Five-a-side win over Celtic couldn’t help The Shire stay up
CELTIC are already racking up the miles preparing for a new domestic season.
They’ve been to Iceland for a Champions League qualifier, and travelled to Germany for a friendly with Dynamo Dresden yesterday.
Their famous side of the Sixties had a less glamorous build-up.
In July, 1963, the Hoops took part in a five- a- side tournament at the Falkirk FC Sports Day.
And they were beaten in the first round by East Stirlingshire!
That’s not as unlikely as it might sound because The Shire were just about to play in the top flight for only the second time in their history.
TheybeatCeltic5-3. butMotherwell ran out as tournament winners. The Steelmen drew the Final 1-1 with St Mirren – but collected the trophy on corners.
East Stirling’s victory over Celtic looked like it might be a happy omen for a successful Division One campaign.
Unfortunately, it didn’t quite work out like that.
TheFirsParkteamwononlyfive games and finished rock bottom.
They couldn’t repeat the Second Division success that was based on a revolutionary new formation.
FormerskipperErnieCollumbine recalls being asked to play a new position and finding it suited him down to the ground.
He said: “The club owners, the Steedman brothers, had been abroad on holiday and saw a continentalteamplayingwithasweeper.
“They had signed me from Stenhousemuir as a wing- half, which meant marking the opposition No. 10 during the game.
“The Steedmans asked me to play as sweeper and to sit back covering for two attacking full-backs.
“I slotted in and found I was made for that position. I could read the game and anticipate a pass.
“If necessary, I was never afraid to put in a last-ditch tackle.
“I probably wouldn’t get away with that now, but tackling was still a big part of the game back then.
“Having attacking full- backs led to a lot of goals because we had good forwards like Jackie Coburn, Arthur Hamill, Jimmy Kemp and Willie McIntosh.
“The promotion season was really exciting, and we had crowds of up to 10,000 at Firs Park.”
Ernie believes the Shire lacked a bit of vital experience.
He went on: “I’ve always said that two or three shrewd buys might have made all the difference.
“We were a bit naive at first and struggled against a better class of player. We should have seen the writing on the wall when we lost 7-2 to Rangers in the Scottish Cup.
“Suddenly we were up against the Celtic team that would become the Lisbon Lions, and Rangers with Baxter and Henderson.
“The Steedmans made us fulltime in a vain attempt to keep us up. My wages were £ 20 a week, about the same as I was making as a joiner.”
Ernie went on to play for St Johnstone before teaming up with Jack and Charlie Steedman again at Clydebank.
Now 76, he is retired after working as a foreman for Falkirk District Council. ABERDEEN were on the verge of signing Billy Dodds from St Johnstone.
The striker had joined the Saints from Dundee in a £450,000 deal in January, but couldn’t prevent them from being relegated.
RomanianWorld Cup star Gheorghe Hagi (below) was haggling over terms with Barcelona.
The player’s personal demands delayed a £750,000 move from Italian side Brescia. FORMER Celtic defender Jim Craig was appointed as player-manager of Irish side Waterford.
The Lisbon Lion had been playing in South Africa, and then for Sheffield Wednesday.
Clyde arranged to play a friendly against Hong Kong Rangers at Shawfield — a side containing four former Glasgow Rangers stars.
The East Asia club hadWillie Henderson(right), AlexWilloughby, Billy Semple and Jim Forrest in their ranks. FORMER Scotland winger Tommy Ewing re-signed for Partick Thistle after a twoyear spell at Aston Villa.
Joe McBride (below) of Motherwell posted a transfer request to manager Bobby Ancell before reporting for training at Fir Park.
Dundee United centre-half Frank Munro was called up by the Scottish Amateur team for a game in Iceland.
Raith Rovers turned down a £3000 bid from Falkirk for Frank Burrows.