On the Record
QWhen Morton won the First Division title in 1978, can you confirm it was on goal difference? Can you also give a typical line-up that season? JP, Port Glasgow.
ABoth Morton and Hearts finished with 58 points from 39 games to take the promotion places but the Greenock side had the better goal difference, 43 to their rivals’ 35, so finished first. The deciding game in a tense title race came on April 26, 1978, when Benny Rooney’s team won 3-1 at home against Airdrie, Davie Hayes, John Goldthorp and cult hero Andy Ritchie (penalty) scoring their goals and Joe Cairney replying. Morton’s line-up that night was: Connaghan, Hayes, Holmes, Anderson, Orr, Veitch, Russell, Brown, Miller, Goldthorp, Ritchie. Subs: Evans, Thomas.
QAny info on a junior game in which Largs beat Hurlford 10-2? My brother, James McGowne, was in goal for Hurlford and walked off before the end, saying he wasn’t there to be humiliated. It would have been 50 or 60 years ago. Brian McGowne.
ASorry for the delay in answering but it took me a while to find this match. It was a West of Scotland Cup first-round tie on September 7, 1957, and, as you say, James gave up after goal No.10, leaving left-back Davie Fulton to take the gloves for the final few minutes. The Hurlford committee suspended your brother but he said he was quitting football anyway.
QAm I right in saying that Colin Stein scored the goal for Rangers that stopped Celtic doing 10 in a row? Can you also give Stein’s scoring record in Old Firm games? James Dunn, Rutherglen.
ARangers stopped Celtic’s long run of title successes on March 29, 1975, and Stein was the scorer in a 1-1 draw at Hibs. Ally MacLeod had put the Edinburgh side ahead but Stein headed in a Bobby McKean cross for the equaliser and the point that secured Rangers’ first title in 11 years. It was Stein’s first goal since returning to the club from Coventry City a few weeks earlier. Team-mate Sandy Jardine had earlier
missed a penalty. In games for Rangers against Celtic, including the Glasgow Cup, Stein’s tally was four goals.
QHow many goals did Derek Riordan score for Hibs and for Celtic? Barney.
AOver eight seasons and two different spells, Riordan played 260 games for Hibs and scored 104 goals. For Celtic he scored eight goals in 33 games.
QWhat was Hearts’ first European tie and who scored their first goal? D Kirk, P.
AThey played in the European Cup in 1958-59 but lost 6-3 on aggregate to Standard Liege straight away. Ian Crawford got their first Euro goal.