Mcginlay’s manner was in sharp contrast to Waddell when controversy called
Former top-flight linesman’s book lifts the lid on how to handle the hassle
At a time when Scotland’s referees are once again under scrutiny, a new book written by a former linesman reveals some of the extremes he encountered in the game in the 1980s and early 1990s.
Tales From The Touchline by John Gunn promises “football memories from a referee and fan”, and delivers just that in entertaining style.
Dundee United are his team and there are plenty of good Tangerines anecdotes, including the unwitting role he played in Jim Mclean discovering his players had secretly taught Mirodrag Krivokapic to speak English.
Dundonian Gunn’s sense of humour comes across in spades throughout the book, but his tales also show him to have been serious about officiating.
More specifically, about the right and wrong way to go about it.
“I served for 10 seasons as a Highland League referee and an SFL and SPL linesman, and had the privilege of running the line with some of the best referees in the business,” said Gunn.
“Unfortunately, in my opinion, there were exceptions, and one such individual was a pathologist from Edinburgh, Andrew Waddell.
“I was appointed to run the line at a Dundee United-hearts Premier League match in 1990, with the doctor as referee.
“Well into the second half, and with United chasing an equaliser, Ray Mckinnon slipped in the penalty box, but Waddell pointed to the penalty spot. I couldn’t believe it.
“In those days, most refs pointed to the spot, then ran to the goal-line and turned round to see any protests coming their way.
“Not Waddell. He marched to – and stood on – the penalty spot, allowing the Hearts players to surround him with their complaints and then he gestured with his arm towards yours truly.
“I didn’t think anything of it at the time, and United scored to earn a point.
“As the three of us officials were coming off at full-time, I was subjected to some of the most vile abuse from several Hearts players.
“I asked Waddell if he was going to do anything about it, and he just looked straight ahead and said: ‘Just get inside’.’
“I was not a happy bunny!
“In the shower, it dawned on me the reason I had been targeted was that Waddell’s signal had made the Hearts players think it was me who had decided it was a penalty.
“I jumped out of the shower to remonstrate with him, and it was only the intervention of the other linesman, Larry Officer, that stopped me from landing a right hook on Waddell’s chin.
“He was a decent referee, and on the FIFA list. But that day, I felt he let himself, and me, down very badly.”
Happily for John, he worked with others who had a pragmatic approach of which Pierluigi Collina would have been proud.
“I ran the line for Brian Mcginlay at Gayfield, in a game against Stranraer,” Gunn recalled.
“An Arbroath midfielder bulleted home a 30-yard shot, but unfortunately I flagged another player for offside, who was in no way interfering with play.
“Brian came across, and I knew he was going to over-rule me, and give a goal. More importantly, he knew that I knew he was giving a goal, and the conversation went like this.
“BM: ‘How’s it going today, big man?’ Me: ‘No bad, Brian, never been better’.’
“BM: ‘Going for a beer after the game?’ Me: ‘Aye, you better believe it’.
“BM: ‘Lager, isn’t it?’ Me: ‘That’ll do nicely.
“BM: ‘No problem. Halfway line?’ “And I immediately sprinted to the halfway line, as a linesman does when the referee signals for a goal, and he concurs with the decision.
“It was classic man-management from Brian.”
That was one of the few qualities that sometimes let down Jim Mclean, and John remembers the day that came back to bite him.
He said: “At Tannadice for a game with Hamilton Accies in the late 1980s, there was a knock on the dressing room door, and it was Jim, asking if he could have a word with the ref, Jim Mccluskey.
“He explained that his new signing – the Yugoslavian, Miodrag Krivokapic – couldn’t speak any English, and asked for a bit of leeway if the ref needed to call him over for any reason, as Miodrag might not understand him.
“The game was uneventful, and at time-up, Krivokapic went up to Jim Mccluskey, and said in perfect English: ‘Good game, ref. All the best’.
“He then approached me and fellow linesman, Davie Doig, and said: ‘Good game, linesmen. All the best.’
“I then saw Jim Mclean walking towards the tunnel, taking all this in. He did not look a happy chap at all.
“The three of us were barely in the dressing room when there was banging on the door and in burst Jim, veins popping out of his neck and ranting: ‘What did he say to you? I want to know!’
“When he was informed, Jim raged: ‘He’s been at it for months, and all those players have been teaching him English all this time and never told me. They will pay for this – literally!’.
“It turned out Miodrag’s teammates had been teaching him to speak English, but had told him that any time Mclean spoke to him, just to shrug his shoulders in an ‘I do not understand’ kind of way.
“Absolutely brilliant.”
Tales From The Touchline, from Pitch Publishing, is available now from bookshops and online, priced £12.99.