Football life of Brian was altered by red mist at Ibrox
The direction of a footballer’s career can change in a split second.
That’s especially true for goalkeepers. They often go from hero to villain in the blink of an eye.
David Marshall will forever be a Scotland legend after his incredible penalty save in Serbia.
Things didn’t go quite so well for Brianwallace on November 14, 1970.
It’s 50 years since he made the back- page headlines for a reason he instantly regretted.
Brian was a teenage keeper, who had made a dramatic leap from junior football to Scotland’s top flight.
The biggest game of his short career came when he lined- up for Clyde against Rangers at Ibrox.
He recalled: “I had been playing for St Roch’s Juniors for a couple of seasons. Dom Sullivan and Denis Mcquade were in the team.
“We played a couple of pre-season friendlies against Clyde, and I must have shown up well.
“But they found themselves without a goalkeeper in October, 1970.
“Tommy Mcculloch got injured, and John Wright was out with a broken ankle.
“They came in for me because they’d seen me play. They were in a hurry for a goalie.
“I made my debut against Dundee United. It was the first game my father ever watched me play in.
“We lost 2- 1, but I thought I had acquitted myself well.
“That set me off on a run of games.
“The week before we played Rangers, we were up against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
“It felt good to be keeping in the company of goalkeepers like Bobby Clark.
“I had just turned 19 – but I was a young 19. “I was very comfortable going into the Rangers game but, in the end, I think the occasion was just too much for me.
“Physically I was prepared for top- flight football, but I probably wasn’t ready mentally.
“We were 1- 0 down when Eddie Mulheron went to cut out a cross ball, and put it beyond my reach for an own goal.
“Maybe that was the thing that unsettled me, and led to things going badly wrong.”
Brian took a kick at Gers midfielder, Alex Macdonald, and conceded a penalty. He then kicked the ball away and was sent off.
He recalls: “Some of the Rangers players realised they were playing against a young keeper who might react.
“They gave me some extra attention during the game, and took advantage.
“Some left the foot in when they didn’t have to. I felt there was no need for that – they were better than us.
“But I’m not going to cr iticise Macdonald. It was me that kicked him.
“I went into the dressing room and the only person there was John Flanagan, who had come off injured. He asked me if the game was finished!
“I just got washed and changed, then left on my own. Unfortunately, Rangers got another three goals and won 5-0.”
It led to a difficult relationship between Brian and Clyde boss, Archie Robertson.
He went on: “I was brought back for a game against Cowdenbeath later in the season, and a 1-1 draw helped steady the ship after we’d been knocked out of the Cup by Raith Rovers.
“But that was my last game, and it was difficult for me at Shawfield.
“Archie would sometimes make me go to reserve games and not play me.
“I left at the end of the season.”
Brian, now 69. played a couple of games for Hamilton Accies and returned to the juniors with St Roch’s.
He said: “Had it not been for that game at Ibrox, I feel I could have had a better football career.
“However, one good thing came from my time at Clyde.
“I met my wife, Kathleen, when I was on the bus going to training at Shawfield. We’ve now been married for 47 years.”
Alex