Third Lanark AC

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Settings -> Greatest ever Thirds players -> Jimmy Mason ......
Post Info TOPIC: Jimmy Mason ......
panda


Veteran Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 30
Date:
Jimmy Mason ......
Permalink  

Yes, I had the great pleasure of watching the maestro in action, a wee man, shorts a wee bit too long, a face that you could see in any pub in Glasgow,but what a player!! if he had played for the "big two" clubs, he would have been an automatic starter for Scotland for many years. He could gather the ball from any angle, control it and split defences with inch perfect accuracy. I never saw the man show dissent, and you could see him encourage younger players always. Truly a giant in my book!


Bigeye, in your post you mentioned Bobby Evans the great Celtic halfback, and it is strange that you did, because I have a personal story to share. When I was abou 8or 9 years old I had a friend called Ian mc culloch, who lived in Cogan St in Pollokshaws, and we were Fitba daft, as only wee boys like us could be. When it rained we used to play "heidies" in Ians close. Bobby lived in that building, or maybe his parents did , but anyway he was in and out of there, and we would pause our game, with our mouths hanging open til hepassedbyalways greeting us in a very friendly way, and more than once, had a wee "heider" himself!!


panda    



__________________
bigeye


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 135
Date:
Permalink  

Panda enjoyed your piece on Bobby Evans in fact i was aware of a Shaws connection as i seem to remember my father mentioning he was from or lived 'locally' but your story certainly confirmed it.


Dare i say it here's another but with reference to Bobby Collins and it concerns one of my cousins and my late Grandfather in fact you will find it on the following site: www.leedsfans.org.uk/leeds/players/77.html If you have any bother getting into it let me know and i'll copy and paste it on this site.


If you trawl down the screed of reminiscences you'll come to one by Alec Wearing well he's my cousin.


I was given the Bobby Collins book 'The Wee Barra' by my son for Xmas (changed days the faither gets the fitba books instead of the weans !!) and as Bobby hails (excuse the pun) from Govanhill i'm happy to announce he saw quite a bit of Thirds in his youth just a pity he didn't play for us as well but perhaps it's too much to hope to have him and Jimmy Mason in the same team


Bigeye


 



__________________
partick thistle lad


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 196
Date:
Permalink  

Do you know that Jimmy Mason was famous throughout Europe and was nearly signed by Lazio in the early 1950's.  Also he only received one yellow card in the whole of his playing career, something which a lot of the players these days could do with looking too for an example.



__________________
Long live the HiHi and the Jags

Ian McCalls Red and Yellow army

The Hi-Hi are back
bigeye


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 135
Date:
Permalink  

Interesting stat only one booking which is even more amazing as being the type of gifted player he was then he would have come in for some severe punishment.


I was at one of Bert's do's in the Quaich a couple of years ago and both Jimmy Mason's sons were there nice guys who were more than happy to chew the fat over their illustrious father.


Bigeye



__________________
panda


Veteran Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 30
Date:
Permalink  

Bert, I was wondering if there are any record of Jimmy Masons testimonial match?
I know I saw a match at Cathkin- Thirds v Sunderland when I was a kid. The only players I remember seeing (apart from the wee man) were Big George Aitken and The clown prince himself Len Shackleton. who put on a dazzling performance which I believe led the late, great Matt Balunas to name him as the best winger he ever met.
Can you shed any more light or did my memory serve me wrong

Cheers Panda 


__________________
Bert at Cathkin


Veteran Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 74
Date:
Permalink  

Hi PANDA.

On 30th April, 1953, a Scotland select  lined up against Sunderland  at Cathlkin, when  over  14,000 , enjoyed a superbly entertaining match, which ended 5 -0 to Scotland.

Jimmy ,adorned unusally in a Lounge Suit, kicked off, and watched the following  side in action -

Cowan- Third Lanark.|)   Young (Rangers.)  Harrower.(Thirds.)  Scoular, (Portsmouth.  Cowie (Dundee)  Aitken (Sunderland.)  Wright |(Sunderland|)  Henderson (Thirds)  McPhail (Clyde)   Steel (Dundee)  Liddell(Liverpool.)


The Sunderland side included the great Len Shackleton & Welsh Internationlist  Trevor Howard.


Scorers  were -   McPhail  3.  Wright & Liddell.  

The match was followed by a Dinner, with SFA Chairman Bob Kelly, proposing the Toast to Mason.


My contention tremains -   Sadly -  We will never see his likes again.

Bert Bell.

__________________
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
Settings -> Greatest ever Thirds players -> Jimmy Mason ......
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us


Create your own FREE Forum
Report Abuse 		Powered by ActiveBoard