I feared I’d been Mo’d down by Souness swoop
It was the exclusive that had unearthed details of rocked Scottish football Rangers’ move. and my name was all over By early evening I was it – but it wasn’t my story. churning out thousands
Mo Johnston signing for of words on the life and Rangers in July 1989 sent times of Mo and a back shockwaves through the page story had morphed game in this country. into several pages of the
Graeme Souness made paper, front and back. his point by signing a Still the nagging doubts Catholic and Rangers had persisted. Get this one dealt Celtic a mighty blow wrong and there would be in the process. no hiding place.
Johnston wasn’t the It was never going club’s first Catholic player to be just tomorrow’s but he was the most high chip wrapper. profile by a country mile. Reputations were on
To add extra spice to the line, none more so the tale, he had also been than mine and it wasn’t on the point of re-signing even my story! for Celtic just days before Rangers called a press following his departure conference next morning from Nantes in France. and I sat in Ibrox’s Blue
This is the official Room wiping my sweaty version of how p palms as one of the we awaited biggest sports t the arrival of stories of allc chairman Sir time unfolded. David Murray
It was a a and Souness. warm summer “Please Sunday and I God, let there was looking b be a third forward to man,” I kept enjoying a day s saying to off until the myself. When phone rang. I glanced
The call was across the from the r room, I could deputy sports s see others editor telling a also offering uu me that the up a prayer ...
“office had “Please God, l received a le let there nnt strong tip that not be a Rangers were third man!” about to pinch Johnston Like me, colleagues had from under Celtic’s nose. dismissed the suggestion
“If that happens I out of hand. Then they will bare my a*** in walked in and I let out a Woolworths’ front huge sigh of relief. window,” I replied. I was off the hook.
After making calls, I was There were three of them satisfied the suggestion – Murray, Mo and was absurd. I wasn’t so Souness, grinning from sure several hours later ear to ear. when I got a further call The move summed up stating that the rumour Souness. He never lacked had been stood up. balls but he always had
The paper’s editor had style and class. telephoned Souness and I once complimented while the Rangers boss him on his after-shave refused to confirm the and was told that it was accuracy of the story, he an exclusive brand he didn’t deny it either. had made specially in
The tip had come from Italy. Several days later he young sports writer Keith handed me a package and Jackson – now our sister told me that there were paper the Daily Record’s now only two of us on the Associate Editor – who planet smelling the same!
“Again, this is potentially just the start for us, coming out of lockdown and seeing what other opportunities we can hopefully get involvedinvo in.
The Scottish FA Grassroo presented ts Awards by 2020 the Sunday McDonald Mail ’s and those who will are vital to celebrate local football in their Grassroo communi ts ty. volunteer clubs, coaches s from any and be SFA region nominated can . will showcase heroes every the local week. Nominatio Monday ns close on July 13, so at www. get scottishfa nominatin developm .co.uk/footballg ent/ attractive- grassroots game/ award- -awards/ categories
“We haveh a list of maybe 25 things thet local community have come to us and said: ‘How about this, howh about that?’
“It is going to be a challenge to sees if we can get some of themth up and running.
“It may well be what we need ne to do for younger people, pe what we need to do for fo older people who have beenbe shielding.
“To me, it is a legacy and I often think back about Janie and howho proud I am of the work that she did. We want to continue that for many years to come.”