Learning all about Raploch legend Billy
An academic from Stirling University recently delivered a presentation on Raploch’s iconic football star, Billy Bremner, at Stirling County’s popular memories meeting.
Professor Richard Haynes, of the Media Sport department at the university, gave the presentation on the boy from Raploch who took on the world at football and won most of the challenges.
Professor Haynes described the story of Billy Bremner who was raised in Stirling, just yards from our Bridgehaugh Park, but who probably did not know rugby existed.
Bremner spent his hours playing football at the Shell Park, in Raploch, until he moved on to be an international schoolboy player and starred for St Modan’s before playing in leagues with boys, or even men, several years older than him with Gowanhill United.
He developed his profile as a highly skilled, pugnacious, small player who could hold his own against the odds.
Memorably, he played in one of the first schoolboy internationals to be televised in 1958, coming up against Terry Venables in the England team – Billy was always a player who got a special mention in match reports, in that game and every game he played in throughout his career.
Richard’s research project – Fae Raploch to Elland Road – describes Billy’s move to Leeds, aged 15, and how he later became captain of Leeds United. Don Revie moved from being a player behind Billy on the park in the early sixties to becoming the legendary manager of Leeds in the late sixties and early seventies. He could see how Billy would be able to move from a talented youngster to be his captain and also to lead the Scottish national team.
In a film shown by Richard, several local men spoke of ‘Brock’, as he was always affectionately known locally, describing his constant practice with the ball, either hitting it against the local work gates or playing on the rough and uneven local ground.
Ted Mccrae recalled playing for Stirling County summer football team in the sixties when a local select team, managed by John Wynn, they were playing said they had a player who was not to be tackled in case Don Revie heard about it.
Accolades in the world of football were many, not least when Pele named him player of the World Cup of 1974, when he judged him against such players as Franz Beckenbauer and Johan Cruyff.
Eddie Gray, another Scottish player from the great Leeds team, fondly recalled Billy’s ability, unwavering self-belief, his desire to win, as well as his leadership qualities.
Perhaps more importantly he talked of his sense of humour and willingness to reach out to others.
Eddie recalled that after training when the losing players were forced to buy the team Friday lunch, Billy always made a point of ordering a three-course meal if it was an Englishman paying, but only ordering a cup of tea and a Kit-kat if it was a Scotsman.