Billy survived Jinky’s kicks but lost out to team-mate
There were players making their league debuts f o r He a r t s in Fr i d a y n i g h t ’ s Championship game against Dundee.
The aim for them is clearly to get the Jambos promoted back to the top flight.
Billy Menmuir played his last top-team game for Hearts against the Dens Parkers in 1973, and he and fellow midfielder, John Stevenson, were praised for “fighting like tigers” in a 2-2 draw.
His debut for the Tynecastle club is one he’ll never forget, as it involved a close encounter with Jimmy Johnstone.
Billy recalled: “I’d been an unused substitute a couple of times, and then started at Celtic.
“I always remember Kenny Dalglish coming up to me before kick- off, and wishing me all the best.
“Jimmy Johnstone then kicked lumps out of me during the game!
“He even used his left foot at one point – when he had another swipe at me.”
Hearts, wearing their Ajax- style strip, took the lead early on after Billy had been fouled by Johnstone. The free- kick resulted in Donald Ford scoring from an Alan Anderson knock-down.
Celtic roared back, however, and won 4-2. “My first three games were all against Glasgow clubs,” Billy continued.
“We beat Partick Thistle in my second outing, and then won 1- 0 against Rangers at Ibrox.
“That was the match where Tommy Murray
famously sat on the ball before Donald Ford scored with two minutes to go.
“It was a great start to my Hearts career but, unfortunately, I suffered a bad knee injury at the end of the year.”
Billy’s misfortune came in a clash with one of his team-mates.
He explained: “I used to travel to training every day with John Gallagher, and we were on opposite sides in a game between the first-team and the reserves.
“We went for a 50- 50 ball and were both determined not to give any ground.
“Something was going to explode – the ball or my knee. Unfortunately, my knee came off worst.
“John certainly wasn’t to blame, but my knee was never the same again.
“I was in plaster for months, and I’ve had four knee replacements in the last 16 years.”
Billy, now 68 and living near Kilmarnock, scored in his comeback game against Dumbarton, but only played another 10 firstteam games in maroon.
He added: “I was disappointed to be freed by Hearts, and went from there to Dumbarton.
“I only spent a season at Boghead, and played one game for Alloa.
“I had to make a decision about what I was going to do with my life, and decided I should get a job.
“I went into sales in the watch industry. “Former Kilmarnock chairman, Bobby Fleeting got me started, and I was later employed by referee, David Syme.”
Billy was brought up in Glasgow but started his career in England with Bristol City.
He said: “I had trials with Sheffield United and Shrewsbury, but went down to Bristol with Gerry Gow.
“We were in digs together, and there were a number of other Scots, like Tom and Steve Ritchie.
“I loved it down there, and we reached the semi- final of the youth cup, playing against Spurs in front of more than 10,000 fans.
“I was only 17 when I made my first- team debut against Huddersfield Town.
“I didn’t have the best game, and the local paper ran a headline that said: ‘Billy the Kid Out-gunned’.
“That affected me quite a lot because I wasn’t the most-confident person.
“The manager tried to build me back up, but I got a bit homesick and moved to Hearts. “I’ve no regrets about the way my career went. “I have a lovely wife and daughter, and that’s very important to me.”