Was listening to a Radio Clyde football phone in a couple of years ago where fans were requested to call in and regale the listeners with any funny footy stories they had.
This 'old' Thirds fan came on and proceded to tell a story of a New Years day game he attended in the early 60s between Thirds and Falkirk at Brockville.
He went to the match on the supporters bus and is usual with them arrived about an hour before the kick off and being New Years day there were no pubs open so they all decided to go into the ground.
In those days it was unusual to see any players warming up on the pitch before the match (unlike today) but there in front them was the sight of three players running round the track side by side with the two players on the outside each with an arm linked with the player in the middle who in this instance was Jocky Robertson.
He then shouted over to the trio as they passed in front of him and asked what was going on and was told by one of the players that Jocky had been on the batter at the bells and was still ''p*shed'' and they were trying to sober him up before the kick off...Needless to say all the supporters in the vicinity went into fits of laughter Not surprisingly it was a high scoring game 5-3 or 5-4 (to Thirds) so Jocky was off the hook
It was great ot be reminded of that 1st January, 1963 game at Brockville. The result was as stated 5 - 3 for Thirds, and certainly got 'wee Jocky' off the Hook.
I have enjoyed many wonderful times in the company of Jocky Robertson, and he fondly remembers this occasion, when the previous evening he was convinced the match would be 'off' due to snow falling heavily - hence the reason for his 'minders' on the day.
For interest another terrific true tale about Jocky was told to me by Dave Hilley. On the Club's USA trip in 1961, the Thirds' squad had been invited to a civic reception in New York, before a match the following day. A few players were sitting comfortably at the Bar, when the Barman came up to Dave & said - " Gee I am a bit worried about your little goaltender, I've already served him 14 Scotches". Dave replied " don't worry about him , he's taking it easy, today, we have a game tomorrow."
I hope Big Eye and others can manage along to our next proposed Thirds Night, in early February. Watch this space for full details early in the New Year.
I was reading John Greig's book and came across a section where he mentioned he used to make the journey from Edinburgh to Glasgow every day in the company of the 'Thirds contingent' ie Finlay McGillivray, Jimmy Goodfellow and Jocky Robertson.
In fact John used to live in the same street in Edinburgh as Jocky and tells of himself,Frank Donlevy (Partick Thistle) and Jocky having a regular kickabout in the 'backgreen'.Greig was much younger than the other two (in fact still at school at this time) and Jocky used to give him sixpence ever time he scored against him!! When Greig 'made it big' he mentions of the pleasure playing against both Frank and Jocky and took great enjoyment in scoring against Jocky in a league match by bundling both Jocky and the ball over the line.Jocky was furious and chased him all the way back to the halfway line!!!
John also mentions Jocky's infamous game at Brockville when he met up with Jocky at Waverley Station on January 1st for the trip to Glasgow and Falkirk respectively.He recalls Jocky being the worse for wear and that when he got off at Falkirk Station he had difficulty walking in a straight line . Anyway, at halftime at John's game (i presume an Old Firm encounter) Scot Symon read out the other halftime scores and John's jaw dropped when he heard Thirds were winning 3-0.Jocky did lose three goals in the second half and next time they met John asked him what happened to which Jocky replied "I sobered up at half time"
Not surprisingly it was a high scoring game 5-3 or 5-4 (to Thirds) so Jocky was off the hook 
