WILLIE DONACHIE
A little bit of the USA is being named after him
IN June, 1978, Willie Donachie was licking his wounds and hoping for better days in his football career.
The Manchester City defender had been part of the Scotland squad that crashed and burned at the World Cup Finals in Argentina.
There will always be fond memories of Archie Gemmill’s goal against Holland – the greatest in the history of the tournament. But the rest was far from glorious.
Despite boasting the likes of Graeme Souness, Kenny Dalglish, Joe Jordan, Martin Buchan, Gordon McQueen and Bruce Rioch, Ally MacLeod’s squad was on the first plane home from South America.
Or the second, if you count the one Willie Johnston boarded after failing a drugs test.
The experience, however, didn’t sour Donachie. He will be 65 later this year, but is still very much in love with football.
He recovered from the bruising experience of Argentina to play on at the top level for another 12 years before going into coaching and management at home and abroad.
His current challenge is reviving the fortunes of Temecula FC in California.
The locals have taken the Scot to their hearts – so much so that one end of their stadium is to be named after him. And their latest T-shirt features a St Andrew’s Cross in tribute to the Glasgow-born coach.
Donachie needed a fresh start after a messy end to a four-year spell as Newcastle United’s reserve-team manager.
He said: “When I left St James’ Park in 2014, I was very frustrated at not coaching.
“The owner of Temecula, Brandon Jantz, came to England about 15 years ago. He was a very good player but couldn’t get a work permit.
“He played non-league up near Newcastle for a friend of mine, Ryan Jobson, who suggested I go to California to help Brandon build a semipro team.
“This is my third summer coaching their top team, and people of all ages.
“Dedicating an end of their little ground to me means a lot. It’s a great honour.”
“Football is growing fast in California, with the likes of Robbie Keane and Steven Gerrard playing for LA Galaxy.
“When they get a real world star, like Lionel Messi, it will really take off.”
In Scotland we’re crying out for more-creative players, and national manager Gordon Strachan believes the country has developed a generation of ‘scared’ footballers.
Donachie sees similar problems in the States, but is adamant things can change.
He went on: “Young people do not love the game like my generation did. “We had the perfect balance of structured leagues at school and boys clubs, but also the thousands of hours of practice and fun experimenting on our own, with the freedom to make mistakes “This is the balance needed to make world-class players like Scotland used to have, and it can be done again.
“The coaches must inspire a love for the game and natural enthusiasm. It shouldn’t become work. “I became a coach with the goal of helping players enjoy football, but I see less and less playing with a smile on their face. “Everything is too organised, so players become robotic.
“The balance should be to learn the techniques and be allowed to practice in games.
“I feel also getting to the next level has a lot to do with mental strength and awareness. I am very interested in working on that.
“The kids here are very open to this. Players with desire want every edge they can to be the best.
“But I will come back and coach at some level in the UK because I believe I have more experience than ever.”
Donachie sees himself as a forwardthinking coach, but, like most football people, he’s happy to spend a little time thinking back to past glories.
He went to Manchester City as a teenager and spent 11 years at Maine Road.
There were trips to the World Cup in 1974 and 1978 during a six-year spell when he turned out for Scotland 35 times.
It’s best not to dwell on his spectacular own goal past Jim Blyth in a game against Wales – but at least he can say he scored at international level!
Donachie added: “I hope the players appreciate who they represent when they are playing for Scotland.
“It was my biggest honour but I don’t think I fully realised that at the time.”