Socrates MacSporran

Socrates MacSporran
No I am not Chick Young, but I can remember when Scottish football was good

Saturday 18 November 2017

Forget It Celtic - These Are The Greatest Fans In The World

THE “Celtic Family” branded themselves as: “The Greatest Fans In The World”, I laughed. Because the GFITW title, for my money, rightly resides some miles south of the Tweed Estuary.

"Wor Jackie" Milburn - Newcastle have won very little since his 1950s glory days

Newcastle United have not won the FA Cup since 1955, when Jackie Milburn put them in front with a first-minute goal. They have not been Champions of England, by winning the League – in their case the old First Division, in 1927. They have one major European trophy to their name, when they won the old Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1969, although they did win the Intertoto Cup outright in 200 and the Anglo-Italian Cup in 1973, before winning back-to-back Texaco Cups in 1974 and 1975, in the days of Bobby Moncur.

Sunderland last won the English League in 1936. They won the FA Cup the following year, under the captaincy of Raich Carer, since when, apart from 1973, when Ian Porterfield's goal saw off Leeds United in one of the great FA Cup upsets, and thus won Sunderland the BBC's Team of the Year trophy, they have won zilch.

Mind you, Sunderland were “World Champions” in 1895, when they beat Hearts 5-3 at Tynecastle, in surely the only football World Championship decider in which everyone on the park, 22 payers, plus referee and linesmen were Scottish. But, when you have to put that triumph on your Wikipedia entry, it's a sure sign of little success.

Ian Porterfield (left, half-hidden by Norman Hunter) beats David Harvey to win the FA Cup for Sundrland in the 1973 final - the club's last genuine big win.

However, in spite of such a paucity of real trophies to celebrate, both clubs continue to attract huge followings; a sure sign of a passion for football – either that or their following of two so-unsuccessful clubs, plus the North East of England region's overwhelming vote for Brexit is proof positive of collective lunacy.

But, you have to contend, the Geordies and the Makems, have more-right to be considered as the UK's contenders in any Greatest Fans In The World competition. I remember, when working in England in the 1970s, driving from London back to my then home in Yorkshire, back up the M1, and seeing a steady stream of coaches, laden with the Toon Army, heading south for games at Cambridge United, Leyton Orient, Luton and Millwall, when, in their minds, they should be taking-on Real Madrid, the Milan club or Bayern Munich. That's a dedication in the face of adversity the Celtic Family or the We Are The People supremacists across Glasgow will never have to face.

So, I wish Chris Coleman all the very best as he leaves his job as Manager of Wales, for the storm-tossed waters of the Stadium of Light and the Sunderland job – he will need it. Coleman did a great job as Welsh boss. Football has long played second fiddle to Rugby Union in the Valleys, but, Coleman, helped by coming to the job just as the finest crop of Welsh football talent in over half a century – Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and Co, came to maturity, did a wonderful job in Wales.

Chris Coleman - has taken on a huge job, and, an even bigger gamble

But, giving credibility to Welsh football is nothing compared to the kudos he will receive if he can get the Black Cats back to the Premier League and even, in time, into Europe and contending for the major honours.

As can be seen from the list of those who failed, managing Sunderland has become something of a poisoned chalice, let's hope Coleman is given the time it will take to turn this club around.



WITH the Sunderland job taken, there remain but two poisoned chalices to pick-up, the vacancies at Hampden and Ibrox. Well, getting those positions filled will keep the stenographers busy right up to Christmas, and probably beyond.

Michael O'Neill is favourite to succeed WGS. By the way, did the SFA put a “gagging” clause on the wee ginger whinger? I'd have expected such a proven caustic critic to be back on the Match of the Day sofa before now. Any way, back to O'Neill.

His comparative success with Northern Ireland has caught the eye of the Hampden suits, and, I reckon he would be as good a choice as any for the Scotland job, given that, for as long as the system is as fatally-flawed as is Scottish football, nobody will ever have the tools to take Scotland to where the SFA and the fans think we should be. But, a man can try.

 Graeme Murty - I somehow think this might be quite a regular feeling

As for the Rangers job. Well, what can we say? The reality is, the club is skint, dependant on the generosity of some directors and well-heeled fans for the funds to keep the lights on and things ticking-over. The playing squad is overflowing with under-achieving dead wood which has to be got rid of. There is an overwhelming sense of entitlement on the terraces – We are Rangers, we should be winning every week.

It's an impossible to square circle. A wee bit of honesty from the men at the top of the marble staircase, and a lot more commitment and effort from the players is required. No sensible, big-name manager will go near Rangers. Sure, from afar it looks like a great gig, but, once the due diligence starts, and provided any applicant gets honest answers from the men in charge, things change.

You know, Graeme Murty has the ball at the moment. If he can get them into second spot, challenge Celtic, even beat them at least once this season – Ibrox, if not the world, is his oyster.



AND FINALLY, good luck to the teams competing in today's William Hill Scottish Cup, third round ties. In particular, I will be thinking of my local village team, the mighty Glenafton Athletic, who travel to face Championship high-flyers Livingston at Almondvale.

The Glenafton Party Army in full cry, as they will be this afternoon at Livingston 

On paper, Livi should win, but, they will find out this afternoon, the Glen can play a wee bit and I hope my big neighbour Alex, and the rest of the Afton Party Army enjoy their day out, which win or lose they will.

The Glen, by the way, have already had a win in this tie, with Livi reducing the cost of entry. Well done that club.

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