Scots scorers galore but Jimmy Hill stole the show
We’re edging towards the business end of the season.
Cup competitions are reaching their crucial stages, while in the leagues, every point is a prisoner at both ends of the table.
Just ask Hamilton Accies, whose win at Ibrox last Wednesday night put Hearts’ gas at a peep following their derby success at Easter Road 24 hours earlier.
Both clubs, not to mention fellow strugglers St Mirren and Ross County, will want to have retained their Premiership status long before the bottom six clash for the final time on May 16 to avoid the sort of drama which unfolded in England 43 years ago.
Back on May 19, 1977, in the old Division One, three clubs – Bristol City, Coventry City and Sunderland – went into their final fixtures all locked on 34 points and with the spectre of relegation hanging over them. Tottenham were already down, and Stoke City – who were also on 34 points – needed a goal- difference miracle to happen on the last day to keep them up.
It was just unfortunate for The Potters and The Rokerites that the two Cities were playing against each other!
Tommy Hutchison had made such an impression during his first five years at Highfield Road following his move from Blackpool that his club chairman had dubbed him “Mr Magic”.
He played his part in Scotland’s march to the 1974 World Cup Finals in West Germany.
True to form, in the crunch match with The Robins, Hutchison pulled two rabbits out of the hat with a brace that saw his side tied at 2-2 going into the final five minutes.
But someone else – one Jimmy Hill Esq. – had already pulled a trick of his own from the sidelines!
It was a Thursday night, and both the match at Highfield Road and Sunderland’s game away to Everton were both scheduled to kick- off at 7.30pm.
With relegation on the line, these days everything possible would be done to ensure that matches started simultaneously to avoid any advantage being conceded.
But the start at Coventry was delayed by 10 minutes, supposedly due to crowd congestion, something the wily Hill was only too happy to go along with.
When it did start, Hutchison put the hosts two ahead, before his fellow Scots, Gerry Gow and Don Gillies, got the visitors back on level terms.
With the game at Goodison running ahead of Highfield Road, there were still around 10 minutes to play when news filtered through that Sunderland had lost 2-0.
Jimmy Hill allegedly made sure the trickle became a flood by getting the result announced over the stadium tannoy and displayed on the electronic scoreboard.
The 2- 2 scoreline meant both Coventry and Bristol would be spared the drop if there was no further scoring.
What ensued did neither club any credit. Neither made any attempt to get a winning goal, the ball was knocked around between team-mates with hardly a tackle going in from by the opposition and both clubs ultimately got the result they required to stay up.
Another Scot on the pitch that night, Peter Cormack, who had signed from Liverpool the previous November, recalled the controversy. He said: “Without a word being spoken between opposing players, the game became a training match.
“The object for the team with the ball was to keep possession without attempting a shot at goal.
“It was funny and nerve-racking at the same time.
“Fortunately, I never had to experience that situation again.”
Sunderland were seething, of course, and an FA enquiry resulted in Jimmy Hill receiving a reprimand.
But the result stood.