24th August
Between the headlines in the press and the comments from the manager, the Rangers players took a bit of a pasting in the day following their 0-4 defeat at the hands of Celtic;
‘Rangers Failure’
and
‘We Paid for Our Errors – Scot Symon’
Meanwhile, the Celtic players who had participated in the match got the day off. The rest of us reported for training as usual.
The non-trainers went golfing – somewhere? In those days, Bobby Lennox, who later became a regular participant at the sport, did not play at all and usually teamed up with Jimmy Johnstone and Willie O’Neill to annoy the life out of the rest of us on the course. This could include shouting at the top your backswing, jumping out of bushes to put you off or even throwing your ball in the bunkers. They were regularly threatened with retribution but it never seemed to stop them.
At training, the management and coaches all had broad smiles on their faces all the way through the session – something must have happened to cheer them up! – and the atmosphere was euphoric.
What a wonderful time to be a Celt…..unless, of course, like me, you were on the periphery of the first team and were trying to get your place back!
25th August
The first team was back. We had a long shooting practice, then one of those 16- or 18-a -side matches ( dependent on how many players were at training) to finish off. At the start of the season, every player was allocated to one or other of these teams and you would never dream of playing for the opposition. So, if perhaps your side had two or three men out injured, instead of the normal 2-touch, the team with more men would be told to play one-touch and the depleted side would play 3-touch. Anything was better than playing for the other side!
The Boss announced later to the press that all the players were fit, including Steve Chalmers, who missed the match against Rangers.
26th August
Tynie – Great place to play
The reserves have a day off as they have a match on that night against Hearts at Tynecastle. The first team did a light session and then the Boss announced that the defence would be the same as in the match against Rangers but that six forwards would be listed, with John Hughes included and Charlie Gallagher demoted to the reserves.
The reserve team which headed to Edinburgh late that afternoon was;
Bent Martin, Ian Young, Frank McCarron, Davie Cattenach, John Cushley, Jim Brogan, Jim Craig, George Connelly, Jimmy Quinn, Charlie Gallagher and Lou Macari.
It looks as though I was listed at outside-right but no such luck, I was in the centre-half berth alongside ‘Wilbur’ Cushley.
Tynecastle always seemed to bring out the best in players, with its stand and in those days, terracings, very close to the playing surface. And, although it was a competitive match, we won 2-0, with young Jimmy Quinn getting both goals. Then, it was back to Parkhead and make for home, as there was another match on the Saturday afternoon. Except for yours truly, who was told to report with the first team at Celtic Park.
Poor Acoustics
The Scottish National Orchestra has to rehearse in conditions which would not be tolerated by factory workers, its conductor, Mr Alexander Gibson, said in Glasgow.
Asked what he thought of Govan Town Hall, which is being suggested by Glasgow Corporation as a temporary home for the orchestra, Mr Gibson said “Acoustically, it is disastrous. It would be like playing in a bathroom. I don’t see how it could possibly be seen as a suitable home for an orchestra”.
Bang!
The British Railways cross-channel ferry Falaise was withdrawn from service after hitting the East Pier at Newhaven.
After the collision, passengers and 28 cars were transferred to the French ferry Villandry for the crossing to Dieppe.
Extra-hours
Courses are to be held after school hours for pupils who are on part-time education at St Patrick’s R.C. High School in Dumbarton.
“There is now only a staff of 34 to educate more than 1200 pupils” the Headmaster said. “The only way we can assist these boys, aged between 12 and 15 years of age who are on part-time education, is to have extra classes between 4pm and 5pm”.