I PROBABLY spend more time than I should, and that is good for me, on-line, reading the comments on a couple of pro-indendence political websites. These are the home of those genuinely interested in politics, and in particular whether or not Scotland should be independent, the occasional pro-unionist troll, and, the political anoraks. Well, it keeps us/them off the streets.
One of the mainstays of such sites, a weel-kent Scottish broadcaster, in his latest post, touched on the thorny subject of the Scottish Football Hall of Fame - and Ally MacLeods absence from its alumni.
I have no connection with the SFHOF. I annually submit a couple of names for consideration, and, I know one or two of the journalists on the selection committee. I think it is a fine concept, but, I occasionally wonder at some selections, which definitely show which journalists are in the Lap Top Loyal, and which are not.
Induction to the SFHOF is made by a selection committee, so, immediately you have such a body, personal prejudices come into play. There are one or two guys in there whom I feel have been inducted before their time, while there are, in my opinion, one or two glaring omissions from the ranks of the inducted.
For instance Scotland's greatest feat by a club XI - Celtic's victory by the Lisbon Lions, over Inter Milan, to win the European Cup in 1967 has helped propel seven Lions: Ronnie Simpson, Tommy Gemmell, Bobby Murdoch, Billy McNeill, Jimmy Johnstone, Bertie Auld and Bobby Lennox into the SFHOF. No argument from me on these individual players' right to be in there, but - this magnificent victory was won by 11 Celtic players. They won as a team, so, in my view all 11 ought to be in there. The missing four: Jim Craig, John Clark, goal-scorer Stevie Chalmers and Willie Wallace all played just as big a part, and in Chalmers' case, more of a part, than the other seven.
Yes, we laud magnificent individuals, but, football is a team game and induction should reflect this. All 11 ought to be in there.
Similarly, Hughie Gallacher, Alex James and Alan Morton, who would have worn numbers nine, ten and eleven, had numbers been worn when the Wembley Wizards were tearing England apart back in 1928, in what is still considered Scotland's finest international display, are in the SFHOF. But where are the guys who would have wonr numbers one to eight?
No sign of skipper Jimmy McMullan, one of Scotland's greatest captains. What of Alec Jackson, who scored a hat-trick in Scotland's 5-1 win. What of Jack Harkness, not merely the goalkeeper, but, in later life one of Scotland's leading football writers? I reckon these players have a better case for inclusion than some already there, and, if they get in, so too should the other "Wizards", full-backs Nelson and Law, half-backs Gibson and Bradshaw and inside-right Pat Dunn.
One or two who are in the HOF, got in because they were seen as "entertainers". They didn't have a great international record, their club form was erratic, but, when they were "hot", they entertained us.
Well, Ally MacLeod doesn't have a managerial record, at club or international level, to rival those of the giants of Scottish football management - Struth, Stein, Shankly, Busby and Ferguson, but, during his short spell as Scotland boss - Ally made us feel good about ourselves, he put a smile on the face of Scottish football, and, he gave one or two of the veteran journalists who sit in judgement as to who gets into the SFHOF some bloody good copy.
That in my view is a better case for inclusion than can be put forward for some who are already in.
I am something of a football history buff. I think that makes me more qualified than some already on the selection panel, to have a say in who gets in.
I want to see Bob Gardner of Queen's Park - Scotland's very first internationalist and captain, Tom Vallance of Rangers, Dr John Smith of Edinburgh University, Alec Raisbeck of Liverpool, Charlie Thomson of Hearts and the afore-mentioned Wembley Wizards, particularly McMullan and Jackson, inducted fairly soon. Their exclusion is an embarrassment to the selection committee.
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