Experience of coming on felt sub-standard

EVER since organised football began in the early 1860s there have been occasional changes to the way the game is played.

In 1866 players were no longer offside as long as there were three opponents between them and the opposing goal.

A major change took place in 1925. A few full-backs – always the most intelligent players on any pitch – used that law to catch forwards in offside positions, with the result that the goalscoring rate dropped dramatically.

It was decided to change one word in the law, substituting two instead of three for the number of players needed to catch a player offside.

The change worked well, resulting in an increase in the number of goals scored.

Another major change occurred in the mid-60s, just when I was starting my own career at Celtic Park.

The authorities decided to introduce substitutes at the start of season 1966-67. The first at Parkhead was full-back Willie O’Neill, who came on for Jimmy Johnstone against St Mirren on September 3, 1966

In some reports I am credited with being the first Celtic league sub but Stevie Chalmers took that role against Dundee on September 24, 1966.

Just a few weeks later – and 53 years ago today – I became Celtic’s second league sub, finding the whole experience not particularly pleasant.

The match was against Stirling Albion at Celtic Park and all through the pre-match preparations I just felt I wasn’t part of the team. I was unsure about doing a warm-up, as I’d be sitting on the bench, at least for a while. Would I cool down or even stiffen up?

And during the admittedly brief pre-match talk Jock Stein gave, the sub obviously never got a mention. Talk about being the spare at a wedding...

We took the lead through wee Jinky after just five minutes and in the following 20 minutes got further goals through Joe McBride (2) and Chalmers.

Then came my big moment. In the 25th minute, Charlie Gallagher went down injured and had to come off.

The boss waved down to where I wasn’t doing very much behind one of the goals and I was on!

Substitutes were quickly accepted as a useful addition to the game. I wonder if VAR will be similarly treated?