McVittie took the biscuit on Big Jock’s big day
ST JOHNSTONE are aiming to end Celtic’s unbeaten League record when they travel to Glasgow today.
Fifty years ago, the Saints beat the Hoops home and away in the same season. And a new goalkeeper was the hero when Jock Stein’s first home game as Parkhead boss ended in defeat.
It was probably the greatest day of a career that was cruelly cut short.
The Perth club were toiling in November, 1964, having scored only three times at home and collected just two points. However, a quartet of new signings made a huge impact as they appeared for the first time at Muirton Park.
22 - year- old goalie Mike McVittie was joined by fellow new boys Neil Duffy, Felix McGrogan and Jackie Coburn. The new keeper recalls that he earned his modest win bonus in the second half of an amazing match.
He says: “It was a big day for me, having moved from Brechin up to the First Division and facing Celtic in the first home game.
“But it went incredibly well, with us 3-0 up after only half an hour. Buck McCarry scored in the first minute and then Felix McGrogan and Jim Kerray also hit the net.
“Celtic really bombarded us after half-time but I was able to keep a clean sheet.”
Four months later and Saints went to Glasgow looking to repeat the victory.
That looked unlikely. Stein was in charge for his first home game and his new charges had scored 24 goals in their last five League matches.
But the Perth men went ahead in the 49th minute. They defended the lead manfully only to concede a penalty in the last minute.
Bertie Auld stepped up to take it and goalkeeper McVittie started racking his memory banks.
He recalls: “I always did pretty well with penalties and worked on the theory that regular penalty takers seldom changed their favourite side.
“I dived to parry Bertie’s kick to my right and managed to save the follow-up shot. We then had to defend a corner with the ball bobbing about the area.
“It was a great win for us against a Celtic team that lifted the League title the following season and contained several of the Lisbon Lions.”
Mike was firmly established at St Johnstone’s No 1 and a highly-rated keeper. Little over a year later, however, a freak accident while working as a painter ended his career.
He said: “I got a piece of sand or grit in my eye, and it damaged the cornea.
“Eventually I had surgery to transplant a cornea into my damaged eye — ground-breaking stuff at the time.
“I got myself fit again and a few teams were keen to sign me.
“But the medical advice was that if I got a knock, the eye could be damaged and they couldn’t repeat the procedure.
“I really had no choice but to retire. I suppose it would be a more difficult decision now with some of the big money players get paid.
“Happily, all these years later, my eye is still absolutely fine.”
Mike hung up his gloves and his paintbrushes and went on to work in sales for 30 years.