Fergie took a shot in goal – and let in three
St Johnstone host Rangers on Friday night, with the Saints looking to leapfrog the Ibrox men into third place.
The teams were neck and neck in the table last season.
But back in season 1963-64, the Perth team were a newly-promoted side, looking to solidify their place in the top division.
They did that quite comfortably in a season where they ended with something in common with Real Madrid.
Saints were the only side to beat Scottish Champions Rangers home and away. Real did the same thing in the European Cup. St Johnstone’s first victory of the campaign came at Ibrox, with two of the heroes being at opposite ends of the pitch.
Goalkeeper Harry Fallon limited Rangers to two goals, while Alex Ferguson came in from the wilderness to score a hat-trick.
The pair later swapped positions on one occasion – but that was slightly less successful.
Harry recalls the thrill of winning at Ibrox and getting one over a close friend.
He said: “I remember that day against Rangers very vividly.
“I had recently been brought into the team to replace Bill Taylor, and I was little nervous.
“Alex Ferguson hadn’t been playing and had nearly been transferred.
“He was brought in for his first game of the season and hit the net three times.
“It was a great feeling to win the game and it meant a good win bonus.
“George McLean of Rangers was one of my friends. We were both brought up in Paisley and used to knock about together.
“He was a great character but it was nice to beat him for once.
“We then defeated Rangers again in the last game of the season. “I kept a clean sheet as we won 1-0. “I’d had a trial for Celtic at the start of my career but they didn’t follow it up.
“I then played for St Johnstone against Celtic and their manager, Bobby Brown, offered me terms.
“It was great to be signed by a man who’d played in goal for Rangers and Scotland.”
Harry’s other memory of playing with Alex Ferguson is slightly painful – for both men.
He went on: “We were playing Hearts and it was 1- 1 when I got a kick on the head from Willie Wallace after diving at his feet.
“I was stretchered off and taken to hospital with a ruptured artery in my head. “Alex took my jersey and replaced me in goal. “Unfortunately, he lost three goals. “Playing in goal might not have been his thing but he had the courage to step up and have a go.”
Harry was back in the team after being discharged from hospital but then lost out to Jim Donaldson for the number one spot.
He said: “I played for St Johnstone reserves against Aberdeen, and was then approached by representatives from York City.
“I signed the forms to join them on the train and made my debut against Southend on the Monday night.
“There was only 48 hours between the two games but they were more than 500 miles apart.”
After three years with York, former Rangers and Scotland defender Eric Caldow signed Harry for Corby Town.
He added: “I then played for Kettering Town, but I’d taken a lot of head knocks – like the one against Hearts – and I was advised to give up the game.
“It was a blow at the time but, in retrospect, it was probably a good decision.
“I had a couple of spells in management with Corby Town and Rushden.”
Harry, now 75, had been given a job at the local steelwork in Corby and went on to become salaries manager for British Steel.
He spent 40 years in the town but has now moved to Essex to be closer to his grandchildren.