Happened to notice that yesterday (November 7th) was 45 years since Thirds entertained Rouen. I remember being excited at the thought of foreign opposition at Cathkin but it turned out to be a great disappointment, losing in front of a small crowd on what I remember as a dreary, perhaps foggy, night. Does anybody else recall the game or know who else played in this competition?
It was on a Tuesday, presumably because the following evening Scotland played Wales at Hampden.
Thirds' first taste of Continentel Football proved a disaster. The weather was dreadful, torrential rain making the pitch a soggy mess, and restricting the attendance to, 2,498.
The Frechmen, played in Thirds' Red jerseys, resulting in the Hi Hi's for the first & only time in their history appearing in an all black outfit. Jimmy Goodfellow with a deflected shot, scored for Thirds.
The return match was played in Rouen on 9t May, 1962, with an identical scoreline, Willie Cunningham netting Thirds' goal.
Ironically the weather in France matched the previous Cathkin conditions, and the attendance of under 2,000 made it a non profit event for the clubs. Reilly replaced Robb in this one although eventually Robb came on as sub for the injured Reilly in the second half.
Even playing in their own colours did not help the Hi Hi's on this occasion.
I have had lots of queries about these matches,, so I hope these details help.
Thanks for that, I certainly remember it as a dismal evening in more ways than one. Does anyone know anything else about the competition? Who else was in it, did it come to a conclusion? Was there a next round that Rouen played in? May 9th was rather late in the season! I’ve a vague recollection that it was that late because the game in Rouen had been postponed. Is that a figment of my imagination?
Was entry into this competition some sort of reward for having finished third the previous season?
Hope Tuesday evening goes well, one of these days I’ll be in Glasgow at the right time.
I can concur with Bert's recollection of the dreich evening.
I feel somewhat honoured to have been one of the 2,498 in attendance; and as I word process I wonder how many of that number are still alive some 48 years later?
Whilst I don't recall The Hi-Hi playing in black that evening, and I defer to Bert's recount, I do remember the mysterious goalie in black that the late Hal Stewart introduced to Scottish football fans one winter's evening at Cathkin when Morton were the visitors.
I use the word mysterious, because the Bulletin the next morning had a headline to the effect; "who is the goalie in black" alongside a picture of the anonymous blond Scandinavian.
As it turned out, Erik Sorensen was the forerunner of many more Scandinavians to be brought to Greenock by the entrepreneurial Mr Stewart.
