Jimmy’s Love St lament
Ex-striker Ex striker Bone reflects on missingBone reflects on missing out on Euro action as a Saint
Former Saints striker Jimmy Bone admits he wishes he had tasted European action at a packed Love Street.
But he insists going toe to toe with the likes of Franz Beckenbauer and George Best on the other side of the Atlantic made missing out on St Mirren’s first clashes on the continent more than worthwhile.
Bone was never afraid to pick up his passport and try his hand at playing around the world, turning out for Hong Kong Rangers and Toronto Blizzard during an eventful career that also included time at home with Partick Thistle and Hearts.
It was two loan spells playing in the North American Soccer League that robbed him of his chance to play in the UEFA Cup as the Buddies made their first appearances on the European stage in 1980.
While Bone missed out on taking on Elfsborg and St Etienne in front of packed crowds in Paisley, he’s adamant that pain is eased by the fact he still went up against some of the best players to ever kick a ball during his time in Canada and America.
Speaking exclusively to Express Sport, he explained: “I was very lucky to play all over the world during my career.
“I loved my time at St Mirren and we had a superb, young team. I was brought in by Alex Ferguson to be one of the older, more experienced heads in the dressing room alongside Jackie Copeland.
“After we’d completed the Scottish season, the opportunity came up for me to go on loan to Toronto Blizzard. My former teammate at Sheffield United Keith Eddy was the manager at the time and he wanted to bring in some good British players.
“St Mirren got a loan fee for the move, but I wanted to go and play and experience other countries so really the club were doing me a favour.
“The only issue was the American season didn’t end in time for the Scottish one restarting, so I’d miss the first five or six weeks by the time I came back over.
“That meant I missed out on the European ties in Paisley and Europe and that was a great shame. We were a very good team at the time and proved we could compete with the best in Europe. I regret missing out on those moments with my teammates at Love Street.
“But, at that time, some of the best players were playing in America, so I still got to experience taking on some huge players.
“Carlos Alberto, Johan Cruyff, George Best – there were so many top players out there that I got to play against.
“I remember the first game I played out there, we took on Best’s Fort Lauderdale Strikers and we lost 4-0. It was a pretty rude welcome and it’s fair to say I didn’t see too much of the ball.
“I went up against Franz Beckenbauer when he was there playing with the New York Cosmos too.
“We would do three-day trips to the west for away games and we got to see so much of the country. “It was a fabulous experience.” Bone made the move to St Mirren from Abroath, becoming one of Ferguson’s last ever signings in 1978.
As one of the club’s oldest players at the time, he revealed he couldn’t believe the amount of talented young players plying their trade in Paisley.
And, while he escaped the wrath of Ferguson’s infamous temper, Bone revealed the legendary boss wasn’t as easy on the Saints kids.
He said: “When I first started training with the team, I couldn’t believe the quality of the young players they had.
“Guys like Tony Fitzpatrick, Billy Stark, Frank McGarvey. I was 28 at the time and was considered a bit of a veteran alongside Jackie.
“I think Fergie was very respectful towards us because of our experience. He was definitely harder on the younger guys.
“But, at the end of the day, that helped turn them into the players they ended up becoming.
“He drove into them that determination and will to win and succeed.
“He was so driven himself. You could tell he was going to be successful, but no one could really tell he was going to go on and become one of the best British managers of all time.
“We had a superb team and when we finished third in the league we were seriously challenging for the title.
“If big Bobby Reid hadn’t have been injured, I think we would have done it.
“He was such an important player for us and his injury stopped us in our tracks a wee bit.”
While Premier Division glory evaded him, Bone was an integral part of the squad that lifted the Anglo-Scottish Cup in 1980.
He believes a half-hour spell during their 4- 0 thrashing of Sheffield United in the semi-finals was the best team performance he was ever a part of in his entire career, while he revealed lifting the trophy in Paisley was also extra special.
Bone said: “Winning the AngloScottish Cup at Love Street was
I went up against Franz Beckenbauer when he was there playing with the New York Cosmos too
one of my best moments with the club.
“I remember the first 30 minutes of the second leg of our semifinal in that run was the best spell of football I was ever part of.
“It was truly scintillating stuff and everything just clicked into place. It was spell-bounding stuff and we were the only Scottish team to ever win it.
“To have the final in Paisley made it even more special.
At Love Street the atmosphere and the fans were incredible.
“To go and lift the cup in front of the support e r s and with all the staff there was a moment
I’ll never forget.”