Ged was suddenly thrown on to keep out Newcastle
With players set to move on this summer, clubs are already lining up replacements.
It’s then often a significant moment when a new signing makes his debut for a team. On this day in 1973, it was announced that Brechin City had fixed up two new goalies.
One was Eric Martin, later to be signed by Dundee and play for Arbroath.
The other was Ged Reilly, who had been with Inverness Thistle the previous season. Prior to that, he made one of the most dramatic debuts in Scottish football during a spell with Dundee United.
Not many get their first taste of top-team action in a European tie.
One part of his story, however, needs to be corrected. He wasn’t 16 years old when he came on a substitute to face Newcastle United in the Inter-cities Fairs Cup at Tannadice. That has been reported for many years and the origin of the misinformation was a team-mate!
Ged recalled: “I was signed by Dundee United in 1969 because they needed a back-up keeper when Hamish Mcalpine got a bad injury.
“I was playing for the reserves and then found myself on the bench against Newcastle. I wasn’t expecting to play, which was just as well because I’d not have slept the night before. “We were 2-0 down when Donald Mackay sustained a head injury.
“The manager, Jerry Kerr, just shouted “right Ged, you’re on” and then turned away. “My team-mate, Jimmy Briggs, said to the referee as I walked on the park, “look after our goalie, he’s only 16”. I was actually 20.
“We got a goal back through Ian Scott after I came on and didn’t concede any. I like to say I helped to beat Newcastle 1-0!
“There wasn’t really a lot made of the fact that I’d played my first senior game in those circumstances.
“I was hoping I’d get to stay in the first team for Saturday’s game against Dundee at Dens Park, but Donald managed to play with his head bandaged up.
“I was freed by United when Hamish Mcalpine returned to full fitness.
“I think they made the right choice in sticking with him. He was a great goalkeeper and a really nice guy.
“My time at United gave me the experience of playing in the same side as Dennis Gillespie.
“He was another great person and a magnificent footballer.”
Ged spent a week on trial at Blackpool before spending a season between the sticks for Montrose.
Then it was off to play in the Highland League for Inverness Thistle.
He said: “I travelled up and down to the Highlands from Dundee until I missed one game when a train was delayed.
“After that, I used to often stay in Aberdeen on the Friday night with my friend and Thistle captain Ian Cumming.
“I worked as an engineer with BT and had to take holidays to make midweek matches.
“It was a very successful time for the club. We won two championships and a number of cups.
“I only left and signed for Brechin because I was going to get married and the travelling was a bit much.”
Reilly did later return to Inverness Thistle for a season and had two stints with junior outfit Dundee North End.
Have gloves will travel could have been his motto.
He was selected for the Scotland Junior squad and picked up a cap against Wales.
“I played for Brechin City a second time, then had a season with Lochee United .
“Finally, I went back to Broughty Athletic – the club where it began for me before I was signed for Dundee United.
“I played in the juniors until I was 43 but not in goals. I preferred for play in midfield or up front.
“Back then, I was referred to as ‘big man’ but I’m 5ft 10in tall and that wouldn’t be considered nearly big enough to be a goalkeeper now.”