For the reason that finish of the Covid pandemic and reopening of soccer grounds, Mail Sport has despatched Hugh MacDonald ‘On The Highway’. Throughout that point, he has travelled throughout Scotland – and typically past – highlighting a few of the inspiring tales to be present in a world that was making an attempt to recuperate from the trials and tribulations of lockdown. It has been fairly the journey. Now, within the coming season, Hugh will once in a while step away from the facet of the pitch to carry our readers extra great tales from throughout all sport in Scotland. Right here, Hugh heads to a soccer programme and memorabilia truthful to uncover some extra gems…
It has the shopping for buzz of a bazaar, the febrile frenzy of a good however there are some issues that can not be purchased.
Dougie Bell takes a break from promoting his autobiography to state with out undue fuss: ‘I’ve my Tremendous Cup medal someplace. I’ll have a rake in my jacket.’
Mentioned jacket is hanging over a chair and Bell emerges seconds later with the medal he received when Aberdeen defeated Hamburg 2-0 on mixture within the European Tremendous Cup of 2003. Bell, who performed for greater than a dozen golf equipment together with St Mirren and Rangers, units it down subsequent to a winner’s medal from the night time Aberdeen beat Actual Madrid within the European Cup Winners’ Cup ultimate in Gothenburg.
There’s a second of awe from this observer who briskly breaks the temper by dropping it, inflicting 100 heads to show to see what prompted the clatter within the Corridor of Fame room exterior the Scottish Soccer Museum in Hampden.
Bell, now 65, has introduced the medals to point out followers however book-selling is his obligation. All proceeds go to charity and he has raised greater than £25,000 for Strathcarron Hospice, who cared for his late spouse, Hazel.
He additionally has an curiosity in programmes and has a deeply private cache. Damage prevented the midfielder from taking part in within the ultimate however he was excellent on the run to Gothenburg.
Collectors hunt for a prized possession, however there are some gadgets that cash cannot purchase
Dougie Bell exhibits his medals and his autobiography in the course of the programme truthful at Hampden
‘I’ve the programme from Bayern Munich away,’ he says. ‘I believed I performed effectively.’
That is mentioned with humble understatement and will be barely heard amid the hubbub raised by scores of programme patrons. They swirl around the stalls, keen to choose up items of paper and alter them by some alchemy into prized possessions.
It’s an intoxicating pastime. This observer shouldn’t be immune from its seductive charms.
However, curiously, there’s additionally a component of coyness from the sellers. Some gadgets should not on the market, or not less than not on this event.
‘That is my pleasure and pleasure,’ says Stuart Marshall, who as soon as ran a memorabilia store in Glasgow, however is now retired. He’s pointing to a postcard the place an etching exhibits a participant taking a throw-in with one arm.
‘It’s the oldest soccer postcard on document, courting from 1898, and, no, it’s not on the market.’
Equally, he has an invite to a dinner to rejoice the twenty first anniversary of Rangers taking part in the Scottish Cup ultimate in 1877, issued by Tom Vallance, a former participant. This can be a prized merchandise, as are the 1901 programmes for a Rangers athletic day in the course of the Glasgow Worldwide exhibition.
‘I’ve individuals inquiring about these however to date I don’t need to promote them.’
Marshall, although, has been a supplier for many years and is aware of that there’ll come a time when a suggestion might tempt him.
Boyd Miller, who’s promoting his wares simply yards away, has additionally a Rangers curiosity. ‘At one time I had many of the programmes from Rangers residence and away in Europe,’ he says. His array of products is fascinating however he factors out that there are ones he would like to have had.
‘First, I used to be at Barcelona in 1972,’ he says of the Rangers victory within the European Cup-Winners’ Cup. ‘They didn’t do a programme however I’d have beloved it if that they had. The holy grail is, maybe, the one for Vorwarts in Malmo.’
Programme patrons choose up items of paper and by some alchemy flip them into treasure
The East Germans, then behind the Iron Curtain, weren’t granted visas into Britain for the 1961 European Cup recreation. The house leg for Rangers was thus performed in Malmo, with the sport being deserted due to fog earlier than being performed the subsequent day.
‘There have been clearly unbelievable particulars round that match,’ says Miller. ‘However programmes for it are as uncommon as hens’ tooth.’
The extra trendy period of soccer programmes is represented by Stuart Curtis, who has travelled to Hampden from his base within the Midlands. His firm has been producing programmes – together with these of Aberdeen, Motherwell and, sure, Vale of Leithen – because it began 16 years in the past.
His workers of 13 additionally produce programmes for the PDC darts, rugby union and league, and snooker. He’s approached by golf equipment and organisations and provides them with the product they need. ‘Vale of Leithen is clearly a smaller programme however we’re delighted to work with them as a result of that’s what we do,’ he says merely.
His warehouse within the Midlands has two million programmes in inventory. However that grows by something from 3,000-5,000 every week as programmes are produced. He has a small classic part however he offers in supplying latest programmes.
‘We course of about 5,000-7,000 every week,’ he says. ‘The Submit Workplace has two lifts a day from our base.’
The group inside Hampden is extra occupied with direct shopping for. ‘I’ve been coming to those gala’s for about six years and I like discovering these treasures,’ says Lewis Petherick, 22, who works in hospitality at Celtic Park.
His employment has given him shut encounters with the Celtic greats and he’s significantly pleased with one acquisition.
‘I truly obtained it within the Barras,’ he says. ‘It was a 1963 programme of Hearts v Celtic and it’s signed by many of the Lisbon Lions.’
Pat McGeady, 65, leaves the truthful clutching a wondrous discover. It’s a Third Lanark programme. He solely has 600 of them and declares his newest buy as a ‘cracking discount’.
‘I’ve been accumulating for greater than 50 years,’ he says. He has 4,000-5,000 gadgets.
‘I nonetheless get excited,’ he says. ‘It was like Christmas Day for me at this time.’
His prized possessions at residence embody the Third Lanark v Rangers programme from 1947 and he has a programme for each Scottish Cup ultimate because the Second World Battle.
McGeady, although, continues to be on the hunt. ‘I need a programme from the Third Lanark recreation in opposition to Airdrie within the League Cup of 1964-65. There are regarded as solely 10 nonetheless in existence,’ he says.
Sellers and patrons are given a heat welcome on the door. Jim Thomson, 52, the organiser of the truthful, has a ardour for bringing his fellow devotees to the tables groaning with delights.
Thomson collects Stirling Albion programmes principally and people of European Cup finals pre-1970. He additionally offered the Binos programme as a child and talks delightedly of his favorite facet being the primary UK workforce to tour Japan in 1966. His favoured programme is one from 1939 involving St Bernard’s and King’s Park, the latter being the precursor to Stirling Albion.
Stuart Curtis owns an organization that produces programmes for Aberdeen and Motherwell
He now takes the programme gala’s all around the nation. ‘My assortment was up within the loft and when Covid got here alongside I went up with my two boys to type them out. We principally simply spent days flicking by them. My curiosity was rekindled and now I organise the gala’s.’
He provides: ‘Each soccer fan is a collector, although some won’t realise it. However each fan has an outdated scarf, an outdated soccer programme or a ticket stub or one thing to remind them of a selected match.’
Frank Coulson has no want for something to recall the occasions of October 23, 1971. It was the day that Partick Thistle beat Celtic 4-1 within the League Cup ultimate with Coulson at centre-forward.
I level him in the direction of a programme of that match and he says with a smile: ‘I believe I’ve one.’
He has shimmied in with Jim McSherry, Kilmarnock legend and raconteur extraordinaire, who prompts his mate to inform an acceptable story.
‘I used to be at a soccer truthful in Belfast,’ says Coulson. ‘I noticed this yellow and crimson strip and went to research. I noticed from the badge it was from a testimonial I performed in. The supplier was wanting £650 quid for it so my curiosity was restricted. He then turned the shirt round. Then I noticed the No.8.
‘I advised the supplier, “That’s the shirt I wore. Would you like me to signal it?’’ He mentioned: “No”.’
Coulson bursts into laughter. There are some issues that cash can’t purchase. However there are additionally good provides that may be refused.
