Happy Dosser

My dad was an Accies fan and took me to a cup tie against Killie on one of his rare Saturdays off. I think it was 1967. Tommy and Jackie Mcinally were playing that day and I remember my dad laughed when I asked him who the wee boy on the wing was. He doesn't look as small in the photo but it's probably because Joe is stooping a bit. I remember being tremndously impressed by Jackie's rumbustious runs, his knee s almost grazing his chin, so I was delighted when we eventually signed him.

Yep. Not quite sure he's tall enough but difficult to tell from the photo.

Team that day was: Latchford, P Miller, Stevens, McLeod, Pettigrew, Larnach (s), Clinging, Wilson (s), Smith, Donnelly, Dempsey, Carberry, Irvine. Going by the photos on p.247 of "'Well Again", it could be John Donnelly but not Carberry or Irvine. I don't know what Wilson or Smith looked like, or remember them. Literally a "long shot"!

You could well be right because the Hearts Umbro sleeve design was worn for two seasons from 1977-79 according to Historical Football Kits, if I remember my researches from last night. Will check the team on 7/4/79 and see if there are any other candidates for Mystery Man. Incidentally, the editor of HFK welcomes corrections to his strip histories and usually replies promptly.

FWIW: Drew Busby is on the extreme left. Last man standing to have played for Third Lanark, I believe. Probably 1976-77 season because we didn't play Hearts at all the following season in any competition (they were in Division 1) and we only played in that strip for those two seasons. Not absolutely convinced it's Peter M but if it's the game played on 18th December he was playing that day.

Yes, they helped to pass the time when travelling to Aberdeen, Arbroath, etc, especially since we were a teetotal bus .

Wonderful mock-up which made me laugh, even in these dire times. I remember talking to an old-timer on the EK supporters' bus who told me he that he had travelled up by train to Pittodrie for a match in the 50s. MFC were on the same train and he was amazed how much smoking was going on, particularly by the great Johnny Aitkenhead. That is all.

My heart sank a bit when I heard the report that the players' choice was Keith Lasley: that kind of talk over the years has always made me a bit suspicious that players just want an easy life. I think a completely fresh start is required now. Right now, after that "performance", I'd employ Vlad The Impaler if it got them to give a flying fruitbat. I'm not sure we have enough decent players to get us out of this hole, so an appointment needs to be made soon so that we can ship players out (to League 2 or the Juniors, presumably) and in. Normally the thought of Tommy Wright as manager would have me reaching for the Aberlour 12-y-o but someone who can grab players warmly by the throat and organise them into a streetwise bunch who don't give in easily may be our only option in these circumstances. That's how bad things are at the moment

Talking of "robust play", I remember Dixie was credited with the last shoulder charge goal in Scotland when he cowped the Dundee goalie over the line in a game at Fir Park. I was there but can't remember the GK's name. The incident took place at the Taggart's End. Anyone know the custodian's name? Ally Donaldson?

My main memories are the huge crowd and trying to build a sufficiently large plinth of bricks lying around the dreadful cludgie at the Firpark School end to see the game properly (and standing beside Peter McCloy, which added a bizarre twist). That and getting annoyed by the niggling , diving antics of SM, which were totally in sympathy will Ferguson's nasty philosophy. This game probably darkened relations between the two clubs for a couple of decades because of his whiny, hypocritical comments in the press. Of the game itself, I have no clear memory.

That Coyne/Wright combo at Dundee was pretty impressive, I have to say.

Loved his lordly step-overs too: a fine player. I always thought if he'd taken that chance in Dortmund we could have won that game. Remember the German commentator saying, "Oh, Tommy, Tommy!" after it just slid past the post? I also loved it when he refused a return to Sellick when he was knocking them in for us.

Stumbled across this footage of 'Well stalwart Willie Watson playing at RB for Man. Utd against City, including a controversial tackle involving George Best: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omisBd4RdM0 I'm biased of course, but much prefer the lack of diving, rolling about, trying to get players booked, adjusting comb-overs, etc etc. Have thrashed myself in advane with birch twigs, of course.

God, the talent in that team!

I think Stevenson and Ferrier will be beyond just about anyone's recall now but if Arsenal offered Sailor Hunter a blank cheque for the two of them, as the story goes, they must have been phenomenal.

Agreed. It's a pity no footage seems to have survived of the Dundee 3 Motherwell 6 match on 25/10/75 because, if I remember correctly, each of Willie P's goals that day was from a Bobby Graham pass (incidentally, Gordon Strachan was playing and looked about eleven). Any old-timers out there who remember it as I do? For me, WP had the amazing ability to score even if he sclaffed or shinned the ball and he scored a lot of goals for Dundee Utd and Hearts too w/o Bobby Graham, whom I thought was just about the best I've seen for vision and passing (I never saw Pat Quinn).

I thought the same. Saw him once or twice at my doctor's surgery as well as distantly on the park. Always nice to see The Sheep unhappy, though.

Taking the longer view *adjusts smoking jacket and pours a large malt whisky in the oak-pannelled library*, isn't that Joe Lewis's third howler of a game against us? He'll be getting a complex next .

Allan Campbell, the pocket battleship......

Saw the whole of the first half but only the last ten minutes of the second. Frustrating that the first and third happened when we were up the park: a feeble cross from O'Donnell and a typical Hylton mistake led to their goals. How many times does Forrest score the same goal against us?

I second that much-too-sensible-to succeed emotion.

I remember being so excited at school knowing I was going to see Tom in his first game for Scotland that night, very proud he was a 'Well player. Very hard but fair and without the nasty streak others had at that time.

An interesting article about The Great Man: https://web.archive.org/web/20200805103110/https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/14141141.hugh-macdonald-takes-a-trip-down-memory-lane-with-motherwell-legend-willie-hunter/

My first 'Well hero when I was a nipper: such an elegant player and a wonderful passer also. Met Billy (as his family called him) and his charming wife in Glasgow a few years ago and he came to our table for about ten minutes to chat to us about his time at Motherwell. Think he suffered a compound arm break against Rangers. Latterly he wrote poetry for an Alzheimer's charity and took an interest in Pat Quinn in his declining years. As others have said, a complete gentleman from a totally different age.

Sorry, can't see that number