Second coming for Third Lanark
A football club has inducted the first members into its hall of fame – 49 years after it went bust.
Four former Third Lanark players and two historians who have helped keep the club’s spirit alive were selected at a dinner at Hampden last week.
Ex- players Dave Hilley, Matt Gray, Jimmy Mason and Jimmy Brownlie and historians Bob Laird and Bert Bell became the first to be admitted to the club’s Hall of Fame.
Four more inductees are planned for next year to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the club’s last game.
The Glasgow club – nicknamed the Hi His – went out of business in 1967.
It was a l leged Bi l l Hiddleston, chairman in the 60s, wanted to run it into the ground and sell Cathkin Park for housing.
Now, moves are under way to get Thirds back playing at their old ground and into the Scottish league.
Third Lanark fan and director Pat McGeady said: “There were a few tears at the event on Saturday. But it was memorable and everyone had a brilliant time.”
Fifty years on, the ground remains intact and interest in the club is strong.
Third Lanark were revived as an amateur team a decade ago and have gone from strength to strength.
Pat said: “Our aim is to use Cathkin as a ground for a team which could aim for the Lowland League, which offers a route into the league via the new pyramid set-up in Scotland.”