Berwick hero Russell gives his old club a back hander
Craig donates 1963 signing-on fee of £100
A BERWICK hero from their giantkilling of Rangers has risen to the challenge again – by gifting his £100 signing-on fee from 57 years ago back to the club.
Russell Craig was part of the Wee Gers’ side who dumped the Ibrox giants out of the Scottish Cup 53 years ago.
The hard-as-nails defender helped put the shackles on Scot Symon’s side in what remains one of the biggest shocks the competition has produced.
Now the 75-year-old has conjured up another piece of Berwick brilliance and donated his wedge for joining the club in 1963 back to the Shielfield coffers – all £100 of it!
Craig, signed by Ian Spence from Blantyre Vics, hopes it helps the club emerge from the coronavirus crisis and push back up the leagues after being relegated out of the professional set-up a year ago.
He said: “It’s not nearly worth what it was back in 1963 unfortunately but if it goes even a small way to helping the club I’ll be happy.
“I just hope the cheque doesn’t bounce after 57 years!
That was good money back then. The house I bought soon after cost me £1200 so that goes to show its value.
“Someone said it’s the equivalent of £2000 now. Maybe I’ll ask for it back in modern money!
“But, seriously, I’d heard at the start of the year Berwick could be going out the game which would have been awful.
“But they have a new committee in place and they have big plans to start working their way back from the Lowland League so hopefully every little helps.
“I still live in Blantyre but have made so many friends in Berwick down the years. It’s a place and a club close to my heart.”
Craig spent six years with Berwick before moving back into the junior ranks where he won the Scottish Junior Cup three times with Cambuslang Rangers and as manager of Ballieston. But his greatest moment undoubtedly came on that cold January afternoon in 1967 when Rangers were humbled by Sammy Reid’s goal – just four months before the Ibrox side ran out in the European Cup Winners’ Cup Final against Bayern Munich.
It was a painful moment for all of Symon’s side but nobody more so than winger Willie Johnston who suffered a broken ankle.
But Craig is keen to dispel the myth it was his boot that delivered the blow.
He added: “To be honest we should have won by more than the 1-0 scoreline. We were magnificent.
“Big Jock Wallace was our player-manager and in goal that day but he never had to make too many saves.
“Everyone remembers Willie Johnston getting injured. I somehow got the blame for it.
“The truth is that he went into a challenge with big Jock and hit our keeper so hard he ended up breaking his ankle.
“He was squealing and a few of us gathered round him to tell him to get up. There’s a picture of it and it looks like we’re going to kill him! “But it was Jock
who
did the damage and he sure let Willie know about it!
“John Greig was shouting something like he was going to kill me but I remember one of my team-mates telling him, ‘I wouldn’t if I was you - he’s mental!’
“We celebrated that result for years. “I was a Rangers fan which made it even more special. But when I was on the park against anyone it didn’t matter, there were no preferences.” Berwick chairman Brian Porteous said: “What a great surprise and for Russell to donate his ‘fee’ from all the way back is a wonderful gesture. “As a club legend and Hall of Fame member, Russell is always welcome at Shielfield Park. “And we look forward to him hopefully paying a visit during the 2020-21 season when it gets under way.”