Tom Forsyth
Tommy McLean pays tribute to his pal
Tommy McLean last night told of his sorrow at the loss of his “best pal” and fellow Rangers legend, Tom Forsyth.
Forsyth passed away on Friday evening at the age of 71.
The pair were team-mates at Rangers for 10 years from 1972.
It was McLean’s free-kick against Celtic in the 1973 Scottish Cup Final – headed on to the post by Derek Johnstone – that led to Forsyth’s rare, and most-famous goal, when he knocked the ball home from six inches with his studs.
Three years later – also at Hampden and while earning one of his 22 Scotland caps – he prevented a certain England goal with an inch-perfect tackle on Mick Channon.
It was the sort of no-nonsense challenge which earned him the nickname “Jaws”.
But McLean remembers a less-fierce individual than the one that appeared on the pitch.
When he moved into management, Forsyth became his right-hand man.
Former wing wizard McLean, now 73, said: “It was a shock when I got the phone call to tell me that Big Tam had passed.
“The first thing that came to mind was that he was battler
– he had been a battler all his days.
“He was a winner as a player, and that is why it came as such a shock.
“You always felt that no matter what it was, he would beat it.
“He was brilliant to have around and always full of patter.
“But what many won’t know is that he was definitely a big gentle giant.
“The way he played, everyone thought he was just a ballwinner. But he was much more than that.
“He could pass the ball. When he was at Motherwell before moving to Ibrox, they played him as an inside-forward, and he was a really good passer of the ball.
“People talk about winners. You look at Tom Forsyth and John Greig – they epitomised what winners are all about.
“First and foremost, you have to have people who can get you the ball before the playmakers can play. Tam was one of those guys.
“But, off the park, he was most definitely a gentle giant, full of fun and laughter.
“I’ve known him for 50 years. He was one of my best pals, so this came as a real shock.
“We were local boys together, me from Larkhall and him from Stonehouse. We got on well and even travelled into Ibrox together for all our years there.”
When McLean took to management it was with Forsyth at his side as his assistant, first at Morton, then with Motherwell – securing a stunning Scottish Cup success in 1991 – and finally at Hearts.
Tommy admitted there was almost a slight reversal of roles when they went into the dug-out.
“With me being the manager, I was now the hard man, if you like,” he said.
“That was something he had been as player, while I was the playmaker.
“But he was now the one being the liaison between the players and me.
“And he was great in the role. He was good at the coaching, but he always had a great rapport with the players.
“He was a great guy. Anything I ever needed done, he would do it to the very best that he could.
“In football, you need people around you that you can trust. I trusted Tam 100%.
“He will be missed.”