Billy’s long walk to become our first shoot-out winner
These days, we take penalty shoot- outs for granted.
But it’s exactly 50 years since a game in Scotland was first decided by kicks from 12 yards.
On June 27, 1970, the International Football Association Board approved a proposal by the Israeli FA that drawn games should be decided by penalties.
They lobbied for the change after their team lost the 1968 Olympic quarter- final on the drawing of lots.
Three months later, Billy Wilson became the first player to hit a winning penalty in a shootout on Scottish soil when Airdrie defeated Nottingham Forest in the Texaco Cup.
He still shudders when he recalls the experience of taking the all-important kick.
“We had drawn 2- 2 with Forest at the City Ground, and it was the same score when they came to Broomfield.
“That meant the tie went to penalties, and it was a new experience for all of us.
“I had never taken a penalty-kick before, and didn’t expect to start that night.
“I thought Drew Jarvie and Drew Busby would each be taking one because they scored most of our goals.
“John Menzies, Sam Goodwin and Mark Cowan put their hands up to take a kick, then Pat Delaney and I were volunteered to be the other two.
“Our goalkeeper, Roddy Mackenzie, saved
three penalties on the night, and that was so important.
“I went up to take the fourth kick, and the manager, Ralph Collins, told me that we would win if I scored it.
“That walk from the half-way line was a long and lonely one. But fortunately I hit the net.
“The crowd were going crazy. It was the first time they’d seen a penalty shoot- out and we’d won it.
“But that wasn’t the end of the night.
“The referee insisted all five penalties were taken by each side, and Pat made sure we scored them all.”
Airdrie couldn’t get away from penalties that week. They scored one and conceded one against Cowdenbeath when they won their next league match 2-1.
The Texaco Cup was a happy hunting ground for the Diamonds, and they reached the final of the competition in 1972.
Billy went on: “I loved playing at Broomfield under the floodlights. I’d rather play those evening kick-offs than on a Saturday.
“We had a great team at Airdrie in those days. We drew 0- 0 with Derby County at home, and then lost the second leg of the Final 2- 1 at the Baseball Ground.
“The away game was postponed because of flooding on the original date. We were already there but supporters buses were turned back.”
Billy, now 72, played more than 400 games for the Diamonds over a 12-year spell.
He scored two goals in the 1967 Scottish Junior Cup final when Kilsyth Rangers beat Rutherglen Glencairn.
Billy added: “I hoped to get the chance to play with my hero, Ian Mcmillan, but he got an injury and retired just before I went straight into the Airdrie team.”
His brilliant performances on the wing have never been forgotten, and the fans voted him into the club’s greatest ever XI.
He always remained part- time, working in the building trade and then becoming a publican and disco owner.
He said: “When I was 15, I suffered a broken ankle and had a steel pin put in it.
“I later got kicked playing against Kilmarnock and the pin moved.
“A surgeon decided to remove it, and told the club they’d be lucky to get a couple of years out of me. I was delighted to prove him wrong. “I loved playing for the Airdrie fans. “After retiring, I managed Kilsyth and Albion Rovers. I would have managed Airdrie for nothing, but it didn’t happen.”