RANGERS IN LONDON 1960 - 1971
Matches, Memories & Talking Points

From The Reds, Whites and Blues

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SPURS V RANGERS

EXTRACTS FROM PRE MATCH BACKGROUND

· BILL NICHOLSON’S FAN CLUB – IBROX BRANCH Rangers Chairman, John Lawrence was a huge admirer of Spurs. In 1969 when the teams met at Ibrox, Lawrence stated in the programme. “We are firm admirers of our opponents’ technique, pace and panache. Only with every one of our players in peak form can we hope to gain our revenge.” Equally so, the programme writer. “The quietly spoken, dynamic Nicholson is now reshaping his side after a spell of ill-luck, and there is little doubt that he will succeed. He is a man of iron resolve and shut-teeth refusal to accept anything but success.”

Don Revie, was another who thought the future looked bright for Spurs. He told the Evening Standard, “I cannot understand what Spurs’ fans are beefing about. Their team is good enough to win the FA Cup or the League Cup. In fact I have a £1 bet with a friend that they will win a trophy this season.” And the Don was legendary in football circles for his seriousness in all matters fiscal.

1959-60 : Championship Runners up to Hearts. Scottish Cup Runners Up to Rangers.

1960-61 : League Runners up to Rangers. Runners Up to Rangers in the League Cup.

1961-62 : Championship Runners Up to Dundee, League Cup Runners up to Hearts.

He Broke Hearts And Made Dreams Come True

1964-65 : On the final day of the season Kilmarnock travelled to Hearts, 2 points behind their hosts and needing to win by 2 clear goals to seize the title from them on goal average. KILLIE WIN 2-0 AND CROWNED CHAMPIONS.

The Journalist

1965-1969 : Journalist with the Scottish Daily Express. Unlike the ‘ex pro pundits’ of today, Waddell wrote exactly as he saw it, sparing no ‘sacred cows’ from constructive criticism.

Headhunters

The Return

1969 : 3rd December, pens his final article as he is named as the new manager of Rangers.

Frankly, Waddell would not have considered a return to football management for any other club but Rangers and even then he made it abundantly clear to the Board that he would only take the job on his terms. Namely that he was to have 100% control of team affairs. Speaking on the steps outside Ibrox alongside his Chairman he announced :

“I would never have returned for any other club but Rangers. I took 2 days to think it over before accepting. I have the conditions I wanted for the job. It is a tremendous job and it carries a great responsibility”. Rangers had got themselves a living breathing disciple of Bill Struth, but who was ‘au fait’ with all the nuances and requirements of the modern game. In common with Struth, he shared an absolute belief in the need for discipline, teamwork and the highest standards.

One Love! Of course Willie Waddell loved the game, but more than that he had a love of Rangers. As a youngster, Bill Struth offered him £2 a week to play for Rangers and if he wanted more money, he would have to go somewhere else to get it. His talent was such that he was offered treble that amount by Portsmouth. Nevertheless he took Rangers £2 and was later to say, “I saw something in Rangers, there was a pride, a tradition that I felt deeply inside me.”

· EXTRACTS FROM RANGERS 1970 There’s Only 2 Bobby Watsons One of Waddell’s first missions had been to identify a new young goalkeeper. Peter McCloy had been acquired in a swap for Bobby Watson and Brian Heron in Spring 1970. However, on Rangers pre-season tour he had experimented with another ‘keeper and Bobby Watson. This one aged 20 came from Glasgow was considered an excellent prospect. Curiously, he was only to make a further 2 appearances for Rangers before Waddell settled on McCloy. More in keeping with Waddell’s image was Alex MacDonald who had been signed by his predecessor from St Johnstone for £50,000. Small in stature but extremely versatile. Like his new Coach a fitness fanatic, he combined non stop running with no little skill in midfield. Rangers also fielded 18 year old Alfie Conn whose father was a former Scotland International with Hearts. He had already represented Scotland Schoolboy and Youth teams and his talent obvious. In principle, he was exactly the sort of youngster Waddell was looking for. Though whether he could harness his talent to consistency was yet to be discovered.

At the end of the 1969-70 Season Spurs went on a holiday/club tour to Malta in May, after which the players then went their separate ways. Some of the older players stayed on in Malta with their families joining them. Two separate groups of younger players travelled abroad together. A group of 3 went out to Mallorca and a party of 5 including youngster Graeme Souness opted for Tunisia.

Cod and Chips

Two players spent the summertime doing DIY in their homes. Cyril Knowles went home to Yorkshire to help run his fish and chip shop in Pudsey.

And Pele

Alan Mullery and Martin Peters were of course part of the England squad that went to Mexico. Mullery played one of his finest games in the famous England v Brazil encounter.

And Back Home

Having returned from their sojourns, in mid July, the Spurs team reported back for training at Cheshunt. A fortnight later than usual for training, given that it was a World Cup Summer. Upon the players’ return they worked primarily on body fitness in a shorter but sharper ‘pre-season’. The players trained 6 days per week, morning and afternoon. With 9-a-side matches in the middle of the day to sustain a competitive edge and make it more enjoyable.

· SATURDAY John Greig, Willie Henderson and Alex McDonald were receiving treatment for injuries collected on Rangers pre-season tour of Germany.

The remainder of the first team had the day off but for Rangers backroom staff it was business as usual. Rangers fielded a young XI away to Albion Rovers. Emphasising the growing importance of home grown talent, Willie Waddell and his entire backroom staff travelled to the game. Along with Directors; George Brown, David Hope and Ian McLaren.

The game finished 1-1, Rangers goal scored by a 16 year old substitute and ground staff boy, Alec Morrison. Amusingly the 4000 crowd did not know who he was as the Rovers tannoy was broken! This young XI included; Peter McCloy, Colin Jackson, Willie Watson, Derek Parlane, Derek Johnstone and Alex Miller.

Alan Mullery and Martin Peters back from the Mexico World Cup of 1970 were set to play their first games since returning. Jim Blair of the Evening Times anticipated a tough evening for Rangers, estimating that the Londoners forward line alone contained some £450,000 worth of talent.

· MONDAY RANGERS Rangers brought a 15 man squad to London. Willie Waddell knew full well that it was going to be a tricky evening. Telling Ken Gallacher of the Daily Record, “I know how hard this game is going to be. But we have taken on these games because we knew they would be hard.”

And more power to him. A tough pre-season gives the manager an idea of the players’ character and once the season starts, they will find it comparatively easier against the opposition.

EXTRACTS FROM TALKING POINTS

(2) Natures Threat to Article 14 Given the powers that Article 14 gave the Board, seemingly the only threat to the either the Wale or Richardson dynasty could be natural. And nature was suddenly casting a shadow over the boardroom. None of the other Board members apart from Arthur Richardson had given birth to any sons and Arthur’s son, Geoffrey who was married but with no children had already been appointed to the board. Sidney Wale had 2 daughters and Arthur Richardson also had 2 daughters. Charles Cox had 1 daughter and Godfrey Groves who had been appointed was a bachelor. Given the age of the Board apart from Geoffrey Richardson it was hard to see where the future generation of Directors might come (as it is fair to say that the rest of the Board were beyond fatherhood age.) At some stage they would have to introduce new blood from outside their direct descendants, possibly looking to bring in their son in laws. Daughters were deemed beyond consideration. Whilst writing the Glory Game, Chairman Sidney Wale told author Hunter Davies that he would not be passing his shares on to either daughter. “There’s never been a female Director of a football team, not that I’ve heard of anyway, although I was told once about a lady club secretary.” (The Glory Game)

GRAEME SOUNESS OF SPURS MAKES HIS FIRST FOOTBALL HEADLINE! Gifted Spurs youngster Graeme Souness had come to the attention of Goal magazine following his sending off in the FA Youth Cup Final. The Opinion column wrote on 1^st August 1970.

“Graeme Souness will not have his first competitive kick of the season until next month. He was sent off during Tottenham’s marathon FA Youth Cup Final with Coventry last season and has paid for the indiscretion with a 3 week suspension, a £10 fine and the loss of his winner’s plaque. We have supported, and will continue to support the FA in their campaign to stamp out violence and bad sportsmanship. And we do not think it a bad thing that young first time offenders should be hit hard by a suspension and a fine. But we wonder if they have gone too far this time. Graeme is just 17 and a fine prospect. Must a lad whose goal won that trophy for Spurs go through his soccer career with an empty space on his sideboard as a permanent reminder of one moment of foolishness in his Youth. The FA must administer their laws with firmness. But if they wish to retain the respect of their members they must have the courage to admit that they, too, can make a mistake.”

THE IBROX DISASTER

On 2nd January 1971, 66 Rangers fans perished on Gate 13, the Cairnlea Drive Stairway.

Eye witness accounts relay the horrific sight of a ten foot wall of humanity, all laid out the same way. Their heads and faces with their tongues lolling out, their shoes found some distance away slimy with urine and vomit.

Detective Superintendent Joe Beattie who had dealt with the most gruesome of murder investigations felt physically sick at the sight. Willie Waddell likened it to the grotesque images from Belsen Concentration Camp. Waddell’s leadership, humanity and dignity in the aftermath was immense. The Tragedy brought an unquantifiable emotional and mental strain on the fans, management and players of Rangers.

The terrible and most gruesome loss of life. The anguish and despair of families and friends.

“The disaster will never leave me. Never a day goes by that it doesn’t go through my mind.”

· From Glasgow : David Anderson (aged 45), John Buchananan (32), Richard Barke (15), David Duff (23), Peter Farries (26), John Gardiner (32), Thomas Grant (16), Charles Livingston (30), Brian Hutchinson (16), John Jeffrey (16), Andrew Lindsay (18), Thomas Melville (17), Francis Dover (16), Robert Mulholland (16), Duncan McBrearty (17), Donald McPherson (30), Thomas McRobbie (17), Robert Rae (25), William Shaw (30) Walter Shields (15), George Smith (40), William Somerhill (17), James Trainer (20), John Crawford (23), George Findlay (21), John Neil (29).

· From Edinburgh : Walter Raeburn (36), James Sibbald (28), Robert Cairns (17)

· From Lanarkshire : Thomas Dickson (32), Ian Frew (21), James Grey (37), Ian Hunter (14), James Mair (19), Robert Maxwell (15), Alexander Orr (16), Matthew Reid (49), Charles Stirling (20), Peter Wright (31).

· From Fife : Peter Easton (13), Martin Paton (14), Mason Phillips (14), Douglas Morrison (15).

· From Renfrewshire : Hugh Addie (33), Robert Grant (21), Alex McIntryre (29), George Wilson (15).

· From Stirlingshire : Margaret Ferguson (18), Robert McAdam (36), Richard McLeay (28), John McLeay (23).

· From Dumbartonshire : George Adams (43), Robert Carrigan (13), Charles Dougan (31), Adam Henderson (42), David McGhee (14), Thomas Morgan (14), James Rae (19), John Semple (18), Thomas Stirling (16), Donald Sutherland (14).

ETO VISIT A MATCH CLICK ON THE YEAR

é HOMEPAGE é GALLERY 62 é FEEDBACK/CONTACT é LINKS