Fans' Suffering?

TRY as one might to move-on, to perhaps discuss the wider world of Scottish football, events in Edmiston Drive, an everyday story of bigotry and bad management keep dragging one back.

 

The appointment of Stuart McCall as the new manager should have been a Good News Story for the beleaguered Ibrox club; Sandy Easdale's resignation, was another plus event, a definite bonus for the new board. But, just when it looked good for the Kingsmen, up popped Chris Graham, with all the subtlety of a Lee McCulloch late challenge - and they were back to being the Bad News Bears.

 

I don't know Mr Graham. I don't do Twitter etc, so I am not one of his many "followers" (in his case, ought that not be "follow followers"?), so I a loath to comment or condemn. However, what I will say is: to see a prominent personality associated with that club in trouble for anti-Islamic comments is a whole new departure - after (allegedly) over a century of anti-Catholic prejudice on the part of Ra Peepul.

 

The notion of having at least one non-executive director who is a genuine supporter from the cheaper seats is a good and laudable one. However, Mr Graham is seen as a divisive figure by some of the many "ludges" or Rangers supporters, so, maybe he wasn't the ideal choice.

 

I am old enough to remember the Rangers Supporters Rallies of the 1960s, reported-on, some might say lovingly, by the Lap Top Loyal from the papers of the day. Back then, Ra Peepul gave the impression of being a united army, with common cause.

 

In recent years, that once united support has split into various sects and sub-sects, a sort of Scottish version of the People's Front For Judea and the Judean People's Front.

 

I felt, all through the uproar and ructions of the Murray sale, the Whyte and Green juntas, had Ra Peepul been united and well-led, a lot of the unpleasantness around their club could have been avoided.

 

Now, with "Real Rangers Men" back in-charge and the support hoping for brighter days ahead, these splits and differences continue to haunt them.

 

When will it all end?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stuart McCall For Ibrox - Who'd Have Thunked It

SO, Stuart McCall is the new Rangers' manager - at least until the end of the season. Well, I never saw that one coming!!!

McCall was always one of the favourites for this particular gig. His appointment at least eases Kenny McDowall's obvious pain. "Koj" has done a job he never sought, or even wanted, to the best of his ability - but, it simply wasn't working.

It is understood that McCall will be bringing Kenny Black to Ibrox with him as Assistant Manager. "Gentile", as he was known in his Ibrox days, will be another good appointment, but, I do hope Rangers can keep McDowall at the club in a role where he is far more comfortable and more-effective than he could ever be as manager, and send him back to Youth Development.

"Koj" is one of those guys who is a much-better backroom man than a manager. However, it is to be hoped the new regime will be a bit more encouraging of youth than has been the case at Rangers over the past 30-years.

Prior to the Souness revolution, Rangers - while they had always been a buying club - did have a functioning youth development culture. Take arguably the best Rangers team of the post-World War II to the Souness Revolution era, the Treble-winning 1964 squad: Ritchie, Shearer, Caldow, Greig, McKinnon, Baxter, Henderson, McMillan, Millar, Brand and Wilson. Only Bobby Shearer, the sublime Jim Bater, "the Wee Prime Minister", Ian McMillan and Jimmy Millar were bought-in, the other seven were home-grown.

The club has also never been slow to cherry-pick the best of the other Scottish clubs: such Rangers icons as Alan Morton, Bob McPhail, Jock "Tiger" Shaw, the afore-mentioned Baxter, Colin Stein and Davie Cooper were plucked from lesser Scottish sides. Celtic too, were never slow to take-on players who had caught the eye with the lesser lights.

Rangers also, used to have a penchant for professionalising the best products of Queen's Park - think of the likes of Bobby Brown, Ian McColl and Willie Woodburn from the Treble-winning "Iron Curtain" side of 1949.

Of course, with the greater riches on-offer in England today; there is not the same cachet about singing for Rangers, although "Rangers-daft" young players will still take the plunge. In fact it may be that, if and when Rangers get back to offering a genuine challenge to Celtic domestically, and even begin to make the knock-out stages of the Champions' League, they may become a selling club.

However, I hope the new regime manages to avoid the pit-falls of continuing down the "spend, spend, spend" route, perhaps in a rush for the instant gratification of a return to the top-flight, and, perhaps begin a bit of grass-roots development.

Some of "Ra Peepul" will not like it. They feel their club has an entitlement to be at the top in Scotland. Perhaps a longer, slower retrenchment is the safer option.

Of course, how the club moves forward under the new regime depends to a great extent on what they find when Mr King and his court open the books. What they find therein will determine how the club gets back to the top.

I can see some unpleasant skeletons emerging in the weeks ahead.

New Boss Bounce

I ENJOYED Monday night's BBC broadcast of the Manchester United v Arsenal FA Cup quarter-final. For once the match lived up to the hype, this was a very good game, with excitement at both ends.

I would not have minded, had United taken the tie to a replay, but, as us so often the case in football, an ex-player came back to bite the losers on the bum. I have to say, Danny Welbeck took that crucial chance well, to score the winner, but, that pass-back is a mistake which will haunt Valencia for a long time.

I don't particularly buy into the belief that Van Gaal is some kind of super manager. Yes, he has a good record, with a lot of big clubs, but, he hasn't had the immediate effect on United which I think the Glazers hoped for when they recruited him.

He may well get United back into next season's Champions League - although they will surely have to go through at least one qualifying round to get into the group stages. He will certainly get them into the Europa League - but, if his remit was to have the Reds back right at the sharp end in England, well, he has failed.

THIS concept of the new boss bounce is often commented on in football. I was thinking of this, this week, when, scandalously in my opinion, the mainstream media in Scotland failed to acknowledge a significant anniversary.

Because, it was 50 years ago yesterday, on Monday, 9 March, 1965, that Jock Stein walked back through the front door of Celtic Park as the club's new manager. He was only the fourth man to hold that post, and, although this fact is not as relevant today as it appeared back then, the first Protestant to hold the post.

His return to the club he had captained with distinction during the previous decade followed success at Dunfermline Athletic and Hibs was a case of Celtic hoping this young, winning manager, could bring back the good times.

Celtic had won nothing for just short of seven-and-a-half-years, since their memorable 7-1 win over Rangers in the 1957 League Cup final. The SFA's engravers hadn't had to put Celtic on the Scottish Cup plinth since 1954, while the guy who did the engraving for the Scottish League hadn't had to get the club's name correct since the same year, when, significantly, Stein had captained Celtic to that double.

In the League, the years since 1954 had seen decline and stagnation: second in 1955, fifth in 1956, fifth again in 1957, third in 1958, sixth in 1959, ninth in 1960, fourth in 1961, third in 1962, fourth again in 1963, third in 1964.

When Stein took over, they were languishing in fifth place in the table - they would eventually finish eighth.

Their Scottish Cup record was slightly better. They had lost to Clyde after a replay in the 1955 final. A year later, they were back at Hampden, but, again on the losing side, to Hearts. There was another runners-up spot in 1961 - as Stein led Dunfermline to their maiden Scottish Cup victory, then, in 1963, after a replay, they lost the first Old Firm Scottish Cup final since 1928.

Celtic had become serial under-achievers in the League Cup, since their back-to-back triumphs in 1956 and 1957. Certainly, they had lost to Rangers in the 1964-65 season final, back in October.

They had also made no impact in the ten seasons of European club competitions, not even qualifying for Europe until 1962-63.

Even in the Scottish League, in the 10 seasons since their 1954 Leaguen, Celtic had only once finished above Rangers - in 1956 - and in only six of the seasons had they been the second force in Glasgow, behind their great rivals.

Celtic needed a new boss bounce, and, to a certain extent, Stein provided it, as he guided the club to Scottish Cup success. Certainly, in predecessor Jimmy McGrory's final game in charge, Celtic had beaten eventual League Champions Kilmarnock 3-2, to clinch a semi-final place.

Stein's team required a replay to get past Motherwell in that semi-final, before Billy McNeill came-up with a wonderful headed goal to take them past Dunfermline in the final, to clinch Stein's first trophy as Celtic manager.

By winning a trophy in his first six and a bit weeks as boss, Stein certainly began to turn things around, however, the myth that he walked through the door and, immediately, everything changed, doesn't quite stack-up.

He took over a team in fifth spot, perhaps the cup campaign proved a distraction, but, they slumped to finish eighth.

However, in those weeks in the spring of 1965, Stein really began to turn things around. He changed the training regime, perhaps most-importantly, he converted Bobby Murdoch from an average inside forward to a great wing half, and paired him in central midfield with Bertie Auld, setting-up the creative pairing which would drive the club to glory in Lisbon.

The squad he took over included ten of the 11 Lisbon Lions, indeed, the first Celtic team he sent out included seven of that stellar XI.

Stein's Celtic reign lasted until 1978. During this period he led the club to ten Scottish League wins, eight Scottish Cups, six League Cups and that legendary European Cup win in1967, plus another final in 1970, a semi-final place in 1974 and a semi-final place in the European Cup-Winners Cup in 1966.

Now, that's what you call a new boss bounce - one which keeps going.   

At Least - Yesrterday We Were Talking About A Game

JINGS, crivvens, help ma Boab - as they apparently say in Dundee; that was some game at Tannadice yesterday. There was enough incident to keep the mainstream football press going for a week, and, with another three games between yesterday's warring factions coming-up in the next week or three, we may have to deploy UN peace-keepers by the end of the run.

 

The game wasn't the best afternoon the refereeing team on duty has had. Leaving aside the blindingly-obvious case of mistaken identity at the double sending-off, the "Was it or was it not a dive" debate around the United penalty was enough to keep the public bar lawyers debating until the series of games between the sides reconvenes on Sunday.

 

Leaving aside all the debatable points, my overwhelming view of the match was this: if ever a single football match demonstrated the need for football to embrace TV technology, it was this one. However, in saying this, I hope, when TV match officials and-or tennis/cricket-style challenges are introduced, and that day is surely coming, I do hope they take one idea from American Football, where TV referrals have been used for years. That is - the review is carried-out in real time, rather than, as happens in rugby, by multi-angle super-slo-mo. These sorts of forensic reviews, in my view, cause as much bother as they defuse.

 

Coming as it did so-soon after St Johnstone's win at Celtic Park, this result demonstrates, yet again, this Celtic team isn't a great one. It would be marvellous for Ronnie Deila and his men, were they to win a domestic Treble this season, but, in my view they are not a squad worthy of such recognition.

 

 

 

THE Tannadice game certainly came close to spiking the guns of the other half of the Bigot Brothers, who were looking for some good headlines, on the back of the King Over The Water's triumphant return to claim the throne, even if, he may yet be forced to accept a regency, once the SFA's "Great and Good" debate his fitness to run things at Ibrox.

 

It didn't help the feel-good factor down Edmiston Drive way that the Rangers Tribute Act couldn't even buy a goal at Central Park. I can just see Donald Findlay and Jimmy Nicholl, like Dick Dastardly and Muttley, sneaking away sniggering on Saturday night.

 

King & Co are quite right to be attempting to play down the expectations of Ra Peepul. So, their club is now back in the hands of "Real Rangers Men", for perhaps the first time in half a century - I was never that convinced of the credentials of the Lawrences - but, the current squad is so-poor, a longer period in the Championship to get the team better equipped to mount a real Premiership challenge might be no bad thing.

 

One thing is certain, if they do things: "The Rangers Way" and throw good money after bad, there will be more and maybe greater pain some ways down the track. The re-building process may be long and difficult, but, if it is not done correctly, further catastrophe lies ahead.

 

I noticed an interesting wee story in the papers this morning. Apparently, the idea of making Rangers a "feeder" side for Newcastle United has been discussed. Now Newcastle has been a sleeping giant in England for yonks. They haven't won the English League since 1927 - when Hughie Gallacher was their main man; the FA Cup since 1955 - when "Wor Jackie" Milburn was their icon, and their only European trophy, The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup was harvested in 1969, with Bobby Moncur as skipper.

 

Sorry, United are a big English club; they have, for my money, the most-loyal and put-upon fans in the UK.  Right now, Newcastle United, backed as they are by the English Premiership's billions, are a bigger club than the Rangers Tribute Act. But, a well-run Rangers, winning the Scottish Premiership and competing regularly in Europe, would be, notwithstanding the obscene cash-generating imbalance of the Premiership, a bigger club than United.

 

 

 

I AM delighted to see Brian McClair back in Scotland as the new SFA Youth Development Chief. He has done sterling work over many years, at Manchester United, he is a footballer whose brains are in his head, he has the medals and caps to show when needed. I wish him well.

 

I first saw McClair play in his Motherwell days, and I recall one afternoon at Ibrox, during John Greig's unhappy tenure as manager there. Things were so-bad for Rangers then (though not as bad as what is happening with the RTA today), that Andy Cameron was telling a joke about a severe design fault in what was then the newly re-developed Ibrox. The design fault was: "They had the seats facing the pitch".

 

Any way, Rangers had limped to an unconvincing 1-0 win over a Jock Wallace-managed 'Well team, which deserved, at the very least, to have gone away from Ibrox with a draw. The ineptitude of the Rangers team had been brilliantly summed-up by an exasperated Doug Baillie, throwing down his pen and declaiming, as the latest "Next Big Rangers Thing" fluffed yet-another open-goal chance: "See him, he'll still be a proamising boay when he's 30".

 

We trotted down from the old roof-top Ibrox press box and into the media room - it was actually a room, dominated by a full-size table tennis table, groaning under the weight of drink which Rangers thoughtfully provided for the thirsty press corps.

 

Big Greig, worn-down by the cares of management, came in, mumbled his plea in mitigation then left, leaving the floor to Wallace.

 

I remarked on the quality of "young McClair's" performance and asked Big Jock what he had thought of it.

 

"Wur ye a centre furrit yersel son?" He enquired.

 

"No, a goalie", I replied.

 

"Guid son, so wis Ah", said Wallace.

 

"I know Mr Wallace, I saw you play, I wasn't impressed", I foolishly retorted.

 

"Ya cheeky bastard", he spluttered, before punching me, playfully on the shoulder. Then, seeing the rest of the press corps laughing, he smiled, ascertained which paper I was representing and told me.

 

"Keep saying things like that and you'll go far son".

 

I always had a lot of time for Jock Wallace after that. He was also correct, when he did answer my question, by forecasting a very big future for "Young McClair".   

The Diddy Men Strike Back

WELL - I didn't see that one coming; St Johnstone going to Celtic Park and winning. Of course, I am an old hot-metal journalist, programmed to accept the superiority of either one of the Bigot Brothers when they have home advantage over one of the "Diddy" teams.

 

But, as we have seen, time and again, the old certainties no longer apply. This Celtic team might top the league, but, they are a long-way removed from being a Good Celtic team, and, as such, there will be nights such as Wednesday's, when they trip on a banana skin.

 

Maybe too, we ought to give our "Diddy" teams a bit more respect. The Premiership, as currently set-up, is a more-competitive league than maybe we give it credit for and certainly, results such as last night's are to be welcomed by all those without an agenda slewed towards the status quo.

 

At least, Saints winning in Glasgow diverted some media attention away from the latest plot line in the Edmiston Drive soap opera.

 

Mind you, with the King over the water seemingly set for an Ibrox coronation, sooner rather than later, followed by an invitation to: "Come up and see us - soon" from Peter Lawwell and his cyphers on the SFA board, there might not be as smooth a transfer of power as Ra Peepul would wish for.

 

And, that's before we find-out just what Mike Ashley has in mind. I see no reason to deviate from my firm assertion, events around the club playing out of Ibrox will continue to be a nice little earner for m'learned friends, for a wee while yet.

 

Also, one wonders which other skeletons will come tumbling out of the Ibrox cupboards once the Kings' men begin opening them.

 

We surely do live in interesting times.

 

 

 

MEANWHILE, as I feared they might back in 2012, now the chancers who run the Football Association have seen what goes on in that ultimate sporting gravy train, the Olympic Games, there is no chance of them treating the 2012 Olympic football campaign of Team GB as the one-off it was supposed to be.

 

Cue the usual howls of outrage from Hampden and Cardiff. Leaving aside the objections of the Welsh FA, who couldn't wait to jump on the London bandwagon in 2012, I refer the Hampden "blazers" to a point which this blog has made before.

 

This is, they have only themselves, or to be precise, their predecessors, to blame for England deciding to press ahead with Olympic Games teams. Back in (I think) 1906, when the British Olympic Association was formed, and football, the sport, was asked to become involved - the SFA, and their Welsh and Irish colleagues stood back and left it to the (English) FA, to represent football on that body - the BOA, which is the UK arm of the International Olympic committee.

 

Had football, like every other Olympic sport - even curling, which is barely played on these islands outside Scotland - formed a pan-British organisation, affiliated to the BOA and through it to the IOC, then we wouldn't have the current problems.

 

Of course, for most of the years between 1906 and 2012, leaving it all to the FA didn't really matter. Up until 1972, which was the last year in which UK football, particularly in England, differentiated between "amateur" and "professional" football, the FA left the organisation of the UK's Olympic football campaigns, the last of which was mounted in 1972, to the (English) Amateur FA. Certainly Scotland participated: Matt Busby managed the team for the 1948 London games, in which Ronnie Simpson was one of a handful of Scots in the GB team, while another future Scotland cap, David Holt, played in the 1960 Rome Olympics, the last game for which Team GB qualified prior to their "host team" entry in 2012.

 

The trouble was, the Scottish Amateur FA, for which read the Queen's Park committee, were never 100% behind the Olympics. Queen's Park players would be pulled out of Olympic qualifying squads if needed for a Second Division match. Our lack of interest and lukewarm involvement has now come back to haunt us.

 

The SFA always plays the independence card, parroting: "Participation in a Team GB squad might impinge on Scotland's international football independence."

 

Given the occasional squeals from overseas, the now disgraced Jack Warner for instance, was a particularly vociferous critic of there being four independent football countries within the UK, they might have cause to worry.

 

However, I cannot see UEFA, which has admitted such football "giants" as San Marino, Andorra and Gibraltar into membership, agreeing to the amalgamation of the four "Mother Associations" into one UKFA.

 

Yes, such a move might gain UEFA some of the four Home Nations' seats on IFAV, the International Football Associations Board, but, I cannot honestly see UEFA forcing England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to amalgamate any time soon.

I further accept, the three Celtic nations risk becoming fringe players in what will be a mainly English programme, but, as a bridge between Under-21 and full internationals, the mainly Under-23 Olympic team has a place in football, and, we cannot simply accept, most of the good young players are English.

For instance, arguably the two Scots in the 2012 Team GB were the most-influential players.

However, it still comes back to the fact, at the moment is is England's ball. IF, and it is a big if, the three Celtic nations could persuade the FA to cede control of Olympic football in these islands to a newly-constituted UKFootball Federation, charged soley to run the Olympic Games programme, then I would have no objections to Team GB having football teams in Brazil and beyond.

If, however, such a new body cannot be formed, if England inists on running things, then the SFA and their Northern Irish and Welsh colleagues, MUST pursue every avenue to prevent further Olympic Games programmes in football.