Interesting article in todays SP page 54 'Yesterday's Heroes' who is none other than Jimmy McMorran.
Gives a brief outline of his career including his time at the Hi Hi (pic of him in his Thirds kit) and the characters he played with eg Max Murray, Sammy Baird, Ally MacLeod and Joe McInnes to name a few. He was also capped for Scotlands schooboys with the likes of Bobby Hope, Billy Bremner and Andy Penman. Particular memories of Thirds include winning the Glasgow Cup v Celtic and the 4-4 draw plus the 4-2 victory over St Mirren when he scored all Thirds goals "every strike from outside the box."
Eventually ended up at Walsall where he sustained a cruciate ligament in a match against Stoke City whereby he was expected to continue the match hobbling out on the wing (after a liberal ration of pain numbing whisky at halftime to see him through as this was pre substitute days).
Also played for Swansea, Notts County and Halifax Town. He is now an Assistant Manager of a Foundry in the West Midlands.
Unfortunately i couldn't get a link to it last week in fact the SP website is pretty naff with only a limited amount of mainly 'feature' articles accessible. I guess there must be a Thirds sympathiser on the staff of the SP as i can't think what Jimmy did to get 'pulled out the hat' and put into print but nice one anyway. I keep telling myself to get down to the Mitchell Library and spend a day trawling through the sports pages of the old newspapers to see what can be unearthed to put in the forum
partick thistle lad wrote:I see this weekends Sunday Post had a feature on Joe McInnes. By all accounts should have been capped more for Scotland
I saw that. It was marvellous to read about jinkin' Joe, my uncle used to rave about him. Seemed he was aware he'd a reputation for retaliation, not deserved he said, and that's why he never played for Scotland.
That article sent me looking for Thirds mentions on the net - nice to see this site.
Sorry to say, I don't see any characters like Joe McInnes in the modern game - I wonder how he'd get on today?
partick thistle lad wrote:I see this weekends Sunday Post had a feature on Joe McInnes. By all accounts should have been capped more for Scotland
And so should Goodfellow, Hilley, Harley and Gray!! I think I remember Jimmy Goodfellow playing for the Scottish League in 1961 or 1962. He was called up as a late replacement for a match at Hampden between Scotland and the Scottish League. The attendance was sparse - about 8,000. Can anybody confirm whether any of this happened or is it total fantasy?
And so should Goodfellow, Hilley, Harley and Gray!! I think I remember Jimmy Goodfellow playing for the Scottish League in 1961 or 1962. He was called up as a late replacement for a match at Hampden between Scotland and the Scottish League. The attendance was sparse - about 8,000. Can anybody confirm whether any of this happened or is it total fantasy?
Dean i checked the 'bible' ie The Wee Red Book and there is no mention of Jimmy receiving a League cap in fact it appears he doesn't have any. This looks like being some kind of trial or warm up match which it would appear caps weren't awarded. As you say that forward line should have had some type of recognition
PTL good spot on Joe McInnes in the SP i managed to rescue a copy before my dear silver haired mother's paper went into a land fill site somewhere.
It appears Joe was a bit of a character who was not short in confidence and not afraid to tell you how good he was..rating himself alongside Jimmy Johnstone,Willie Henderson and Gordon Smith...love it Joe suspected he didn't get a crack at international level because he was a bit of a firebrand and the selectors were afraid to pick him per chance he got into trouble..." I had a bit of a reputation as a bit of a headbanger and reacting if someone hit me, but that was unfair.If someone caught me, i'd bide my time and get in a dig later on!"
Anyway his first senior club was Kilmarnock but soon found himself back at Larkhall Thistle before going to that 'other' Thistle and eventually finding himself at Accrington Stanley.Left them and trained with Celtic hoping to be taken on...wasn't and went to the Hi Hi. This was 1956 and the SP reported " Joe McInnes was registered with the Scottish League at lunchtime and by 5.40pm had scored FIVE goals in an 8-2 win for Third Lanark." "The defence could make nothing of wee Joe's cantrips (not sure what that is..will take it as a 50s euphemism for wizardry ).Five goals all beautifully taken, capped a sizzling display." Joe reckoned the last of the five involved him beating three defenders and sticking it past the goalie!!!
The guy was definitely a star and Harry Haddock told him he'd given him the biggest roasting since Stanley Matthews...praise indeed. Joe scored in six of the eight games enroute to the 1959 League Cup Final and also claims the goal in the Final " i still swear my cross was over the line before he (Matt Gray) slid in."
Talking of the great 60/61 side of which Joe was part of that immortal front line "We were terrific in attack, but the defence wasn't that great. We conceded 80 goals and that meant having to score three, four or five times to win games."
Joe left Thirds in '63 (the year of the clear out) and went to Stirling Albion for one season before a spell in Northern Ireland and then managing a couple of Junior sides. Happily he's still with us and enjoying his other passion...dugs (the racing variety).
Sorry I missed Post articles about McMorran and Joe McInnes! My main memory of wee Joe was when he was sent off in the cup tie against Hibs around 1960 which we won 2-1 in pouring rain at Cathkin in front of about 26000! It was completely out of the blue as Joe (not for the first time !) must have used foul language.Was it Tiny Wharton or maybe Jack Mowat who was the ref in question?
Note that todays players use foul language with impunity without any consequences!
Also remember Joe scoring from about a foot against his beloved Celtic and looking almost dejected as he was running back for the kick-off!
Dean wrote: I think I remember Jimmy Goodfellow playing for the Scottish League in 1961 or 1962. He was called up as a late replacement for a match at Hampden between Scotland and the Scottish League. The attendance was sparse - about 8,000. Can anybody confirm whether any of this happened or is it total fantasy?
I've found it! I wonder if it was the last time there was a trial match.
Monday February 5th 1962, Hampden Park
Scotland (2) 2 (Gilzean 2)Scottish League (1) 2 (Carroll, Quinn)
Scotland: Brown (Tottenham), Hamilton (Dundee), Aitken (Aston Villa), McLintock (Leicester), Ure (Dundee), Mackay (Tottenham), Hilley (Thirds), White (Tottenham), St.John (Liverpool), Gilzean (Dundee), MacLeod (Arsenal).
and eventually finding himself at Accrington Stanley.Left them and trained with Celtic hoping to be taken on...wasn't and went to the Hi Hi.
