John danced away from SFA probe without a fine
There aren’t many modern footballers with fancy footwork to compare with John Ward.
It’s 60 years since his part in an overseas jaunt earned him a reprimand from the SFA – and highlighted his ability on the dancefloor.
John was among a group of players up before the beaks in February, 1962.
Reports of Scottish professionals taking part in an unauthorised game on Spain’s Costa Brava the previous summer had angered the game’s ruling body.
High-profile figures, including Celtic’s Billy Mcneill, were asked to explain themselves.
The main men behind the game were Third Lanark stars Dave Hilley, Alex Harley and Matt Gray. Also roped in were Mike Jackson of Celtic, and St Mirren’s Jim Mcfadzean.
It was later revealed that a number of players had taken part in close-season games during their holidays for a number of years.
But the SFA only found out about a 1961 match in Lloret de Mar when a holidaymaker came back with a photograph of the action.
After a six-month investigation, seven topflight players were fined £50 each.
John Ward, Ian Hilley and Ian Gordon escaped a fine because they were not attached to professional clubs, but were severely censured and warned as to their future conduct.
The question was asked – did the SFA have any grounds for warning John at all?
At the time, he was best known as a 22-year-old Highland dancer on television’s White Heather Club. As he recalls, the SFA caution wasn’t something he was particularly perturbed about.
“It was just a slap on the wrist,” he said. “It was more of an issue for the lads at big teams.
“I was glad to avoid the fine because I hadn’t made a fortune at dancing or football.
“Isignedforderrycitybutneveractuallyplayed for them.
“Playing games in Spain started after I met Dave Hilley when we were studying physical education at Jordanhill College in Glasgow.
“It was just a group of friends going for a cheap foreign holiday. Lloret was just a small village, and hadn’t become a big resort.
“In recent years, players have all been given fitness plans for the summer. So we were probably 50 years ahead of the game!”
That £50 penalty is the equivalent of about £1,100 in modern money, and came at a time when wages were a lot more modest.
John’s introduction to senior football was a dramatic one.
In October 1960, he played in attack for Queen of the South as a trialist against Dumbarton, and was then signed to play in the midweek League Cup semi-final against Rangers.
He said: “That came about because I had been at Blackpool on trial in the summer. George Farm, the former Scotland goalie, moved from Blackpool to Queens and recommended me.
“At half-time, we were 5-0 down in the semifinal at Parkhead, and George went berserk at us. The final score was 7-0 to Rangers.
“Queen of the South were probably the mostgenerous club I experienced when it came to being given expenses. I also loved my spells at Dumbarton and East Stirlingshire.”
John got one over Craig Brown, not for the first time, when he joined the White Heather Club.
The man who would later become Scotland manager failed an audition for the show.
John said: “My wife, Eleanor, danced on the programme, as did Billy Mcneill’s wife, Liz.
“I played against Craig and Billy when I was in the Glasgow Schools team that took on the Rest of Scotland. We won 6 or 7-1.
“The three of us were picked for the Scotland squad that beat England 3-1 at Parkhead.”
John, now 82, spent his working life as a PE teacher in Gourock, and uncovered many rising stars operating as a scout for clubs including Dundee, Aberdeen and Rangers.