mcguru

Ah comfae Craigneuk and ma old man was a Cel'ic man. Probably season 74-75 when I was 7\8 he'd take me on the Cel'ic Wishy bus to Parkheid one week and down to Fir Park the next for a Motherwell game. There was something magical in making that walk doon the Bee Hive Brae towards Fir Park. More so for a kid for an evening match when you could make out the glare of the floodlights even fae Craigneuk. Getting closer to the grun and being lifted over and then scrambling up the bing to get to the top of the terracing and taking in the view afore ye will never be forgotten. All you could see was a lush green carpet (Boyle take note) of a playing surface spectaculary lit. A warm, fuzzing feeling inside without the use of a porn mag - amazing. Walking to the games, ah remember thinking I couldn't understand people going about their daily lives when there was a game kicking off in an hour's time. How could they be wasting their time doing mundane things like going shopping, to the pub or staying in? Realised I was a Dosser probably in the '75 semi-final against Airdrie. Not knowing all the nuances of fitba, all I gathered from my 7 year old reading of the Record was something to do with Rennie, 4 steps and a free-kick. It didn't make sense. Ma old man definately realised I was lost to "the cause" when he couldn't get tickets for the '76 3rd round game against Cel'ic so we went up to King George's Parks and heard the game on the radio. 2-0 down but I didn't give up hope. When the 3rd goal went in for a famous win, you could have seen ma smile fae Fir Park tae the Maracana. Gie ma old man his due, he allowed me to make my own decision about it cos I know plenty OF faithers who widney let their boy support anything other than the so-called big two. To top it off that season ma maw got me ma first fitba tap, course it was 20 sizes too big for me and went doon o'er ma knees but far as I was concerned, I WAS Wullie Pettigrew every time ah pulled it on. Number 8 will always have a special fascination for me on a fitba shirt. First time I cried over a result of course was the semi defeat against Rangers. JPR Gordon, Newport-on-Tay never forgotten or forgiven. Blood, sweat & tears is all you can be sure of as a Dosser but once the magic is in you, you'll never give it up.

Right 'nuff....so what time is the gemme up Wishy Sports Centre?

Confucious, he say: "I'd rather see 10 shots go out for a shy than 1 effort that hits the post."

Not an easy question like top 10 fav. albums or films. For me - Boyd - Solid attacking full back. Remember 1st game of 90-91 season was it when we beat Celtic 2-0. Celtic had a big guy signed from Arsenal Martin Hayes and Boyd ran rings aroon him. It's not often we had the chance to sign "Arsenal Reject Hello...." but we did that sunny day. Cooper - There's not much new you can say about the man. Remember a league game against Dundee Utd at Fir Park that I think we won 3-2 or 4-2 in the end and Cooper played an inch perfect defence-splitting pass through to wee Dougie who finished with aplomb. Only 2 games a week were televised in those days and it was a real pleasure to watch us on Sportscene that night. Gahagan - Was there ever a better sight that Wee Johnny charging down the right wing in front of the shed in the second half of a game? Kirk - Legend in our lunch-time. Was stood at the Gorgie Road end when he saved Wayne Foster's penalty. We were 2-0 down in that game if I remember rightly and came back to claim a 2-2 draw. And who will forget the moment when his blooter from Cooper's lay-off left Sniejder Aberdeen goalie floundering in is own net? When he scored the winning goal on 18th May in That Game, I was emotionally and physically gone, all I could do was collapse onto the barrier in front of me in celebration. Maxwell - Under-rated goalie in my opinion. What he went through in the Cup Final, a goalie would never be asked to do in today's game. Course, you have sub goalie's noo for one thing. There's a reason it was his face on the front of the Sunday Mail the next day. McClair (1st stint) - His hat-trick against Rangers at Fir Park in Jan 83 will long live in the memory. Think I caught the flu that day and so missed his 2 goals against Celtic days later in a 2-1 win. Packie Bonnar drops a cross in the last minute and Choccy is in like a rat up a drain-pipe. Richard "The Dick" Park's voice can barely contain his sorrow as he exclaims "oh no...Motherwell have scored...." on Radio Clyde's commentary. Nihjolt - Super solid at the back and in midfield when required. Looking at the re-runs nowadays, I can see but didn't realise at the time he had quite a few fouls in the Cup Final and was finally booked. Deservedly won Man of the Match in the semi-final game I'm sure. O'Donnell - Anyone who scores their first goal for their club as an 18 year old in a Cup Final is mature beyond their years. Integral part of Motherwell. Pettigrew - His goal against Celtic in the 76 Cup Game has to be seen to be believed. A genuine striker who knew where the goal was. Philliben - Big Softy may not have been one of the 13 for the actual final but his exploits helped us get there make no mistake. He should have been in O'Neil's place, who had a knee operation days before, was never fit. Wark - Mr. Motherwell. He knew your father and mine as well. Honourable Subs - Bobby Graham - Pettigrew's other half. McFadden (I live & work abroad so have only been able to get to maybe 5 games in past 12 years so only saw Faddy once in the flesh.

Nah, ah'm sure I was in almost the same spot as when Pyscho scored his winning penalty in the 1\4 final replay. Think the only time I was ever in an "away" end for a gemme was when for reasons unknown I decided to stand at the Fir Park School end when we played St.Mirren and the Kirkmeister scored 4 (and was then promptly subbed by McLean as I remember). Nothing like seeing other fans troop out the grun before the end of a game muttering "canny believe it..."

Big Softie 7 goals for us, remember 3 of them aff the top of ma heid - 1. Almost bursting the net as his blooter put us 1-0 up against Rangers in last home game before 91 Cup final. Dougie adding 2 memorable goals in the last 5 mins. 2. Equaliser at Tannadice in 94th minute of a Cup game sparking manic scenes in the Tannadice Enclosure and on Radio Clyde commentary. 3. Was standing behind the goal at Cappielow when Big Softie connected with a ball something like 50 yards out it seemed to me. Most days it would have ended up past the cranes in the docks but on this day it rocketed straight towards me and only the net saved me from getting battered. 1-1 that day as I remember.