Chance meeting started Joe’s amazing journey
Scottish footballers have been setting off on a new adventure this weekend.
The start of competitive action with the League Cup means a few players visiting a stadium they haven’t previously experienced.
For example, taking to the field at Fraserburgh’s Bellslea Park yesterday will have been a new experience for most of the Kilmarnock lads.
Not many players manage to rack up appearances at all 42 SPFL grounds. Fewer still can say they’ve also been in action at every venue in the Highland League.
It’s 40 years since a chance meeting set Joe Mccallan on the way to becoming the first to complete the full set.
He had already spent 13 years playing in the Scottish League when an unexpected opportunity arrived to carry on playing.
“I was at Meadowbank Thistle when I had a decision to make about my working life,” Joe recalls.
“British Telecom gave me the choice of moving to London or Aberdeen, and I decided to stay in Scotland.
“I didn’t have any plans to carry on my football career until I met the former Rangers and Aberdeen player, Dave Smith, walking down the road in Aberdeen.
“He was the manager of Huntly, and persuaded me to play one game for them.
“He then took over at Peterhead, and I signed there. We got to two cup finals and were second in the league.
“After Peterhead, I played for Rothes and Deveronvale.
“I completed the full set of senior grounds at Fort William, and they were kind enough to present me with a bottle of whisky to mark the occasion.
“They had a good, big pitch and it’s a shame they’re now out of the Highland League.”
“I found football in the north a bit of a struggle at first.
“I played up front and there wasn’t the same quality of supply that I was used to.
“I moved back into midfield and eventually played as sweeper for several years.”
Stopping goals instead of scoring them was quite a change for Joe.
He was one of three dynamic forwards who played a big part in taking Clydebank into the Premier Division in 1977. Their Kilbowie Park ground no longer exists, so Joe’s record will remain a unique one.
The Bankies finished First Division runners-up to St Mirren, with Joe bagging 31 goals.
Mike Larnach hit just one goal fewer, with Davie Cooper scoring 14 times.
Joe said: “When Davie first joined us, he was very quiet and I didn’t really think he was going to be the amazing talent he became.
“After a while, he began to blossom and I benefited from his talent.
“I realised that if I got into the right position, he would put the ball on my head.
“We had other great players. Jim Fallon was an incredibly strong defender for us.
“A highlight was scoring four goals when we beat Arbroath 8- 1 during the season when we reached the top flight.
“It was a great experience to be playing at all the top grounds in Scotland, and playing against opponents like Kenny Dalglish.
“In 1976, it took Rangers four matches to beat us in the League Cup quarter-final.
“I remember John Greig of Rangers kicking Davie Cooper all over the park.
“The third game was 0-0 after extra-time on a Monday night, and we lost 2-1 on the Tuesday.
“It was tough for a part-time team to play on consecutive nights. They’d never do that now.”
Joe’s career began with Alloa in 1968 and he moved to the Bankies in 1972.
Falkirk bought him in 1977, followed by a season with Meadowbank.
He is clearly a man in love with football. After his exploits in the Highland League, he was playing Junior football in his 40s.
Now 73, Joe still enjoys playing five- a- side games in Aberdeen.