Day Iain laid the man in the middle out cold
Referees have been getting a lot of stick in recent weeks. Scottish football saw a rash of controversial decisions where players were being sent off. Officials brandishing red cards is nothing new, but a whistler getting an early bath is highly unusual. It happened on September 13, 1980, when Notts County striker Iain McCulloch was responsible for a ref having to leave the field. The Scot collided with the man in black during a game against Swansea at the Veitch Field. That led him to being knocked out cold and having to be stretchered off. It’s not often when both sets of fans take a perverse pleasure in someone being carried off the pitch. Probably the referee’s biggest mistake that day was getting in Iain’s way. This was a rugged, all-action player who never gave less than 100%. He recalled: “I actually remember more about scoring against Swansea than I do colliding with a referee. “I think my style came from my upbringing in Ayrshire. It was a mining area and if you wanted something, then the attitude was that you had to work for it. “I’ve never forgotten where I come from and I go back to visit quite regularly. “The 1980/81 season was a great one because Notts County got back to the First Division for the first time in 55 years. “We were a really well-organised, attacking side under Jimmy Sirrell. “I remember scoring two goals when we beat Swansea 2-1 at home later in the season. “We were vying for promotion with them and eventually both teams were promoted.” Iain had made a scoring debut for County in 1978 – in a 5-2 defeat away at West Ham. He showed he had an eye for goal and that continued in the top flight. “I scored in our first match in Division One against Aston Villa,” he said. “They were the reigning champions and the goal was enough to beat them 1-0. “That was a great start and a superb day for the fans. I still go to matches and I’m always really well received by them. “I started off playing in midfield, was moved to the wing and then went up front. “I honestly didn’t mind where I was playing as long as I was in the team .” Iain was the Magpies’ top scorer during their first two campaigns in the top flight. A fee of £80,000 had taken him to the club from Kilmarnock. He said: “I got into the first team at Killie quite quickly after coming from junior football at Hurlford. “We were part-time and it was one Christmas that convinced me I could do something as a full-timer. “During the festive break we were training most days for a fortnight. That gave me a bigger appetite for the game. “I was a heating engineer at the time and it wasn’t always easy to make training in the evening after you’d done a shift. “I remember we had a midweek game against Stranraer, and I found it impossible to get to the ground in time to catch the bus. “I had to go straight to the ground, still filthy from work, and change straight into my kit. That was just the way it was.” Iain was more than happy to join Notts County when they came calling. He said: “I wasn’t aware of any other offers for me. We didn’t have agents in those says – nobody stirring the pot, trying to unsettle you. “The first you heard was when the club accepted an offer.” Iain was twice selected as an over-age player for Scotland’s Under-21 side. A broken leg after a collision with Manchester United goalie Gary Bailey in 1984 ended his league career. He went on to manage Arnold Town and coach at other non-league teams. Now 63, he’s just returning to work as a delivery driver after a back operation left him on the sidelines for several months.