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We're bringing you closer to the people, places, and stories of Nairnshire and beyond. Each episode dives deeper into the lives and work of local business owners, artists, artisans, scientists, naturalists, and other inspiring folk who help shape our small but beautiful corner of the Highlands. Join us as we explore community, culture, creativity, and the wild landscapes that make this part of the world so special.
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Unknown
Welcome back to the community newspaper podcast Stories from Land to See. Today's episode marks 50 years since one of the greatest moments in local sporting history. Donald Wilson, returns and is joined by Richard Contact, the goalkeeper at the heart of Neon County Football Club's 1975 76 Highland League title win. From unforgettable characters in dressing room stories to one of the most dramatic matches ever played.
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Unknown
This is the story of how a team and a town became champions. Let's get into
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Unknown
I can.
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Unknown
it's a pleasure
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Unknown
to have us. My guest today, Richard Gonzales, who is one of my footballing heroes. Richie, I can say in all honesty, you were goalkeeper for Naran County during that unforgettable season
00:00:56:00 - 00:00:58:22
Unknown
1975 76. So we're celebrating
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Unknown
50th anniversary when the club won its first and only league
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Unknown
what was a night of high drama.
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Unknown
certainly was, to put it lightly.
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Unknown
Boro Briggs
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Unknown
we sit here, Richie, a few days before what will be, I'm sure, a memorable reunion
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to mark
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that chapter in the club's history. We defeated Fraserburgh in a winner takes all
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Unknown
play off Elgin two one after extra time. Now for me,
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Unknown
I was sitting in the press bench that night.
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Unknown
I'd followed
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Unknown
nearly every home game that season and the occasional game because I also followed. And at this point I would say it was a great occasion for Naran because great year for now, because then, you know, so won their first league title. And indeed, I think I'm correct in saying, Richard, did you actually play a game for the year before you came over to?
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Unknown
I did when I was, when I was 15, I the family out to linen. I think there are meant to fire me out for quite a few games. However, after my first game played at Burkhead, I remember that. And the one old draw Kenny Mackenzie got injured, right? So they took me back in and that was it. Never played for Saints again.
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Unknown
So it was just a one game. Yeah one game. And it was interesting to of course that two other players in that Naran County League winning side
00:02:20:13 - 00:02:33:17
Unknown
Stan Brown and Sammy Forsyth both started off their careers in two. So there's been a great link between the clubs over the years and they're still is, I think. Well that is that is definitely so.
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Unknown
Anyway,
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Unknown
want to take us back to the very beginning of the story for you and I. Of course,
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Unknown
our love affair with Naran County began in the 1960s when, with all due respect to the teams that followed, in my view, the 1960s was the greatest ever known county side. Coached by Eric Geddes.
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Unknown
We won three North Cups, a hand League Cup, a qualifying Cup and fell just short of the title and two occasions by one point by one point. Would you agree that that was the golden era? It was wonderful.
00:03:10:09 - 00:03:10:24
Unknown
I mean,
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Unknown
I was brought up not knowing football at all. And when I was about eight years old, my brother took me to my very first football match.
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Unknown
And your brother being on the Andy, you took me to the very first football match. I'd never even seen her much being played before. That football match was so it was totally new to me. And it was an evening match against Elgin City in the League Cup, I think it was, and I just was totally in awe of the atmosphere, the ground, the players, everything.
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Unknown
And I just that was that was me. I fell in love
00:03:46:02 - 00:04:01:00
Unknown
Naran County. I fell in love with football and that was it for me. It was a great occasion. And then I went to senior in a few times after that and the great team of the 60s, it was incredible. So many good players. I mean, Andy Keaton
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Unknown
Alec Boorman,
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Unknown
D.V. Johnson, my well, everyone's here, Chicky Allen
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Unknown
and my own personal favorite, Kenny McKenzie.
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Unknown
Yeah, yeah. I used to stand behind Kenny and goals and just in or what he was doing. So I had probably been
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Unknown
in Station Park before you because I lived in Shanghai Sunday title, Queen's Park,
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Unknown
and Eric used to open the
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Unknown
quarter road gates, and the kids piled in
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Unknown
Queen's Park and training nights, and we had great fun
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Unknown
acting as ball boys.
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Unknown
seeing
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Unknown
heroes as
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Unknown
playing at training and whatnot.
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Unknown
And of course, the stand, the wooden stand. It was used as
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Unknown
double gymnasium. That's right. I remember players. You would have done sit ups and step ups and all and the steps of the stand. Indeed, indeed are still there to this day. It's beautiful. Stand. It certainly is.
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Unknown
Built in 1937,
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Unknown
opened. Before a crowd of over 4068. And there was a Glasgow Willie Maley Celtic 11. Yeah. And your cell phone yourself. I am for your sins. I know it's not been a good season this season, I can tell you. Anyway,
00:05:10:19 - 00:05:14:07
Unknown
of course we knew each other anyway and our past cost.
00:05:14:14 - 00:05:17:07
Unknown
every day. We went to
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Unknown
Rose's Academical Institution, which is now, of course, it was near me and it's now Rosebank Primary. That's right. And often as I walked up to the school from Shanghai, along the road and up the steps to Queen Street, you would come flying past me, tell us, we think it was part of your training routine.
00:05:38:07 - 00:05:59:26
Unknown
Yes, it was part of my training. I lived in both park and it was a good mile, I would say from Rosebank Primary then. Well, Rosebank Primary, no, which was near me then. And part of my training regime was running their first thing in the morning, running home for lunch, running back after lunch and then running home. So that was about four miles a day.
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Unknown
I used to run back and forth and then of course, when I was 14, of course, I then had more reason to do that because I was playing schools football and goals for an academy. And
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Unknown
one day there was a knock on the door and who was up my door. But the great Eric Geddes and Eric was sort of veered a wonderful man, great trainer.
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Unknown
You know, any Highland League select attic was the man in charge. Great. And he said to me, how would you like to come to training with Neron County? No, he didn't have to ask me twice, I can tell you. And and I remember my first training session. I was just so excited as a young 14 year old. I was so excited.
00:06:44:08 - 00:07:04:03
Unknown
And I got into the dressing room and I saw all my heroes there. And immediately Kenny McKenzie saw me and came over to me and said, oh, hi son. He always called your son Kenny and he says, hi, son. Right. We're going to do a run session today, goalkeeping training for us. And he took me aside, gave me specialized goalkeeping training.
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Unknown
He kept praising me, building up my confidence because at that time I was so north. Kenny I mean, and I remember one time an amazing keeper. And of course, Kenny is still with us. We been up at the Station Park quite recently. I mean, it seems ridiculous to me that I was voted in the team of the century as a goalkeeper.
00:07:24:18 - 00:07:49:12
Unknown
Indeed, instead of Kenny, it was a hard choice. And to my mind, I told Kenny this as well. I've got your silver salver. It's really both of you in there, you know? But. But anyway, Kenny took me aside and it was wonderful training with the guys. Eric used to take me into the dressing room on a Saturday as well, just to give me the feel of it all.
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Unknown
And there used to be a special exercise. Kenny used to do what you'll always remember in those days you didn't wear gloves unless it was really wet,
00:07:59:22 - 00:08:14:12
Unknown
because gloves just weren't good enough in those days. But Kenny had a novel where he used to dip this hands. Wash his hands. He used to chew gum, spit the gun in his hand, rub the gum over his hands, and then he used to throw the ball back and forth to him.
00:08:14:12 - 00:08:32:17
Unknown
This is before each match, and by the end of it, you know about two minutes. My hands were totally sticky. His were to at least sticky, and the ball was to at least sticky. And that's why everything stuck when Kenny wasn't illegal. No, not to my knowledge, not to mention. But that was Kenny's way of getting getting a good grip at the ball.
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Unknown
It was quite amazing. But what a character. Wonderful man.
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Unknown
lovely that you had this great relationship with Kenny because. Because you were still. Yeah, I mean, obviously you were going
00:08:44:26 - 00:08:48:01
Unknown
Take his place at one stage. We'll come later.
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Unknown
I do
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Unknown
fondly remember, of course, Eric
00:08:51:09 - 00:09:08:01
Unknown
myself, because Ines had the highest, highest regard for Eric. Because I was in charge, the coach of the great Elgin City side of the 60s. And he told me personally that he always had a high regard for Eric's coaching skills.
00:09:08:02 - 00:09:18:08
Unknown
And Eric had actually been to the SFA courses before innocence. Never went to the SFA courses till they came to Nerd County, which was quite interesting,
00:09:18:11 - 00:09:33:18
Unknown
remember as a young reporter, I used to go to Eric's house after the county away games because 33 shooters Avenue 33 because my auntie lived next door
00:09:33:21 - 00:09:37:02
Unknown
in both park. And indeed, you lived in both parts. Yeah, yeah,
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Unknown
I used to go to Eric's and spend the night of the evening with him when he got home from home, from the away matches, because I didn't have a car to travel to games, and he used to give me a rundown and we would make this a cup of tea.
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Unknown
His wife, me and his lovely, so lovely person.
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Unknown
In of course, as I've alluded to, this incredible
00:09:55:11 - 00:10:09:11
Unknown
record with Elgin City in the 60s, they had so many fantastic Scottish Cup runs, titles, trophies and whatnot. They were littered with silverware, but we know he was always unhappy about
00:10:09:13 - 00:10:10:06
Unknown
the fact
00:10:10:09 - 00:10:26:07
Unknown
Elgin's team was selected by a committee, and he always felt he should have autonomy. He if I was to describe Innes as rather a autocratic person, that.
00:10:26:10 - 00:10:46:21
Unknown
Yes, yes, he was. I mean, he liked doing things his own way, but but the thing was, he knew what he was doing. Indeed, indeed. But no, he he he was very he is quite a strict, strict disciplinarian. Disciplinarian. Yes. But at the same time he was quite fair. I never found him unfair.
00:10:46:21 - 00:10:48:11
Unknown
I often wonder if what would have happened.
00:10:48:12 - 00:11:00:26
Unknown
The inner city found his way into Scottish league football. I really think you would have been a success. Oh, definitely. He was ahead of his time. Of course we know that. You know, and how he came to an end was rather fortuitous.
00:11:00:28 - 00:11:12:02
Unknown
It was rather sad. Of course, because we'd won the league in 1969 with Eric as coach, and then it was in the 70s, the Cup in 1969 when the cup he won the Cup.
00:11:12:09 - 00:11:14:22
Unknown
That's right, the qualifying cup in 1969.
00:11:14:22 - 00:11:15:12
Unknown
and then,
00:11:15:12 - 00:11:26:15
Unknown
of course, in the early 70s Eric became ill. Yeah. And there was this vacuum where we plummeted. Yes. Down the league table. And
00:11:26:17 - 00:11:27:13
Unknown
saw somewhere
00:11:27:15 - 00:11:28:14
Unknown
Jock Lornie was
00:11:28:17 - 00:11:44:25
Unknown
tipped as a possible manager for County. And a good lad jumped to Ross County. But it came as a surprise when it was announced that Innes MacDonald. Yeah. So how was the news broken to
00:11:44:27 - 00:11:49:16
Unknown
The newspaper, believe it or not, was I was I was reading the newspaper and I was just so innocent.
00:11:49:16 - 00:12:11:02
Unknown
Donald and George have been appointed managing manager and trainer up there in county. And I said, well, I knew Innes very well from schools, football in particular, and Elgin City. And I was quite shocked to be honest, because I didn't think innocence so high profile. Why is he coming to me and George? Of course, I didn't know about that time.
00:12:11:04 - 00:12:17:09
Unknown
You know, I obviously we obviously got to know him very well then. Yeah. But I know it was it was quite a shock to us
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Unknown
of course it
00:12:18:05 - 00:12:18:19
Unknown
was
00:12:18:22 - 00:12:31:03
Unknown
I see, see his appointment was rather fortuitous because it was circumstance really led to it because one of the county committee, Martin Robertson, was a school teacher at Elgin City.
00:12:31:06 - 00:12:34:04
Unknown
That's right. He knew about Innes.
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Unknown
Graves with Elgin City and white quit. So he had words with Innes and he said, what do you think about taking over at Naran County? And, and said, well, condition number one, I picked the team. And of course that's the way it worked out. Yes, but but I mean, the committee at that time, they give a total autonomy to run the team the way he was, obviously within the financial restraints, Naran County.
00:13:04:07 - 00:13:11:12
Unknown
Obviously had we didn't have money, much money to buy players, certainly not big names at all.
00:13:11:15 - 00:13:25:07
Unknown
But Innes had total control of all team matters and the committee just worked there. We worked in the background and assisted him anyway they could. Yeah, interesting thing, of course. Of course. Here we both history.
00:13:25:10 - 00:13:27:18
Unknown
Nairn found it difficult to compete with Elgin.
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Unknown
They had a bigger
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Unknown
fan base. They had more money coming into the club. But the players,
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Unknown
gulf between wages there and wasn't for year now,
00:13:36:23 - 00:13:47:27
Unknown
sadly. In truth, I feel it's rather sad. But what's happened to football now in the in the Highland League where you have millionaires? Absolutely. Oh yes. They they are
00:13:47:27 - 00:13:52:29
Unknown
basically allowing clubs like Naran County Clerk and all that to bring on young players and then
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Unknown
outcomes of checkbook and off these guys rather.
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Unknown
what was fortunate for an air and about the season they won the league was the time. It was the time of the McDermott's. That's right. Can you tell us how that worked out in her favor? Yes. Well, the good thing with the oil I got, McDermott says. We got a lot of folk coming into the area which increased crowds as well, and
00:14:16:10 - 00:14:19:12
Unknown
a lot of players new players were enticed with,
00:14:19:12 - 00:14:22:12
Unknown
specially from down south by getting a job at the rig.
00:14:22:13 - 00:14:37:13
Unknown
That's right. And it was good. It was it was good money. Oh, it was very good money. I mean, you worked there, didn't you? Yes, I worked there. We were getting a bit four times amount of money you would get to normal, a normal job in there. And if you like, you call it that. I do, you haven't worked in the Telegraph for 25 years anyway.
00:14:37:15 - 00:14:55:09
Unknown
Yes. I used to work in the bank in there, and I used to see them all coming in with their checks, and I thought, I couldn't believe how much some of these guys were getting there. Having said that, I don't regret my time at the Telegraph in one minute. Loved it. I love course, and indeed it enabled me to follow my passion with the football.
00:14:55:10 - 00:15:07:06
Unknown
let's set the scene. We built four of the league winning team. I think for that I can see. But already there. Stand around yourself, Sammy Forsyth and Harry McFadden. Yeah, but
00:15:07:09 - 00:15:19:22
Unknown
When it came and we lost Hugh Tom, who had 43 goals in 7374 season. That was in its first season. Yeah to Inverness Thistle.
00:15:19:22 - 00:15:47:06
Unknown
And then I don't know if if George Stapleton had already left the collie. But these were two great players. They were they were tremendous players. And of course we had other players, Ian Gibson and Paterson. Yeah. Who. Well, I mean, in Paley's case, he was only available for half the season because he was playing for the schools International team Scotland every second week.
00:15:47:09 - 00:15:57:09
Unknown
He was I mean, both of these players were outstanding. And of course he was already in the school by signing with the management. United. And
00:15:57:11 - 00:16:03:10
Unknown
Ian of course, was one of our family. Yes. You know, but I mean,
00:16:03:13 - 00:16:10:13
Unknown
can always claim that I my claim to fame as a played football in the second year of an academy with gable.
00:16:10:14 - 00:16:17:19
Unknown
Yeah. And he was an incredible player. Incredible skill. And of course, we lost him to Aberdeen and
00:16:17:21 - 00:16:44:12
Unknown
was doing a wee bit more research with Ian's career. And he was he was an awesome, awesome dribbler. Oh control over the ball. And I remember in his McDonald told me the story of when he transferred him to Aberdeen and Jimmy Bowen was quibbling over a couple of hundred quid and in his said to me says, do you realize what you are getting with in terms of quality with this player, with, with the Gibson
00:16:44:14 - 00:16:48:04
Unknown
Ian, it was determined of course the follows pursues teaching career.
00:16:48:06 - 00:16:53:29
Unknown
Yes. You know and eventually went to Comana where he never knew this.
00:16:53:29 - 00:16:54:16
Unknown
But
00:16:54:18 - 00:16:59:16
Unknown
Rangers came in with 100,000 pounds bid for them. Were you aware of that? I wasn't aware of that.
00:16:59:19 - 00:17:04:11
Unknown
had that story in the book and the history of Narin County, which.
00:17:04:12 - 00:17:08:16
Unknown
Records quite a lot of the these stories, but.
00:17:08:18 - 00:17:15:06
Unknown
Richie went to Comana and then he went to Canberra in Australia. He still lives. Yeah.
00:17:15:13 - 00:17:16:27
Unknown
let's move on.
00:17:17:00 - 00:17:30:07
Unknown
Robin Mitchell came from Aberdeen University. Doug Michael Dowie, although still a student he already had won a league championship going I think this credit with Clark
00:17:30:10 - 00:17:36:14
Unknown
and Brian Darby and Peter Robertson came in from Elgin City and Peter's twin brother Donald.
00:17:36:19 - 00:17:40:00
Unknown
So these guys were all there. Oh yes.
00:17:40:02 - 00:17:59:03
Unknown
new what he was doing, he was wanting I mean, when Innes took over we the season before we finished second bottom of the league by one point, we avoided the wooden spoon. And we had a mixture of decent players, like the ones of some of the ones who have mentioned on some players that were maybe decent welfare league players and all that.
00:17:59:03 - 00:18:23:14
Unknown
But as a team we were we were obviously poor means to finish second bottom. So in this first job was to build his team and Innes was always into the psychology part of the game. He knew how important Team Spirit, for instance, was. He didn't want any clashes in the dressing room, so he brought in players. He knew he would get on with all the other players.
00:18:23:14 - 00:18:28:23
Unknown
So he was very shrewd, not respect and with the likes of their orbits and and Alex Gordon,
00:18:28:25 - 00:18:43:07
Unknown
Dougie Muck, although he knew these boys from schools football and he knew they would slot into the team. So he was he was very shrewd at building this team. And you mentioned Hughie Tom before. Yeah, Hugh, he was a brilliant player, there's no doubt about that great goalscorer.
00:18:43:07 - 00:19:04:01
Unknown
But even the Elgin City days Hugh clashed with Innes. That's right. And has told me this himself. Yes. And and I think I remember in the centimeters when I arrived at the club, he says I could almost see Hugh Thomson. Oh, God. Not him. You know, that's exactly the story I got from Innes.
00:19:04:04 - 00:19:08:01
Unknown
he did give me a slightly different line to that deal.
00:19:08:02 - 00:19:09:23
Unknown
He told me, as you've
00:19:09:27 - 00:19:29:20
Unknown
put it there. But he said, Tom's grouse was Hugh. Tom's grouse was that sometimes he was getting dropped from the organ team. And Innes tried to explain to you that that wasn't because of him. It was because it was a committee decision, you know? Yes. And that's what that's the story I got from.
00:19:29:26 - 00:19:32:14
Unknown
And so I suppose it would be somewhere in between.
00:19:32:14 - 00:19:36:17
Unknown
you went to Inverness Cicilline and fortunately the goals dried up. But
00:19:36:17 - 00:19:38:06
Unknown
fortunately Hugh and Innes
00:19:38:06 - 00:19:42:21
Unknown
that relationship was was not fractured for forever.
00:19:42:24 - 00:19:50:14
Unknown
both loved their golf and talked fondly their times in the Highland League. I think they both had great respect for each other.
00:19:50:20 - 00:19:53:21
Unknown
You know, at the bottom line, two players I haven't mentioned
00:19:53:28 - 00:20:00:01
Unknown
were always on the lookout for a good strikers and and it's still amazes me
00:20:00:03 - 00:20:09:19
Unknown
to this day about where these guys came from because they don't have a clue about these players. I think they were offered them. They. Alec Gordon. Yes.
00:20:09:20 - 00:20:15:08
Unknown
played amateur football in Aberdeen and likewise the Galloping Bobby.
00:20:15:09 - 00:20:29:11
Unknown
Yes they were Norman Donald. Yeah I mean it's almost like a fairy tale 28 years of age. He's playing his first Highland League season and he wins the league. Yes. Unbelievable. Oh I mean both of these Alex Gordon. Now,
00:20:29:14 - 00:20:38:06
Unknown
I reckon when the opposition defense saw that Alex was playing against him. Oh, no. Yeah. Because he just got stuck in.
00:20:38:07 - 00:21:00:09
Unknown
He was a really good players. Skillful, more skillful and more people than people give him credit for. But the one thing he wouldn't let defenses rest. Yeah. So defenses hated playing against him. Yeah. No, the goal of pink. Bobby. Yeah. Norman. No. A typical Norman goal would have been. Charge gets a ball in the half line. Runs, runs with the ball.
00:21:00:10 - 00:21:17:23
Unknown
It hits a defender hits his and Eagles past him. Hits another defender hits his in the Eagles past him. He comes to the keeper, sidesteps and beautifully instructs the ball in the back of the net. Exactly. You know. And he did that time and time again. He was a cult figure. Was absolutely he was. He was an amazing player.
00:21:17:24 - 00:21:46:24
Unknown
I think I think he's always said to me that he says he was a bit of a battering ram, and you didn't know what he was going to do. Absolutely. But I'm going to show you. Yeah. Richie, this picture here, which, of course, I was sitting at this side for this photograph was taken. And I remember vividly. And it's of Alec Gordon rising at the far post.
00:21:46:25 - 00:21:57:08
Unknown
Far post. And you can see you can see how that ball, how he was really at his maximum height. That's right. And it's interesting as well. Interesting.
00:21:57:08 - 00:22:11:27
Unknown
in the background there, there's we're both in vertical strips there in black and yellow and a Fraserburgh black and white, black white. But in the background there is standing Stan Brown who provided the cross.
00:22:11:28 - 00:22:27:11
Unknown
Yes. Which was ideal because Stan Stan created both goals. Yeah. They didn't have assists in those days as they do now. But Stan, I mean, and he cleared to be honest, I mean, that is just an iconic goal, a legendary goal.
00:22:27:14 - 00:22:35:01
Unknown
I remembered the photograph in the present journal. And when we were doing the history, I was telling Graham McLeod, coauthor.
00:22:35:01 - 00:22:52:24
Unknown
And Bill, I says, look, we need to get that photograph. And I'm glad. Pride of place. Because one thing I do feel sorry for that is an iconic photo. But there was never a photo of the winning goal. No, because it was the other end of the end of the ground and we didn't. And Peter wasn't expected to score it too.
00:22:52:25 - 00:23:03:21
Unknown
He just heard from 35 yards. Yeah, I remember the ball through from again. And it was quite, quite, quite a good buildup even I think I know.
00:23:03:23 - 00:23:17:01
Unknown
We've mentioned all these signings but one of the biggest signings of course was the man himself DD Cochrane. Yeah. He Davie will be forever etched in the history books as the captain.
00:23:17:02 - 00:23:20:05
Unknown
That one his first without a doubt.
00:23:20:07 - 00:23:49:16
Unknown
was an amazing signing. Yeah I mean you know the innocence first year were finished fifth which was a massive for second bottom. And I think Innes expected us to improve in the second season. But we'd lost by then. We'd lost Stevie Patterson would lost Ian Gibson and we we were in finished sixth and in us I think Innes tooled captain then Harley McFarlane that he was thinking of.
00:23:49:16 - 00:24:11:29
Unknown
He was a bit disillusioned and he was maybe thinking of not giving it up really. But we actually drew the next year at Briggs, and I think that gave him a wee bit of a boost. So he stayed on with us, thank goodness. But I think he always felt there was just a missing link in our team. And he found that missing link and Dave Cochrane and he found a leader in Dave Cochrane.
00:24:11:29 - 00:24:31:15
Unknown
He found a solid defender in Dave Cochrane and an experienced player, having played 30 games for Saint Johnstone. Yeah, he been injured, hadn't even injury problems and the first thing we saw was pre-season and the season we won the league. We went to Cromwell for the first time for our very first training session
00:24:31:15 - 00:24:38:21
Unknown
over the weekend, and we played against a select on the Friday night and we beat them three nil.
00:24:38:21 - 00:24:59:17
Unknown
But that was the first time we'd seen Davie. It was the first time Divi had been there and I was very impressed. He was. You could see he was a leader and he was. He was strong. He wasn't scared to shout at you, you know. And I think Innes saw him as Innes MacDonald on the park. He is a same type of character.
00:24:59:19 - 00:25:26:05
Unknown
And then of course that weekend in the Saturday morning that was in a Friday night, Saturday morning world session. So we're running about all of the place. George had us going like anything. Brian Darby almost needed a rescue helicopter to find him. His team got a bit lost and then in the afternoon, George put us through his paces on the park at Cromwell.
00:25:26:08 - 00:25:48:09
Unknown
And I just remember right at the end of it, lying face down, thinking, I don't think I can get up. I was absolutely exhausted. And but that was what George was like. He was an Army PTI indeed. And when he joined there and came to, you know, new George, you know, I mean he was just a small loop dead on the small man.
00:25:48:09 - 00:26:10:03
Unknown
But we all just loved George because what he did, he made us a and I remember I seen a headline, he made us fit to win the league. And that's what he did. You know, because a good bad. Oh, yes. George was an amazing guy. And I mean, I visited him myself, and Sam visited him about six days before he died.
00:26:10:05 - 00:26:20:05
Unknown
He was 97 and he was still a sharp as a tack, you know, unbelievable. Come back to Davie.
00:26:20:05 - 00:26:21:13
Unknown
Innes
00:26:21:15 - 00:26:23:20
Unknown
once described him as
00:26:23:22 - 00:26:29:22
Unknown
emperor like presence in the center of her defense. And of course,
00:26:29:29 - 00:26:31:15
Unknown
it
00:26:31:17 - 00:26:33:04
Unknown
involved
00:26:33:06 - 00:26:53:14
Unknown
tactical switch for one of her players who wasn't entirely happy with his position at the time at center half of Sammy Forsyth. And of course, as you see, I mean, I remember and we were discussing this earlier, you know, I was trying to remember how the back for the dynamics of the back four because you and goals.
00:26:53:14 - 00:27:17:04
Unknown
And then it was either Harry right back and Sammy it left back. But then Brian Darby two was slain right back. But in the middle you had this anchor with the gale of Corcoran and this only 22 years of age, but he looked much more mature with his beard than the tall alongside Burns and exactly. And and he was ruthless.
00:27:17:07 - 00:27:35:21
Unknown
You. He was a hard, hard player. Very hard. And then you had the skill the the the cultured football of his sweeper. Robin. That was it was a wonderful I mean, they complemented each other. One was a hard player, as you say. The other one was a skillful player. I mean, I remember seeing just recently.
00:27:35:23 - 00:27:47:25
Unknown
Robin, the number of times he saved her bacon. Robin was unbelievable because if a player got back past DV with his leg still intact, usually, you know, luckily
00:27:47:25 - 00:27:56:27
Unknown
and he was used to come in and come in towards me, just a bit of a trigger in this long leg appear from nowhere and flick of all clear. That was that was Robin.
00:27:57:02 - 00:28:10:04
Unknown
You know he was always there. Great, skillful player. When he got the ball. He always used it well. Davie not so well. Davie just used to put it out the park for up the field. But Robin was a really excellent footballer.
00:28:10:04 - 00:28:16:29
Unknown
Can you take us through the qualities that some of the other players brought to the team? The Peter and Donald, the twins?
00:28:17:01 - 00:28:40:06
Unknown
You had Stan Brown's cultured left foot, Alec and Norman. We've already touched on Big Doug, Michael Dowie, but there is based on the sideline too. You know, there's the Mike Henry's and the Alan Ross's and some other names here. They all contributed and I think we don't we don't want to forget that. I remember Ali Ali Nichol interviewing
00:28:40:08 - 00:28:47:18
Unknown
about the, you know, Naran County and, and he asked me who was the best player of that league winning season.
00:28:47:21 - 00:29:10:01
Unknown
And I just said, oh no, you're not getting me in that one. I said, because we were a team. Yeah. I would never name one person. Every single player in the whole squad play their part in that season. And the only thing I said was at the end of the season, we had the player of the year awards, the fans voted for the player of the year and I said the player one.
00:29:10:01 - 00:29:41:05
Unknown
That was Robin Mitchell, Robin Mitchell, but there was only four votes between the first four players. Is that right? And that summed up, you know, our team because we were a team. We weren't individuals, just remarkable team spirit and a bond. We still have as well. In 2014, when we celebrated the 100th year of are getting membership into the Highland League, we had a team of the century, and I think six of that team figured in that to that squad.
00:29:41:07 - 00:30:08:14
Unknown
Yeah. But certainly I mean going going through the players. I mean Sami Forsyth you know left back. He was I think possibly the most consistent player I've ever seen. So underrated great player. Never let you down. We've talked about Robin and Davey Hardy. Best overlook overlapping fullback in the league a great great servant to in fact in the league winning team I was I was only 21.
00:30:08:14 - 00:30:34:01
Unknown
But when I won the league. But I was the second longest serving player to Hardie, which is quite an amazing fact with a very young team in fact, you know, but midfield had workhorses just all the time. Donald, Dougie, Muckle, Dowie, Stan Brown, Stan was immense water player. I remember, I remember, I think it was I don't know who it was.
00:30:34:02 - 00:30:53:11
Unknown
It could have been yourself or one of the other players told me that there's two players that always made themselves available, and Stan was one of them. Stan was one. Didn't matter where you were in the park, Donald Robertson, you know, they were always meeting themselves, available for the boss to build things up. But I remember was Stan in particular.
00:30:53:11 - 00:31:19:13
Unknown
We played Inverness Thistle on a secondary play of a cup match, and because it was a secondary play, it was played at Carlisle Park and this was the great Thistle team two and we beat them for nil. And now Innes wasn't wasn't one for giving too many compliments. He expected you to do your job. That was. I remember him saying at the end of that match he says, oh, he says that was I was fantastic performance from you all, 100% from you all.
00:31:19:14 - 00:31:39:11
Unknown
Then he turned to stand, but only says it was 110% from you, you know, and from. That was an amazing component, really. But that was what Stan was like, you know, a phenomenal player. I think he was our third top scorer of that season. Whether or not so terrific. I look at that season
00:31:39:11 - 00:31:39:29
Unknown
and
00:31:40:01 - 00:31:44:14
Unknown
starts were about 75 goals scored in 35 against.
00:31:44:16 - 00:31:44:26
Unknown
Yeah.
00:31:45:01 - 00:31:48:03
Unknown
indeed it was by virtue of the better goal difference
00:31:48:07 - 00:31:50:09
Unknown
It was quite historic really, because
00:31:50:09 - 00:32:08:14
Unknown
the season after that the Highland League introduced goal difference to decide the title and Narin County would have won the title. Had goal difference counted, we wouldn't have had to go to the playoff. I know, I know, I wouldn't have missed a playoff at anything and you were very well paid, I have to say 7 or 8 pounds a week.
00:32:08:14 - 00:32:28:20
Unknown
Was it? Oh yes. Yeah, I think it was 7 pounds and less. Less. I think it was 33%. How many paints did that by in the car. Not a lot. It did. It was all about what, £0.25 a pint or something. That's okay. So. So you still had some money to come to the wife after your session in the canteen stance path, I usually took home a bag of crisps.
00:32:28:22 - 00:32:51:10
Unknown
All right. Oh, that was very kindly, so benevolent. So, you know, but no, it was a fact. It was great fun, wasn't it? But all the boys went down to the canteen, which was Stan's dad's pub, and Stan worked there, you know, it was great, great, great relationship. How all the players and their wives and they all. We were a family club.
00:32:51:11 - 00:33:04:18
Unknown
Yeah, yeah. Anyway, here we go. Down to the gritty. Yeah. How the season panned out with all its dramas. And yes, we're entering the the home straight,
00:33:04:21 - 00:33:05:22
Unknown
as it were
00:33:05:25 - 00:33:18:19
Unknown
highlights definitely beaten. Cali's six one at Station Park and of course David Johnson's Google. That's right. And never forget that goal. I'll never forget it because of course yeah absolutely.
00:33:18:19 - 00:33:20:04
Unknown
And I always remember
00:33:20:05 - 00:33:43:21
Unknown
Innes and George coming out of the dugout, which was just in front of the stand then, and they stood and led the applause and the the stand stood up as one. It was the hero coming home. And and it was so fitting that Davie should have played in that title. I'll tell you. Just so we stood before Ricardo on two about Daly was
00:33:43:23 - 00:33:44:27
Unknown
one training session.
00:33:44:27 - 00:34:03:06
Unknown
Davie was already out of the dressing room, warming up, just doing puppies in the far side. And there was three young lads, school lads that came to train with us, and Innes was speaking to them, and I was just coming out with the tunnel at the time, and I heard in a saying to them he says, do you three lads want to become top footballers?
00:34:03:07 - 00:34:28:29
Unknown
Oh yes, Mr. McDonald. And he pointed, pointed over at Davie and he just said, watch him. And he walked off, you know. And what a compliment. Yeah. Well enough to tell me. Of course, you know, when I wrote the biography of Davies biographers a few years after his death, that if there was one player, one player that he coveted when he was Elgin City, it was Davie Johnson.
00:34:29:06 - 00:34:52:06
Unknown
And he says unfortunately, he never got Davy signed until that final season. And by then, of course, he was 34. And I think he still David could have gone. Oh, I think I think he could carry on a few seasons, but things weren't as heart wasn't really. No it wasn't, it wasn't. I think the loss of the loss of Chickie Island was on Leader Blue as well, you know.
00:34:52:08 - 00:34:52:22
Unknown
So,
00:34:52:28 - 00:35:16:18
Unknown
anyway, we mentioned six one. How did you feel about that, that game against you? That was amazing because they scored first. They scored four minutes. I think it was that scored from me and Rivers and Aaron lot of course. Yes. And after that it was just one sided. So one sided. And we ended up beating them six one and a phenomenal result.
00:35:16:18 - 00:35:28:10
Unknown
We were all over the moon and were followed up with another couple of great results. As you know, beating Ross County five one at home and then went to Burgh Briggs with three games to go beat
00:35:28:16 - 00:35:36:16
Unknown
five one, I should say, at Barrett Briggs. Unbelievable result. That was innocence. Probably favorite results of the season apart from the play off.
00:35:36:17 - 00:35:39:16
Unknown
One of the results we haven't picked up on,
00:35:39:18 - 00:36:00:01
Unknown
which was obviously very important, was A31 home win over Peterhead because Peterhead actually finished. They were a very good team. Well they actually finished joint second as it were, with Keith, I know, and the dark tends to be forgotten. They were in 43 points. That's right. Now Fraserburgh, Peter Hayden, Keith were in 43 points and counting.
00:36:00:01 - 00:36:12:03
Unknown
Fraserburgh 144. Yeah. So I think Peterhead beat us up Peterhead quite convincingly earlier on the season for a member rightly, but. So that was a great one for us. Three one. Yeah.
00:36:12:03 - 00:36:12:27
Unknown
then
00:36:12:27 - 00:36:23:06
Unknown
we had A51 win over Ross County at Station Park. I was at that game, you know, I was at the home games and I also managed to get through
00:36:23:11 - 00:36:23:23
Unknown
to
00:36:23:23 - 00:36:28:26
Unknown
Elgin City Borough Briggs when we hammered them, hammered them five one.
00:36:28:28 - 00:36:42:10
Unknown
And I am I correct in saying over three in about 15 minutes? Yeah, I think I think it was four nil at half time. I'm not sure. Yeah, I think it was. But yeah, we just I think in the first few minutes. I think Norman had a great game. Do you remember that.
00:36:42:12 - 00:36:47:06
Unknown
My dad, he introduced me to Naran County. You know, he was a great Johnson. But
00:36:47:10 - 00:37:08:23
Unknown
after Johnson was sold to Aberdeen, he in the doors of Station Park again which. But I phoned him at home. Dad was mum. Dad living in Society Street. I phoned him at home at half time from Barra Briggs to tell him the score, because he was always a half a cup, half empty and he thought that we would stumble.
00:37:08:24 - 00:37:09:26
Unknown
Yeah, but.
00:37:09:26 - 00:37:11:27
Unknown
I look at the fixtures and that was
00:37:11:27 - 00:37:13:21
Unknown
the one fixture we'd
00:37:13:25 - 00:37:35:19
Unknown
just beaten. We'd lost to Keith. That's right. And then we beat broader four two at Nairn and then we beat Elgin five one at Burgh Briggs. And our final two matches were Huntly and Rothfuss taught me through that. Yeah, both. Both away games. Both games and paper.
00:37:35:21 - 00:37:57:13
Unknown
We should win. As Brian Clough once said, don't you don't win games on paper when I'm on the grass. Yeah, but the Huntly game, we just didn't perform well. We drew one one. Yeah, but when you could still do it for us and it was one of these games where we were well on top. But could we, could we score.
00:37:57:17 - 00:38:18:25
Unknown
And then of course a couple of minutes left we had a big mess. Donald put it over the bar from about three yards. He was totally distraught. I remember hearing about it. Yeah. And we all rallied around him as a team. We we won as a team, withdrew as a team. We lost as a team. But he was leading back from the ball came to him you know.
00:38:18:26 - 00:38:22:03
Unknown
So the important the important thing was though you got
00:38:22:04 - 00:38:26:22
Unknown
two points from these games against Huntly and Rose. Yeah. And, and
00:38:26:24 - 00:38:38:15
Unknown
that took your level and points and with Fraserburgh and albeit ahead of Fraserburgh on goal difference, which wasn't going to count. No.
00:38:38:18 - 00:38:39:06
Unknown
But
00:38:39:06 - 00:38:45:21
Unknown
Peter Head had already finished their program. We knew they weren't in the equation on 43 points,
00:38:45:26 - 00:38:46:17
Unknown
but
00:38:46:21 - 00:38:48:29
Unknown
lurking there in the background were
00:38:49:02 - 00:38:50:04
Unknown
Keith.
00:38:50:07 - 00:38:50:25
Unknown
And,
00:38:51:01 - 00:38:56:00
Unknown
we knew that Keith needed
00:38:56:03 - 00:39:14:28
Unknown
it was actually 37 days. It's quite incredible. 37 days before your final fixture and the play off because of the backlog that Keith had. Yeah. And I can only assume that Keith's backlog was due to the condition of kind of park in the winter. Yes. There was never a good park.
00:39:15:00 - 00:39:36:24
Unknown
And and they fell behind in their fixtures, but they were innocent. Remember in a saying to me says Donald says it's better having the points in the bag, even although it looked as if Keith could catch us. So they had their last two games I think was against Peterhead and Elgin City, and they lost both of them. Yeah, and that's right.
00:39:36:25 - 00:39:38:13
Unknown
Now the Elgin game, I think it
00:39:38:15 - 00:39:44:15
Unknown
There were one nil up and one, two, two in the last 12 minutes or something like that. Yeah.
00:39:44:15 - 00:39:55:17
Unknown
and apparently was Jimmy Wilson the manager of Elgin. Think he could have been. He could have been. He was roamed about. I don't know if it was. You speak for someone and he says even at half time he says will beat them or beat them.
00:39:55:19 - 00:40:04:08
Unknown
Well, they're certainly did us a favor, Elgin. Yeah. I mean, you were of course, in these days there was nothing like
00:40:04:09 - 00:40:17:02
Unknown
the social media to keep track of the fixtures. So, I mean, the first I found out about it was reading it in the press and journal the following morning, and I couldn't believe it. I knew that we had a chance.
00:40:17:03 - 00:40:19:24
Unknown
We we were in a playoff, but but
00:40:19:26 - 00:40:34:21
Unknown
like you, you never even went to the match. No, no I couldn't I just thought of playing well. Elgin weren't playing well and I just thought, well, it's quite obvious to me I didn't want to go through that and be really disappointed. But most of the national team were there. Yes.
00:40:34:21 - 00:40:54:12
Unknown
I think a lot of the national team were there that night and in us, of course, because he he knew most of these Elgin players. Yeah, I think they will do do him a favor. And I know even although we give him a hammer in just a few few weeks before, but as I say, I never found out myself until the morning.
00:40:54:13 - 00:41:01:00
Unknown
And because there was no social media, no radio coverage of results and whatnot,
00:41:01:02 - 00:41:03:18
Unknown
winding back. We but you had this.
00:41:03:21 - 00:41:15:12
Unknown
Period of 37 days between your last game against us and Fraserburgh, to be fair, would have been in the same position. Yeah. Oh yeah. They'd have been the same position. So you both had this.
00:41:15:13 - 00:41:31:20
Unknown
five weeks to kill until you finally get to the playoff. How did they keep you motivated and keep you? It was it was very low key. He just kept us practice matches and and you know, just kept the fitness going
00:41:31:21 - 00:41:42:27
Unknown
without any sort of stress at all. He just kept it nice and low key. And I mean for most of it, of course we didn't think we'd be in a playoff anyway.
00:41:43:00 - 00:41:57:26
Unknown
We thought we had we would blown up basically, you know, so I know he knew what he was doing. He didn't overemphasize the importance of keeping fit and things like that. He just kept us going nicely. So we were all quite relaxed about
00:41:58:01 - 00:42:00:23
Unknown
Once again, great management for a minister
00:42:00:26 - 00:42:01:17
Unknown
and.
00:42:01:19 - 00:42:02:27
Unknown
Of course there was.
00:42:02:29 - 00:42:06:11
Unknown
No shortage of drama before the
00:42:06:11 - 00:42:07:10
Unknown
playoff.
00:42:07:13 - 00:42:10:10
Unknown
Keith drew in the Tuesday night. Yeah.
00:42:10:13 - 00:42:32:12
Unknown
the match was the play off was fixed for Burgh Briggs the following Monday, which very fortunately was a local holiday. Nairn. And I remember there was very big support from the baroque in through this 3400 fans, roughly large sport.
00:42:32:13 - 00:42:36:27
Unknown
But Naran were very well supported too. Oh, very. But the interesting
00:42:37:01 - 00:42:49:10
Unknown
sidebars to to that story was the fact that the Fraserburgh fleet stayed in the freedom fishermen. They sacrificed and they stayed in to to come to the march. Now,
00:42:49:10 - 00:42:56:11
Unknown
let's say I was mentioned the dramas, of course, Brian Darby, he thought the title was had gone.
00:42:56:12 - 00:43:20:08
Unknown
Gone. Yeah. And he'd left the area. Yeah. Norman in somewhere. Yeah. That's right. The Channel Islands. Yeah. Norman MacDonald was at Talon College and couldn't get off to play in the game. Billy Mitchell, who's a fantastic winger that season. Yeah. We shouldn't we should never forget Billy's contribution. It was massive. You know, he was contributed
00:43:20:10 - 00:43:26:10
Unknown
had some injury niggles and his, his place was taken by an unknown Tommy Wilson on the wing.
00:43:26:10 - 00:43:34:15
Unknown
I think he came from midfield. Was so he had a great game. He had a very good game. The good thing I think my report, match report Billy actually
00:43:34:15 - 00:43:46:25
Unknown
going on. I think both Billy and Mike, Mike Henry make me to say that they were part of it that night. And Sammy Forsyth, tell me you need to tell me the story.
00:43:46:27 - 00:43:58:20
Unknown
Sammy Forsyth had to take his wife into hospital in the the march before she was expecting her first child. That's right. And he got a ding dong from the the nurses. The nurses. Yes. For leaving her. Yes,
00:43:58:23 - 00:44:08:10
Unknown
take it all in the top. Baby was born. Yes, yes. The following day, I think it was a fallen day, you know, not 100% for the hung over anyway.
00:44:08:12 - 00:44:15:27
Unknown
Oh, undoubtedly. Undoubtedly. But so had our trials and tribulations going into the match. Well, hold on to your seats, folks.
00:44:16:00 - 00:44:51:26
Unknown
Here are the teams for tonight. Naran County McFadden. Forsyth. Robin. Mitchell. Cochrane. Brown. Wilson, Donald Robertson, Gordon McElderry, Peter Robertson. Subs Billy Mitchell and Henry, Fraserburgh. Gray, sharp, Cardinal McKenzie, Roger Duffy, Watson, Hunter, Newlands, Stephen Bowie, subs Massey and Mackay.
00:44:51:28 - 00:45:05:09
Unknown
Referee. Lawrence. James. Officer, Aberdeen. So let's talk us through the game. Ritchie. From different perspectives. You be the front row seat of seeing all the action and being
00:45:05:14 - 00:45:18:11
Unknown
press bench. What was moving the dressing room before the game. It was determined nervous. Obviously there's going to be nerves, but there was a determination. And I think that all came from Innes McDonald's psychology training, if you like.
00:45:18:11 - 00:45:18:24
Unknown
Yeah,
00:45:18:24 - 00:45:32:27
Unknown
we believed we could win it. Whereas before we would go there thinking, oh, I'm not so sure, but no had drummed into us, we are good enough to win it. You're going to win it. So we were quite determined. Went out onto the park.
00:45:32:29 - 00:45:38:00
Unknown
Nervy start by both teams as you can understand. Massive crowd as you say.
00:45:38:01 - 00:45:40:09
Unknown
Very noisy crowd which was great
00:45:40:12 - 00:45:55:16
Unknown
it was 50 over 50. We probably had the age in the first half. And then just on, almost on half time, the famous Stan Brown cross that we talked about and Alec Gordon header at the far post put us one nil up half time. So we were
00:45:55:18 - 00:45:59:15
Unknown
delighted in at half time one nil up second half started.
00:45:59:16 - 00:46:15:24
Unknown
They were really they really came at us and scored a thinking about 51 minutes. It was it was early on straight after the half which was obviously a bit of a blue, and then it was about 5050 all the way through. There wasn't any real chances at either end, I don't think.
00:46:16:00 - 00:46:25:13
Unknown
But then right at the at the death, if you like, they got a free kick about 20, 25 yards out and everyone piled into the box.
00:46:25:14 - 00:46:42:00
Unknown
We all held her breath. After this of course, was I doubt, and the ball came across and I came off my line to punch it clear. And just as I did that, someone clad, I think it was a Fraserburgh player clattered right into me. There were so many bodies in the box, you know, you could could hardly tell enough.
00:46:42:00 - 00:47:04:19
Unknown
Of course I fell backwards in the ball, came down with me and I think it was Brian Newlands, Fraserburgh player. But what I had seen in March reports Brian swung his boot at the ball, but my face got in the way. Yeah, which is the most fortuitous kick in the face I've ever had because it was it stopped a goal but and Robin Mitchell cleared it off the line.
00:47:04:22 - 00:47:12:26
Unknown
And then that was the end of the 90 minutes. Yeah. Well I mean from, from my perspective, you know, sitting with the fans and the stand
00:47:12:28 - 00:47:30:10
Unknown
the press bench, we were all holding our breath because we didn't know if you were going to be able to carry on. I suspect in present day I wouldn't have been able to the referee wouldn't have allowed you to know because concussed and all, I was out called for a couple of minutes and there's this there's this fantastic picture to think of.
00:47:30:11 - 00:47:57:02
Unknown
Innes and George. George tending to you with your blood streaming from your mouth. Who is so hardy looking over me? I remember that one. Yeah, yeah, quite a moment of high drama. And then, of course, we went into extra time and we got the winning goal. Yes. And that winning goal came again from I think Tommy Wilson and Donald Robertson were involved in the build up to Stan Stan through ball through.
00:47:57:04 - 00:48:06:06
Unknown
Yeah. And I can still see I'm still sitting my seat. I'm still picturing seeing Pete Robertson disappearing to my left with the ball at his feet.
00:48:06:08 - 00:48:28:04
Unknown
Brock keeper line. Charlie Gray. Yeah. Carry on. What were you what were you what were your thoughts? Well, I think I was still seeing a few birds fluttering about my head, to be honest, but but no, I just remember Peter getting the ball beautiful through ball, and he was a good I soon, about 30, 35 yards out, Charlie Gray was off his line and Peter just went for it.
00:48:28:06 - 00:48:50:00
Unknown
Yeah. And I remember in the scene after the game he said, but I saw Peter was going to shoot. He said, oh, don't be a fool, Robertson. You know, you're far too far out, of course, a bit like the Kenny a Kenny McLean and say, Denmark and and Peter just played it beautifully over Charlie Gray's head into the net, two one.
00:48:50:00 - 00:49:04:05
Unknown
And then after that it was all us really. Duggie Muckle though, he hit the bar. The member of that and I'd thankfully enough with Davy and Robin in front of me, they kept the ball away from me. I think I had one save to make,
00:49:04:08 - 00:49:09:26
Unknown
but I was I was still compos mentis and all that, you know, I was, I was still I was seeing the ball, okay.
00:49:09:26 - 00:49:28:16
Unknown
And all that, but but no, but when the night when the 120th minute finished and the whistle went, oh all hell let loose. Indeed I, I've seen a photograph taken from the stand by. I think it was a journal photographer. And it's looking down at the mayhem.
00:49:28:22 - 00:49:35:27
Unknown
the ground. And I see John Riley and Paul, you know, the Railway Brothers, you know, and there's so many familiar faces.
00:49:35:27 - 00:49:36:11
Unknown
And
00:49:36:17 - 00:49:44:12
Unknown
remember there's one caught my shaking hands, grabbing Innes with the hand. And it was almost it was almost that
00:49:44:12 - 00:49:48:15
Unknown
famous story about Bill Shankly telling jokes. Dean,
00:49:48:22 - 00:50:09:02
Unknown
you're a mortal man. You're after after Lisbon. You know, I know, I mean, I just remember at the end, obviously arms were in the air celebrating, and the next thing I knew, I was being hoisted on shoulders and I was being carried off the pitch and shoulders, and it was Ian Henry, big keeper.
00:50:09:02 - 00:50:35:09
Unknown
Yeah. But again and all that and oh, the you know, everyone was just going mental and all that. And I think if this career had taken a different path he could easily have been your success. I don't yeah I don't keep keeping a great, great, great character. But no, I mean, of course he was part. But then by the way, they had already won their league title and I'd followed him because I think I was just joining the committee that season.
00:50:35:14 - 00:50:54:22
Unknown
And when you were playing away, I was at the matches, you know. So I knew all those, you know, Indian boys do. And it was fantastic for the town that we won these two league titles here. And, and of course, it was recognized by the district council. The exception. That's
00:50:54:25 - 00:50:57:19
Unknown
the Lion Hotel which was a great occasion
00:50:57:20 - 00:50:58:24
Unknown
that's how big it was.
00:50:58:25 - 00:51:19:03
Unknown
Oh, that's how big it was. I don't honestly think we realized ourselves at the time how big winning the league was, you know, well, just won a game and we thought, oh, it's just fantastic. We've won the league. But we didn't realize the effect it would have in there, in the community and all that, but especially because we haven't won it since.
00:51:19:04 - 00:51:29:26
Unknown
Which is disappointing really. But it is. I mean, for a club the size of a town, the size of their and off often feel, you know, I see the town has grown
00:51:30:01 - 00:51:38:29
Unknown
considerably since these days and there are many people who have come into this town. Sadly, I think sadly, I think have never been up to Station Park.
00:51:39:01 - 00:52:02:15
Unknown
What would you say to them? Come up Decision Park because you would see Highland League football is a great leader to watch and wonderfully, Station Park is one of the most beautiful grounds. Oh yes, all credit to the club. That and the volunteer ground staff is an amazing ground. You've got the 1937 wooden stand, which. Yeah, it's it's serving its purpose but probably needs replace.
00:52:02:15 - 00:52:18:09
Unknown
And then you've got the, the Johnson, the Davy Johnson enclosure which fittingly remembers Davy. Yeah. You know so but but the pitch is beautifully kept and not stuck. And you get a good welcome. Yeah. You always get a good welcome. It's hard work keeping the club.
00:52:18:09 - 00:52:30:14
Unknown
and only about 20,000 that comes through the gates. And we're and we're one of the lowest budgets in the. Yes. So definitely get yourself along there. But go back to the final night that hadn't finished for you.
00:52:30:15 - 00:52:52:17
Unknown
You must. Yes, I was off to hospital after doctor agrees to to get my face stitched up. And it was it was quite funny because the doctor that stitched up my face was quite, quite rough in me and all that, and I just thought, oh, you know, she was not sort of holding back with her stitches. Probably thought you were a drunk from the march.
00:52:52:18 - 00:53:10:04
Unknown
Well, it was, I think it was Ian McPherson who was there with me from the committee and he said, well, won the league tonight. Who won the league tonight? And she says, oh, yes, I heard there was a football match. She said, and he says he's, he's, he's illegal in goalkeeper. She said, oh he's a player. She said yeah, yeah.
00:53:10:05 - 00:53:15:04
Unknown
And she was a lot nicer to me after that. She did think it was a hooligan fighting in the streets afterwards. But,
00:53:15:05 - 00:53:26:10
Unknown
We finally got out after getting my face stitched up and the bus was waiting for me in the driveway at Doctor Gray's so I could hear them all singing before I even got on the bus.
00:53:26:12 - 00:53:45:20
Unknown
So we got through ten urn and we thought, we'll go up the high street and I'll be bound to be lined up, you know, to, to to cheer us on. But there wasn't a person in the high street, not us. So. So we thought, oh, oh, well, let's go to the canteen for a drink. And 86 or 7 pints.
00:53:45:20 - 00:54:02:00
Unknown
Definitely. By then we opened the door to the canteen and folk fell out. It was just. I've never seen so many people, and it took us about half an hour to get actually up to the bar. Yeah, there's something that crosses my mind. I mentioned, of course, the fact it was a local holiday
00:54:02:02 - 00:54:10:16
Unknown
was of quite significance to me because as a reporter for the Telegraph, we always had the May day holiday off.
00:54:10:16 - 00:54:18:21
Unknown
And that was a media holiday. And it meant that the publication of the narrative was put back to the Tuesday. And there was myself,
00:54:18:21 - 00:54:27:01
Unknown
I would have got to the march to cover it anyway. But Dave Bain, whose son Stephen's a store accounting committee for so many years
00:54:27:08 - 00:54:30:13
Unknown
John Smith and David Beck.
00:54:30:14 - 00:54:36:03
Unknown
But I wonder what Alastair Bain would have said if he faced a strike
00:54:36:09 - 00:54:41:17
Unknown
had it not been a local holiday, it could have been a strike in the Telegraph. And
00:54:41:19 - 00:54:43:05
Unknown
and remember
00:54:43:12 - 00:54:45:29
Unknown
Dave and John Smith.
00:54:46:01 - 00:55:10:15
Unknown
It was a great morning, you know, because we could do the, the back page that night super near and county league champions and we didn't have hot metal. We didn't have hot metal of the type size that we required. John I think it was and Dave contrived to set this banner headline in handset 36 point air bar. I remember it and there it was.
00:55:10:16 - 00:55:21:22
Unknown
And there the story. I know there the story ends. Oh no. But quite an amazing, amazing light. That was just phenomenal. I mean, they've certainly
00:55:21:25 - 00:55:29:27
Unknown
extra place in the history and folklore of Naran County. I just find it sad that we've we've never we've we had a spell in
00:55:29:29 - 00:55:43:22
Unknown
20s winning trophies, but hopefully someday will win that league again. Oh, that would be be wonderful. It would be wonderful. Well, Richard, it has been a pleasure. Absolute pleasure for me to speak to you.
00:55:43:24 - 00:55:55:17
Unknown
I'm sure we'll see you at the start of next season, and hopefully we'll see a few more punters up there in the county on, and we can only wish the club and I mean this sincerely wish the club all the best.
00:55:55:17 - 00:56:12:12
Unknown
And Toshi, he's done a good job. We're looking in good shape and we hope that things work out and that we maybe climb league table. Bit more next season and that would be great. Yeah. Okay. Thanks very much. Thanks, Donald.
00:56:12:15 - 00:56:22:19
Unknown
you. You.
00:56:22:22 - 00:56:24:15
Unknown
You.