1971
Ian missed out on Jags’ historic day against Celts
RANGERS and Celtic play the second Scottish League Cup semi-final today with their players dreaming of picking up a major trophy.
Even with teams allowed to name seven substitutes, there’s always someone in the squad who misses out on the big day.
Forty-five years ago today, a clutch of players had to watch one of the biggest- ever League Cup Final shocks.
Partick Thistle rocked the football world by thrashing Celtic 4-1 at Hampden Park.
The Jags, managed by Davie McParland, were four goals ahead within 37 minutes.
Alex Rae, Bobby Lawrie, Denis McQuade and Jimmy Bone all hit the net.
Thistle full-back Ian Reid could only watch on in admiration as his team-mates put Jock Stein’s men to the sword.
His afternoon was to mirror the experience of his great footballing hero.
Ian turned out in seven of the 12 League Cup ties that season and was a fixture in the Maryhill defence when the campaign kicked-off.
Thistle had just been promoted, with Ian featuring in 32 of 36 league matches.
He believes there was a good reason for making a strong start to the season, but injury was one thing outwith his control.
He recalled,“My good friend DenisMcQuade and I were both university students at the time.
“That meant we were able to train full-time from May to October.
“It led to us being very fit during pre-season when first-team places were up for grabs.
“Things changed a bit when we started our studies and reverted to being part- time players.
“The season had started well for me and we beat Rangers 3- 2 in the opening league match.
“We won our League Cup section and then had to play two legs of a preliminary qualifying round against Alloa before the quarter-finals.
“Unfortunately, I suffered a knee injury and the cartilage was damaged.
“I was operated on by Archie McDougall, who was the top surgeon for sports injuries at the time.
“The knee is still as good as new, but I was out for eight weeks and that gave John Hansen his chance to take the right- back spot.”
Ian was fit enough to watch the big match from the Hampden stand with his wife and father. He went on: “It was an incredible upset. “Nobody gave us a chance. Celtic still had a lot of the Lisbon Lions and were in the midst of their nine-in-a-row league title wins.
“It was disappointing to miss out on the final but these things happen in football.
“I was only 20 years old and you thought there would be other big occasions to come.
“Of course, Partick Thistle are still waiting to be in another major final.
“I got a winner’s medal and it’s somewhere in the loft as a reminder of the great day.
“As a teenager, I was an enthusiastic supporter of Manchester United and hitched down to London to watch them in the 1968 European Cup Final.
“Denis Law missed that victory over Benfica because he was in hospital with a knee injury.
“It was a similar situation to the one I found myself in three years later.”
Ian spent five years with Partick Thistle and then two seasons at St Mirren.
His time studying electrical and electronic engineering at university paid off as he developed a successful career in the oil industry.
Now 65, he is retired but is currently on the Board of Directors at Motherwell.