Billy could have done without goalie’s wind-up ALAN BRAZIL
Hearts’ full-back Aaron Hickey will be in the spotlight today after being linked with a move to Manchester City.
Playing against a free-scoring Rangers side is another big test for the 17-year-old.
But he’s used to big occasions – the second match of his professional career was this year’s Scottish Cup Final against Celtic.
Former Jambos defender Billy McAlpine knows what it’s like to be suddenly thrust into first-team football.
His chance came in November, 1968, when Manchester City paid a club-record fee of £65,000 to take left-back Arthur Mann from Tynecastle.
The move was only sealed on a Saturday when Hearts had a home game against St Johnstone.
Billy recalled: “I was on the bus to Perth with the reserves when I was taken off and told by the manager, John Harvey, that I was playing for the first team.
“My direct opponent was winger Kenny Aird, who later moved to become a Hearts’ player.
“We drew 2-2 and I think I did alright for an inexperienced 18-year-old who was slightly overweight.
“I always struggled with my weight a little because I was a part-timer, and doing an apprenticeship in the printing industry.
“It meant I trained two evenings a week. “I did have a three-month spell where I went full-time, but I couldn’t hack all the time off.”
The departing Arthur Mann saw things differently. He gave up his job as a laboratory technician just a year before heading for England’s First Division.
Billy was competing for a spot in the Hearts team with the experienced Davie Holt during his first season, but managed 14 appearances.
He said: “You had five forwards coming at you in those days.
“There were some tremendous wingers, including Celtic’s Jimmy Johnstone and Willie Henderson of Rangers.
“I couldn’t recognise them from the front because I was used to only seeing their back as they ran past!
“Johnstone would always give you a second chance when he came back to beat you again, but Henderson was well away once he’d pushed the ball on.
“I remember we played Rangers at Ibrox in the Scottish Cup on a Monday night.
“Our goalkeeper, Jim Cruickshank, clashed with Willie Johnston in the tunnel and I think he took it out on me.
“He scored, and ripped me to pieces as they won 2-0.
“There were tough games but I enjoyed every minute of my time at Hearts.
“It’s the club I supported as a boy and I’m still a supporter now. Whenever I go back to Tynecastle, it feels like going home.” Football was tougher back in Billy’s day. He went on: “The ball felt like a cannonball. “I remember going to Inverness to play for the Scotland youth team against England.
“I headed the ball and went down, seeing stars.
“The remedy was to put smelling salts under my nose and get me back playing.
“I was sick on the plane home. I must have been concussed but nobody was bothered.”
Billy’s career at Hearts wasn’t helped by a bad injury sustained against Morton.
He said: “I was out for about 14 months and it might have been easier if I’d broken the ankle.
“I got physio in a treatment room that was always filled with pipe smoke, but they couldn’t seem to get the bruising to go away.”
He went on to have a couple of years with Arbroath then a season with Stirling Albion.
“I then played junior with Arniston Rangers but I walked away when the manager was sacked,” he said.
“I retired at 25, which was way too soon. “But I’ve now taken up walking football and thoroughly enjoy it. The old competitive spirit is still there.”