Terry played against Celtic twice in less than 24 hours
It’s always a significant day when a player makes his first-team debut.
But the way Terry Mullen was introduced to Scottish football was a bit more dramatic than most.
It was March 30 1974 when Dumbarton called the 18-year-old defender into their squad for a game against Celtic at Parkhead.
On the same day, Red Rum won the Grand National for the second time.
And Terry ended up facing the Hoops for the second time in less than 24 hours.
He recalled: “I played for Dumbarton reserves against Celtic at Boghead on the Friday night.
“I remember being up against Jimmy Bone, who had not long signed for them. We lost that game 3-2, with Andy Ritchie scoring a hat-trick for Celtic.
“Jock Stein and Sean Fallon were sitting in the stand watching.
“The next morning, I got a call from our manager, Alex Wright, saying that Donald Watt, who had been on Celtic’s books at one time, had called off and I should meet the team bus at Queen Street in Glasgow.
“I was used to going to Celtic Park because I was a fan of the club. But travelling there on the team coach, and watching supporters trudging down the road, was quite surreal.
“It was the first time I’d entered the ground by the front door.
“We got a 3-3 draw that day – but we really should have won.
“Goals from Tom and Colin McAdam had us 2-1 ahead at half-time. We played really well that afternoon.
“Kenny Dalglish levelled the scores but then Peter Coleman scored a magnificent goal from 25 yards that went straight into the postage stamp.
“We only had to hold out for 14 minutes but Kenny Dalglish set up Dixie Deans to stick away an equaliser.
“I remember being really tired at full-time, but it was a fantastic experience.
“Jimmy Johnstone came over to my wing for a spell in the second-half, but I like to think I dealt with him pretty well.
“He and Billy McNeill were the only two of the Lisbon Lions still in the Celtic side.
“I made sure I shook both of them by the hand at the end. Big Billy said: ‘Well played son’. That meant a lot to me.”
Terry had signed for Dumbarton from Dunipace Thistle at the start of that season, and went on to become a top-team regular for the next two years.
He said: “Davie Wilson coached the reserves when I first joined, and he taught me a lot.
“He encouraged us to play the game fairly, and to tackle properly.
“In one game against Hearts at Tynecastle, he moved me from full-back into the centre of the defence, and I really enjoyed that. I played there a lot later in my career.
“Looking back, I probably lacked a bit of ambition, and should have done a lot better in football.
“But I had a good job, and I loved playing part-time football.
“We had some fantastic players during my time at Dumbarton.”
A move to Falkirk in 1976 proved to be shortlived.
Terry went on: “I really didn’t enjoy my spell at Brockville.
“I then moved on to Stenhousemuir, and had a great time there, managing to win Player of Year one season.
“We had a squad of good guys, and they’re people I’d love to meet up with again.
“Harry Glasgow was the manager when I arrived, and then former Airdrie and Hibs defender, Jim Black, took over.
“They were wonderful times, and I managed to play at every senior ground in Scotland.”
Terry hung up his boots in 1984 after a few games for East Stirling.
Now 67, he retired two years ago from a career where he spent the last 30 years installing computers for his local authority.