Law KO sore for Nobby
Jim McCalliog has revealed how Denis Law snubbed his Manchester United mate Nobby Stiles – until Scotland had sealed their most famous win ever.
The England World Cup winner, who died on Friday, was in the side beaten 3-2 by the Scots at Wembley in 1967, their first defeat after winning the Jules Rimet trophy in 1966.
McCalliog’s goal sealed the win sparked by Law’s opener, and he recalled: “Denis was not only Nobby’s team- mate at Old Trafford, he was also his hero.
“Because I played in England, I knew most of their players and I spoke to them beforehand.
“As the teams got ready to walk out on to the pitch, Nobby looked over at Denis and said hello. Denis just blanked him.
“Then, as we lined up on the pitch, Nobby waved at him and he ignored him again. Nobby was crushed because he hadn’t spoken a word to him. Yet, when the ful l- time whistle went, Denis was the first to jump on him, shouting, ‘Nae luck, wee man!’
“Denis loved Nobby to bits but hated losing to England more than anything and he had no pals in their team when playing against them.”
McCalliog insists former Old Trafford enforcer Stiles wasn’t just a tough- guy midfielder. He added: “Nobby was seriously under-rated as a player.
“Both of the first two managerial knights, Alf Ramsey and Matt Busby, rated him very highly.
“When England played Portugal in the World Cup semi-final, Ramsey told Nobby to shadow Eusebio wherever he went.
“It was between Eusebio and Pele as to who was the best player on the planet at that time but the only kick he had that night was the penalty consolation he got.
“When United beat Benfica two years later to win the European Cup, Sir Matt gave him the same job with the same result.”