It's Not All About the Old Firm

Scott Burns

Description

It's Not All About The Old Firm tells the inside stories of some of the Scottish game's greatest achievements - how heroes and legends have overcome the odds, plus Celtic and Rangers. It covers every league title, European, Scottish Cup and League Cup victory from Sir Alex Ferguson's time at Aberdeen to the most recent Hampden wins. Aberdeen and St Mirren's League Cup wins are brought back to life along with the landmark triumphs of St Johnstone, Inverness, Ross County and Hibs' historic 2016 Scottish Cup win. History makers such as Willie Miller, Steven Fletcher, Rudi Skacel, Gordon Dalziel, Stevie Kirk, David Goodwillie and Ian Ferguson offer insights into their greatest footballing moments. This updated edition includes a whole new batch of heroes such as Stephen Thompson, Stevie MacLean, Graeme Shinnie, Adam Rooney, Jim McIntyre and Alan Stubbs. From the goals and glory to the behind-the-scenes stories - from haunted hotels, and dressing-room bust-ups to betting scandals and personal heartbreak.

Sujets

• Escocia
• History of sport
• Scotland

Informations

• Publié par: Pitch Publishing Ltd
• Date de parution: 02 octobre 2017
• Nombre de lectures: 1
• EAN13: 9781909178076
• Langue: English

Extrait

First published by Pitch Publishing, 2017
Pitch Publishing
A2 Yeoman Gate
Yeoman Way
Durrington
BN13 3QZ
www.pitchpublishing.co.uk
Scott Burns, 2017
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the Publisher.
A CIP catalogue record is available for this book from the British Library
Print ISBN 978-1-78531-317-2 eBook ISBN 978-1-90917-807-6
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DEDICATION
TO DAD ( THOMAS GOURLAY BURNS 1948-2009 ) like so many people in this book an inspiration to everyone around him.
THE Old Firm. Rangers and Celtic, as historical statistics point out, are Scottish football. Every now and again a short threat to their predominance will occur but these challenges are rarely maintained. As far as my thinking was concerned, to win anything you had to beat the Old Firm. SIR ALEX FERGUSON
(*an extract from his book A Light In The North - Seven Years At Aberdeen by Alex Ferguson. Mainstream Publishing 1985)
INTRODUCTION
AS A sports journalist in Scotland I know only too well that when it comes to football that Celtic and Rangers dominate the majority of our sports pages and headlines. Every time you turn on a radio phone-in, a television programme or even click on a Scottish football website you know you are guaranteed 100 per cent saturated coverage of the Glasgow giants.
It is a constant sense of irritation to most fans who don t follow or have allegiances to Celtic or Rangers. There is a general feeling among other supporters that their clubs don t get a fair crack of the whip, knowing fine that an Old Firm injury story is likely to take precedence over a new signing at any other club. Sports editors and producers argue that they have to go with the Old Firm because they have the biggest fan bases and therefore are the main markets.
Yet, Scottish football is not all about two clubs. Some of the greatest achievements the game has seen have come from non-Old Firm teams.
I have been lucky enough to witness some of them and others I have watched from afar, from Aberdeen lifting the European Cup Winners Cup and Dundee United winning the Scottish Premier Division title to Hearts and Hibs lifting the Scottish Cup.
I was throwing a few ideas around one night when I said to my wife, Amanda: Do you think it would be a good idea to do a book of non-Old Firm success stories? It was hardly a surprise that I got a positive response from my better half, who comes from a staunch Aberdeen-supporting family.
There have been hundreds of success stories but I knew it would be near impossible to cover them all.
The likes of Hibs, Hearts, Dunfermline and Dundee have all had their golden generations but it was, arguably, in the 1980s that, thanks to the New Firm, Aberdeen and Dundee United, a brand new era in the Scottish game was spawned.
I still remember being subjected to the VHS recordings (video tapes for the benefit of the younger generation) of Aberdeen s various domestic and European successes when I headed to my Auntie Lorna s home for the summer holidays. I loved my football but I wasn t a Dons fan and at that time it felt like torture.
Now I look back on some of Aberdeen s achievements under Sir Alex Ferguson and they are right up there at the pinnacle of the Scottish game.
I, as a Motherwell fan, also stood on the Hampden terraces to watch my team lift the 1991 Scottish Cup. I have been back to a few other finals as a fan but I am still waiting to see my side lift another trophy.
To a lot of supporters it really is a once in a lifetime moment, to see your team win silverware.
The fans of Livingston and Raith Rovers will vouch for that while the likes of Hearts, St Mirren, Hibs and Kilmarnock have had more success than others.
Aberdeen and Dundee United fans have, maybe, been a bit spoiled for choice, along with St Johnstone and Highland rivals Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Ross County winning their first major trophies.
So I decided to charter every success from Sir Alex Ferguson s days at Pittodrie up to Hibernian finally ending their historic 114-year wait to get their hands on the Scottish Cup.
I know that many of these stories have been told before a million times or more and that was why I decided to try and do something different by writing this book through the words of the legends and heroes who helped make so many dreams become reality.
It was a privilege and a pleasure to speak to so many good people and for those I didn t interview I can only apologise. There were other players who proved more evasive than they were in the playing days - but I am glad the majority of people involved were more than happy to help.
I hope you enjoy the book and it brings back a few unforgettable memories and who knows, hopefully there will be a few more chapters that can be written over the coming years, like Aberdeen, St Mirren, St Johnstone, Ross County, Inverness and Hibernian have shown since this book was first published.
SCOTT BURNS
Sports writer with the Scottish Daily Express
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The author would like to thank Alan Burrows, Malcolm Panton, Jeff Holmes, Ian Dawson, Greg McEwan, Paul Kiddie, Paul Smith, Charlie Duddy, Scott Fisher and Clive Hart for their help and assistance in making so many of these interviews possible.
I would also like to put on the record my appreciation to Stuart Darroch, Kevin Stirling, Shuggy Falconer, Graeme MacPherson, Graham Barnstaple, Mark Donaldson, David Hardie and Scott Davie for casting their expert eye over some of their favoured subjects.
Also on the photographic front I would like to thank Willie Vass and Eric McCowat for their top-quality pictures that more than tell the stories on their own. I also have to extend my gratitude to Ian Dawson at the Daily Express picture desk for all his assistance, as well as the use of the Express s cuttings library.
Also last and not least I would like to say a massive thank you to all the players, managers and coaches who made this book possible by sharing so many top and personal memories. Without you this book would never have happened.
CONTENTS
Chapter 1 ABERDEEN GOVAN S FINEST HERALDS A BRIGHT NEW DON
The 1979-80 Scottish Premier Division title winners.
Contributions from: Joe Harper, Bobby Clark, Mark McGhee, Gordon Strachan, Alex McLeish, Doug Rougvie, Willie Miller, Dougie Bell, Andy Watson and Jim Leighton.
Chapter 2 ABERDEEN LOCAL HEROES AND SCOTTISH CUP GLORY
The 1981-82 Scottish Cup winners.
Contributions from: Gordon Strachan, Jim Leighton, Neil Simpson, Alex McLeish, Mark McGhee, Neale Cooper, John Hewitt and Dougie Bell.
Chapter 3 DUNDEE UNITED CHAMPIONS AND THEN CHEATED OF EURO SUCCESS
The 1982-83 Scottish Premier Division title winners.
Contributions from: Jim McLean, Eammon Bannon, Maurice Malpas, Paul Hegarty, Richard Gough, Paul Sturrock, Billy Kirkwood, Hamish McAlpine and Ralph Milne.
Chapter 4 ABERDEEN THE GOTHENBURG GREATS
The 1982-83 European Cup Winners Cup winners.
Contributions: Mark McGhee, Eric Black, John Hewitt, Jim Leighton, Neil Simpson, Gordon Strachan, Dougie Bell, Alex McLeish, Neale Cooper, Ian Angus, Doug Rougvie and Willie Miller.
Chapter 5 ABERDEEN FERGIE S FURY AT HIS HAMPDEN HEROES
The 1982-83 Scottish Cup winners.
Contributions from: Neil Simpson, Neale Cooper, John Hewitt, Jim Leighton, Mark McGhee, Eric Black, Alex McLeish and Gordon Strachan.
Chapter 6 ABERDEEN THE SUPER TREBLE
The 1983-84 European Super Cup, Scottish Premier Division and Scottish Cup winners.
Contributions from: Eric Black, Jim Leighton, Billy Stark, Doug Rougvie, Neale Cooper, Willie Miller, Dougie Bell, Neil Simpson, Mark McGhee, Gordon Strachan, John Hewitt, Alex McLeish and Steve Cowan.
Chapter 7 ABERDEEN THE NEW-LOOK CHAMPIONS
The 1984-85 Scottish Premier Division winners.
Contributions from: Willie Miller, Jim Leighton, Billy Stark, Frank McDougall, John Hewitt, Neil Simpson and Steve Cowan.
Chapter 8 ABERDEEN FERGIE SIGNS OFF WITH A CUP DOUBLE
The 1985-86 Skol and Scottish Cup winners.
Contributions from: Jim Leighton, John Hewitt, Alex McLeish, Neil Simpson, Billy Stark, Frank McDougall, Eric Black, Jim Bett and Ian Angus.
Chapter 9 ST MIRREN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN
The 1986-87 Scottish Cup winners.
Contributions from: Ian Ferguson, Billy Abercrombie, Alex Smith, Kenny McDowall, Paul Lambert, Frank McGarvey, Campbell Money, Neil Cooper, Ian Cameron, Brian Hamilton and Tony Fitzpatrick.
Chapter 10 ABERDEEN THE DANDY DONS CLAIM AN OLD FIRM CUP DOUBLE TO REMEMBER
The 1989-90 Skol Cup and Scottish Cup winners.
Contributions from: Eoin Jess, Paul Mason, Charlie Nicholas, Willie Miller, Brian Irvine, Robert Connor, Ian Cameron, Hans Gillhaus, Theo Snelders, Alex McLeish, Willem van der Ark, Brian Grant, Jocky Scott and Alex Smith.
Chapter 11 MOTHERWELL THE STEELMEN LAND SOME PRECIOUS METAL
The 1990-91 Scottish Cup winners.
Contributions from: Stevie Kirk, Ian Angus, Craig Paterson, Tom Boyd, Colin O Neill, Chris McCart, Dougie Arnott, Iain Ferguson, Luc Nijholt and Tommy McLean.
Chapter 12 HIBERNIAN HANDS OFF HIBS TO HAMPDEN GLORY
The 1991-92 Skol Cup winners.
Contributions from: Keith Wright, Murdo MacLeod, John Burridge, Tommy McIntyre, Mickey Weir, Graham Mitchell, Brian Hamilton and Alex Miller.
Chapter 13 DUNDEE UNITED A SPECIAL BREW HELPS TO END AN 85-YEAR WAIT FOR THE SCOTTISH CUP
The 1993-94 Scottish Cup winners.
Contributions from: Craig Brewster, Maurice Malpas, Gordan Petric, Christian Dailly, David