GIVE JOCK FAME HE’S OVERDUE
John Greig is leading calls for Jock Wallace to be inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame on the 20th anniversary of the passing of the legendary Ibrox manager.
Greatest ever Ranger Greig, one of the first inductees in 2004, is astonished that the man who led Rangers to two Trebles in three years, and who was an integral part of the 1972 European Cup Winners’ Cup triumph, has been overlooked for so many years.
Now the former captain and manager feels it’s time the record is set straight and Wallace is given the standing in the game that his achievements deserve.
Greig said: “It seems remarkable that Big Jock has not been inducted into the Hall of Fame – it’s a huge oversight.
“He should be in there – and long before now.
“On the 20th anniversary of his passing it would be appropriate to put matters right and give Jock his rightful place in the game.”
Wal lace won eight major honours in five years including the clean sweep of the League, League Cup and Scottish Cup in 1975/76 and 1977/78.
He ended Celtic’s dominance of the Championship by winning the 1975 title – Rangers’ first for 11 years – having defeated their old rivals 3-2 in the epic Centenary Scottish Cup Final two years earlier.
Wa l lace fel l out with the club over his spending budget and his own salary and sensationally quit just 16 days after winning the Treble in 1978.
He returned to Ibrox for a less successful second spell in 1983 but it still included two League Cup successes.
Fatefully, he was in goal the day his Berwick Rangers side famously beat Rangers in the Scottish Cup in 1967 in his role as player-manager and he also had success in English football, winning the old Second Division title with Leicester City in 1980. He died on July 24, 1996.
Greig added: “Rangers enjoyed some of their greatest moments under Jock and I am privileged to have been his captain.
“We had a fantastic team in the 1970s. Two trebles in three seasons was exceptional and has never been emulated That says it all for me.”
Fellow Barcelona Bear Alex MacDonald is completely behind Wallace being recognised at last.
MacDonald, who was at the heart of all the Wallace successes, said: “It ’ s about time he is remembered for al l that he achieved so I sincerely hope he gets into the Hall of Fame.
“Jock was a great man to work for. People talk about the hard man image but he knew how to look after players.
“Jock built a team – and what a team it was as we won two Trebles. He was a good tactician too and I don’t think he ever got the credit he deserved for that. “He used me as a man-marker at times, for example, especially in the Celtic games when I had to look after Jimmy Johnstone and that was no easy task. “That t y pe of th ing helped me in my managerial career. There is no doubt I learned a lot from him.”