The day Brogan and pals upset the Ibrox applecart
Wishaw Juniors boss John Brogan was thrust into the limelight as BBC Alba recorded footage to use during a broadcast a fortnight ago.
The BBC’S Gaelic channel were at the Superseal Stadium for the Ladbrokes Premiership match between Hamilton Accies and St Johnstone, and since he enjoyed success at both clubs, an interview with the striker was broadcast at half-time.
Brogan said: “It was good for Wishaw to get the publicity. You’re not always sure how they will edit it, but I thought it was done very well.
“I played for both clubs and they’re always looking for something to put on at half-time, so they asked me to do the interview and I did it at Wishaw.”
One of Brogan’s favourite memories was Hamilton’s 1-0 Scottish Cup win at Ibrox against Graeme Souness’s Rangers in January 1987.
John Lambie’s men recorded a result against big-spending Rangers that is still a major shock to this day.
During the BBC interview, Brogan said: “To go to Ibrox and beat Rangers was just a miracle.
“Some people don’t believe in miracles but I do. That was a miracle that day because Rangers absolutely hammered us and we beat them 1-0.
“It was a mistake that got us the goal but do you know what? You take it. It was a big feather in John Lambie’s cap.
“We had a game-plan that day, it was one of the few occasions where John set us up how he wanted us to play – and it worked a treat.
“I used to watch Hamilton Accies when I was a boy, my ambition was always to play at Douglas Park, so it was great to get the opportunity to do that and bring a bit of success to the club.”
Brogan (63) remains all-time top goalscorer at St Johnstone with 140 goals in 277 starts and was a major part in their eventual promotion to the top flight.
When he joined the Perth Saints, the club was languishing at the bottom of the First Division, but Brogan’s six goals in 15 games helped them to avoid relegation.
Brogan said: “At St Johnstone I ended up having a great relationship with the supporters.
“It was a real family club at the time and you got to know all the supporters.
“They were really genuine people and the club meant everything to them.
“I had gone there and the club were in a wee bit of turmoil, but it was a step up for me from where I had been at Albion Rovers, so I thought it was worth the risk.
“We ended up finishing fourthbottom and I scored maybe nine or 11 goals.
“It was hard, it was the final game of the season against Queen of the South at Palmerston Park and we had to win – and we did, 4-1. It was a great result and a great day as we avoided relegation.”
St Johnstone would go on to beat Hearts to promotion to the Premier League later in Brogan’s Mcdiarmid Park career, and he scored 36 goals in all competitions as Saints won the First Division in 1982-83.
He said: “It was great going to play at Celtic Park, Ibrox, Easter Road and Pittodrie – who wouldn’t enjoy that?
“It was fabulous going to these places – although the results weren’t always that great.”