Celtic wouldn’t pay up for Fernie & Fernie
Celtic are back on top form after a slow start to the season. Manager Brendan Rodgers had been frustrated by the lack of business done during the summer transfer window.
But an unwillingness to invest in players isn’t a new thing at the Parkhead club.
There’s actually a prime example from60yearsago.
Arbroath striker Jim Fernie was Scotland’s hotshot when it came to hitting the net in 1958.
He bagged 49 league goals in 56 matches during less than two years with the Red Lichties.
Success with the Second Division club inspired him to look for some career progression.
He recalled: “I told Arbroath chairman, Hugh Nelson, that I wanted to become a full-time footballer, and he said I’d be going within a week.
“I was interviewed by Celtic manager, Jimmy Mcgrory, and there were headlines about it – ‘Fernie and Fernie’ – suggesting I would be teaming up with Willie Fernie.
“But they were unwilling to pay the money needed to buy me. “Mcgrory told me he had other players who were of equal ability to me, and that he wouldn’t pay the fee for that. I suppose that was fair enough.”
With Celtic being unwilling to cough up, Jim was then told by the Gayfield club that he’d be heading to England.
He went on: “Doncaster Rovers agreed a fee with Arbroath to sign me and Ronnie Sharp in 1958. “Moving there was a big change for me in many ways.
“When I first started playing for Doncaster, I just couldn’t score. “The players in England were a lot faster than me. I had come from part-time football and was two yards slower than my opponents. “It took me ages to get up to speed, but I eventually scored in a game against Bournemouth. “That got me going, and I ended up getting an award for my performances.
“It’s a trophy with a red diamond, and it’s my pride and joy.” When he first started making waves in football, Jim’s other sporting talent was uncovered.
He was described as a former ice hockey star, who’d played for the Fife Flyers.
However, those reports were a little exaggerated.
Jim said: “I only played for the Flyers’ second team.
“It was really only a hobby. All we got were expenses and a meal. There was no payment.
“It was always going to be football for me if I made it in a professional sport.
“I started playing for Newburgh Juniors, and then had an unsuccessful trial for Forfar.
“Arbroath then gave me a trial in a match against Dumbarton.
“I was up against former Celtic full-back, Alex Rollo, and must have done well enough to persuade them to sign me.
“I’m not sure why I got so many goals for Arbroath.
“It must have been the talent of my team-mates. They did all the hard work, and I only had to put the ball in the net.”
Jim, now 82, spent three seasons at Doncaster’s Belle Vue before returning to Scotland.
He said: “I had a problem with my stomach, and was out for a while.
“I got a free transfer, on the condition that I didn’t sign for another English club.
“So I went back north for spells with Montrose and Forfar.
“After that I moved to Australia, where I played for Croatia Melbourne and Pan Hellenic.
“I was player-coach of a team in Sydney until I was 36.
“After that we decided to come backtotheuk.
“I’d met my wife, Nora, in Doncaster, and we decided to move there to be close to her mum and dad.
“We celebrate our diamond wedding next year.”
Life after football saw Jim return to his job as an industrial architect.
He said: “I was a naval architect at the Burntisland shipyard when I first started out in football.
“In Australia I got a job drawing plans for a steelworks.”