I was privileged as a 9 year old boy in 1963 to witness unbeknown to me then what was to be the onset of the last four seasons in the life of this illustrious football club. I had been to a couple of matches near the end of the previous season just at the break up of what was arguably the greatest ever Third Lanark side but now during the close season a new team was being created.
I remember the headlines on the back page of the Times or was it the Citizen "Max Murray signs for Thirds" I thought fantastic...who the heck is Max Murray! I was soon to find out as Max whipped in a hat trick early in his first season (i wish i could remember against whom) and the never to be forgotten headline appeared in the Pink or the Green "Murray Mints The Goals".
One way to be actually involved with a football club was to be a ball boy and like most kids of my age I was no exception to this craving. My father was an aquaintance of Bill Hiddleston (yeah i know) in so much they grew up in the same 'block of four' in Pollokshaws in fact my grandparents were then still living above 'the Hiddlestons' (at least his parents) at this time.
My father asked him about me becoming a ball boy and was told just to send him to Cathkin on match days and to take my chance with the other kids. To explain, there were lads who were the 'regular' ball boys (Hiddleston's two boys for a start!) and on top of that there would be 15-20 kids who turned up every week hoping to get picked if one of the regulars dropped out (bit like trying to get work in the hungry 30s!!).
Well the day finally dawned for me and it was a reserve game against Dundee (the chances of being picked for a 2nd eleven game were greater for obvious reasons).Anyway, off I went upstairs in the old pavilion to where the ball boys got changed which was the upper room to the right as you faced the building from the pitch. The room was the games room and i remember a punch ball, weights and i think a pool table in what was a rather aged room with old creaky wooden floor boards and bench seats round the edge.
On went the old faded blue tracksuit and the famous red bobble hat, down the stairs we went (almost bumping into the Thirds captain as he lead the team out of the dressing room to the right on the ground floor) and out on to the hallowed turf with the others...what a feeling. I headed across the pitch to my stance which was between the corner flag and the flag on the half way line (yes there was a flag pole there in those days) in front of the covered enclosure at the Crosshill end.
It was a cracking game which Thirds won 4-3 and i'm sure Paddy Buckley scored a hat trick but don't quote me on that one. I managed to get a few touches of the ball as you would expect and it was just great to be involved in the action.
Well that was it my one claim to fame. I did endeavour to get picked again but it was not to be as the regulars were very rarely off and the bigger lads somehow always managed to get to the front when replacements were called for so i eventually stopped trying, although i did manage to get into most of the games that season on the strength of it!!
One other thing that comes to mind was after the game word got round that the 1st team had lost 6-0 at Dens...ouch!
That was a great wee story bigeye and its great to hear your as proud of being one of the ballboys as much now as then! Its what being a true footballing supporter is all about.
Ot of curiosity what was the reaction of Hiddelstons parents and sons to the demise of the club in 1967, did they try to defend him or well they angered at his antics in ruining the HiHi?
As far as i am aware and as much as i can remember the subject was not discussed with the 'downstairs neighbours' (it was only the parents living in the house by this time) and really it was such an embarrassing time for them i am sure they were more than aware how the public in general viewed the matter.
Hiddleston eventually moved away from Glasgow and bought an hotel in Blackpool which i believe was not a great success (well you can only do so much with Davie Hilley's transfer fee) and they moved back to Glasgow again.In fact when i was in 2nd or 3rd year at school his two sons joined the school and the eldest was in my year...really nice bloke...but the subject was not broached.
I had heard Hiddelston had moved to Blackpool. Apparently he died in November 1967, a bit ironic in that it was the same year as the club he had destroyed, just as charges were about to be brought against him for his antics in ruining this great club. I take it after he died the family must have moved back to Glasgow and his sons obviously moved to the same school as you.
