Niall was the Spider who nearly tamed the Lions
THE dust is still settling on last weekend’s Old Firm match where Celtic beat Rangers 2-1.
Sixty years ago, the Hoops were beaten by another Glasgow side just four days after losing at Ibrox.
Celtic took on Queen’s Park at Hampden Park during the first week of January, 1957.
The game became a real turning point for the newly-promoted amateurs.
They won 2-0 and went on to preserve their top-flight status.
It was a great day for the Spiders’ rightwinger, Niall Hopper, and his team-mates.
But 10 years later, he enjoyed a day of greater personal glory against Celtic.
Niall recalled: “We had an excellent side that won the Second Division Championship in 1956.
“It’s always difficult for a promoted team to stay up, but beating Celtic gave the lads a big confidence boost.
“Charlie Church scored both goals and he was a great servant to the club over many years.
“Playing in the top division was an exciting experience because the crowds were so much bigger.
“I had started my working life at Clyde Iron Works in Glasgow, and most of the other men supported Rangers or Celtic.
“They didn’t really give us much credit if we beat one of the smaller teams. But it was different if we got a draw or a win against one of the Old Firm.
“I knew I’d be hearing: ‘Well done, Nially’ from at least half of the workforce on the Monday morning!”
Queen’s ended the campaign well clear of the relegation places in 13th position.
However, the next season saw them finish bottom of the table with only nine points.
They weren’t helped by the absence of Niall, who revealed: “I went away to do my national service with the Royal Signals.
“That took me to Germany, and I missed nearly two full years of football.
“The team that was promoted lost quite a few other players for the same reason.
“When I came back, I played in all five forward positions for the club, but mostly on the right wing.”
Niall spent 15 seasons with Queen’s Park, scoring 70 goals.
He remained loyal to the amateur outfit despite the temptation of joining bigger clubs.
He explained: “Third Lanark asked me to sign for them, and there were then offers from Rangers and Celtic.
“But my father was very much opposed to professional sport.
“I’m really not sure where he got that from, but he was adamant that I should stick to the amateur ranks.
“I always thoroughly enjoyed playing for the Spiders and there was a great spirit amongst the players.
“Even now I still meet up with lads who were team-mates.”
Niall scored Queen’s Park’s 5000th goal in 1960 and then hit the headlines by giving Celtic a shock in 1967.
He said: “I scored two goals against the Lisbon Lions team in the Scottish Cup quarter-final.
“We were beaten 5-3, but I think they got a bit of a fight when we got it back to 4-3.
“They were an outstanding team, so it was quite something to get those goals.”
Niall, now 81, hung up his boots in 1969, did a bit of coaching at Hampden and then transferred his sporting life to the golf course.
He set up a successful family business, Anhop, which specialises in architectural metalwork.