Ronaldo

- Walking up the Lade with my dad when very young and coming out a street to see crowds coming together from all directions, getting in the players entrance and walking down the tunnel and moving into the section to the right of the tunnel. Walked down that tunnel often when great players like Jim Baxter and jimmy Johnston and Ian St.John (The Saint) all followed just five minutes later. ;
- later in my teens walking down the Crief Road with my pals from Letham and coming to the railway bridge and then seeing thousands queuing and thousands inside - made the adrenalin rush;
- games starting in the winter at 2pm because of the poor floodlights in front of big crowds in the old 2nd division;
- normally very good crowds until the late 70's;
- The steps up at the Florencw Place end often running up them after having run at the turnstile, diving at the last minute, through and under the turnstile. Simetimes getting a help in from some adult. It was an unwritten law that adults wanted kids into games without spending their pocket money, so the crowds were short of the actual figures stated;
- - 20,000 crowds against Rangers and Celtic each year with big Saints home supports;
- 25,000 against Aberdeen on New Years Day;
- being with a large section of Saints fans that took up their normal position in the middle of the terracing at a semi-final between Aberdeen and Kilmarnock and singing Saints songs . It was a good game but...... ;
- Danny Mann leading a charge into the Celtic support who were seperated by a line of police and the territorial gain made by that charge, we were yards past the half way line;
- Jimmy Wallace being sent off;
- peeing behind the main stand, crowds were bigger, bogs were crowded;
- Ormond's brilliant football team, great football;
- European nights - nothing like it with big cowds 15,000 against SV Hamburg and 12,000 Vsas Budapest, and I'm not sure against Zel Zejnicar Sarajevo but ALL were wins!
- the kiosk at the top of the corner at the Ice Rink End which a Stuart Beedie shot went straight through.. fantastic!;
- girls hanging their heads out of the ice rink windows saying silly things like "Ronnie what are you doing?" "Watching football what does it look like you silly girl type person".
- a mass sticking the "V" sign up at the SV Hamburg team for what their dads did during the war. true story;
- getting in at half-time free and asking what the score was and a old guy about 15 said 3-0 Hearts. We watched the second half and the final result was 3-3. That incident and the fact that Saints went to the bottom of Scottish football when I couldn't watch them for three years confirmed that I am their lucky mascot;
- The pipe band every week ;
- the half-time scores being put on the boards with metal plates. When the guy went past we used to lean over or jump on and change the scores after looking at the programme which must have upset or confused most of the crowd I don't know;
- more attacking football than nowadays even in the lower leagues;
- more fans fom Perth supported Saints in these days in the early 60's/70's;
- Being called Orange ba's one week and ****** ba's the next week from two clubs from Glasgow and deliberately fitting what they wanted just for a fight.... still a good idea. Yes we were Prods one week and Papes the next just to humour them. ;
- there were certain smells you got at Muirton that I haven't smelled since - nice ones.
- disappointment was that I never seen us doing a proper lap of honour at Muirton with a big national trophy. That remains the same for McD.

I remember that and it said a lot about Billy Stark to stop that line of conversation instantly since Sandy and Chick had been carrying out a negative campaign against Saints and GB for a few years..

That would be a good time for your work.
 
On the way down they forced us into the second 'football special' because we were wanting to hold back for the 3rd one and the railway staff said "They're well gone ..... you're just young lads GET ON!". Fascist! Seemingly the next train was crammed full and he didn't want us to miss out.  There was no security on trains in these days, I remember we had stopped and the engine was still chugging away and someone said "Where are we?" ......... "Glasgow" .......  "Where abouts in Glasgow?" ........  and guys just got off the train ..........  then flashing lights and uniforms and sirens all came into action. Of course that meant everything was being held up behind us including trains coming in from Edinburgh and Fife towards Queen Street. We god directed to a side track  to be checked out ..... maybe our immigrant status. Then I heard  someone said "Where are we?". Football Specials were your entry to manhood.
 
I remember before the start of the game Bill Tennant (very nice man and media man) and his minders tried to kick us out our seats in the North Stand and then they realised we were in the right seats. Just before the game his minders came along with sausage rolls, pies, chilled Coke and other stuff. You remember these things - bit of class. Then we had to suffer watchingb Gert Muller, Denis Law, Jimmy Johnstone, Alan Gilzean (Perthshire), Franz Beckenbaur, Bertrand Vogts (the young version of the man who got fine young Dundee man Mr. Dailly in trouble) etc. Cracking goal by Lisbon Lion - Bobby Murdoch. 
 
Then the long journey home.

One Final Hurdle: a fans' history of St Johnstone FC

Now available for sale.

Copies will be available to purchase at Campus Sports, Perth, by the end of next week. The cost is £12.

Copies are available now online at: http://tinyurl.com/1FinalHurdle. The cost is the same, £12, plus £3 postage and packing.
 

 
A Fans' history of St Johnstone Football Club, telling the story of its origins in the 1880s through to the Scottish Cup Final victory against Dundee United in 2014. It features reminiscences and Saints memories from 220 St Johnstone supporters. One Final Hurdle is compiled by Rob McInroy and includes a foreword by Stuart Cosgrove of the BBC and Off the Ball.

Of all the clubs who have been interested in him Sheffield Wednesday are the biggest not just historically but potentially. They were one of the original clubs in England and for a century their ground Hillsborough was used for FA Cup semi-finals until the disaster of 1989 (the day we were at Celtic playing Rangers in the semi-finals. Last season) they were 16th in the Championship which if they've made good acquisitions like Stevie they'll hope to get into the play-offs (top two go up automativally, the next four play off).
 
He'll be visiting Leeds, Fulham, Blackburn, Notts Forest, Cardiff, Birmingham, Charlton, Derby, Middlesboro, Milwall (they like you if you score against them), Wigan, Notts Forest etc. all great experience for the World Cup 2018 in Russia which might include Crimea .........  Poland, Rumania and more by then.
 
For Stevie I don't think he'll play initially but hopefully I'm wrong. However once he does get in he should get a run and we'll see him on TV. It would be great if he made it down there and one day gets in the Scotland squad back home.
 
Best of luck Stevie.
 
Who's going to play up with MacLean then?

Quality cringe worthy opening with what looked like a couple of Willie Wonga's in a version of "Charlie And The Chocolate Factory"" with an open air bus .................  but then a whole lot of young and not so young enthusiastic dancers poured on and it started to look and feel better. The quality of lighting, big screen and special effects with musical interludes were impressive. Good consistent artists like Susan Boyle kept things solid and moving. It's quite strange really but for years I used to get bored when the teams came into the stadiums but now probably because of better production and organisation I find it an enjoyable watch and I think it's because athletes are more expressive now than in the past. Just like the London Olympics it was all the unpaid members of the public who seem to revel in being part of a big show who were the stars.
 
My highlight was this -
 

 
Overall I thought it was impressive.

The goal is up

As an alternative I definitely think that travelling through the Highlands and islands of Scotland is better and easier by car but I have travelled with a partner via rail and bus just for the experience back in the 1970 when I was so young it was unbelievable. It's still roughly the same but with better transport links and ameneties.  You should book ahead or plan for your next night's stay which were abundant the time I did this. I suppose with a mobile phone/iPad you could check ahead at -  
 
 http://www.booking.com/bed-and-breakfast/region/gb/scotland.en-gb.html?aid=318615;label=New_English_EN_GBIE_7023977425-Vcn2mOjFEv_kgHNgoiTKigS46932890665:pl:ta:p1:p2:ac:ap1t1:neg;ws=&gclid=CjwKEAjwuYOeBRCy3pLljpjDkDcSJAAhA4mtDzgluoPHRcebDcgyzkJBJA7PgG7mh1VjecoagvTO7hoCQOXw_wcB
 
Get a list of all ATM cash locations, they're everywhere now.
 
I would suggest this route personally  -
 
flying in to Edinburgh, stay 2 nights; Take a train to Glasgow, stay 2 nights; Take train to Oban from Queens Street, stay 2 nights. When there take the ferry to Mull, possibly an overnight stay but also  take the extra ferry to Iona for a visit it's very interesting aand tranquil, you can also take a boat trip to Fingal's cave while there (really big waves the day I went)  From Oban you can take a train going to Mallaig which is the end of the that line, it's a fishing village port. On this route you can do what we did and get off at locations along it and get local buses in-between. Rannoch Station is one stop and there are people who just get off there and feel they're in the wild as the train slowly departs but there is accommodation there and is actually West Perthshire (or was)  We stopped at Fort William and then took a bus to Mallaig but stopped at Arisaig. Either in Arisaig or just a bit along is where Bonnie Prince Charlie landed on the mainland to start the Jacobite rebellion. There was a good old fashioned bar there plus nice sands.    Eigg_Rum_from_Morar_beach_Arisaig_ARIS_0072_  You can just get a taxi into Mallaig from there. Mallaig bars open a lot, in fact they open at about 3.00 am when the fishing boats return from their nights work but the times vary, at least when I was there. From Mallaig you should get the ferry to Armadale in Skye where there are bus connections if you want. I would take the bus from there to Portree but if staying there I'd definitely book ahead because on the two occasions I've beento Portree there were events//festivals going on and therefore had to stay 5 miles outside. Taxis are OK though. From here you can actually take a ferry to the Western Isles if you take a taxi to Uig and board a ferry - they go to Lochmaddy {North Uist) or Tarbert (Harris) . If you're carrying on to the mainland again you get the bus over the Skye Bridge to Kyle of Lochalsh. There you can get a train and it's the start of the 'Kyle Line to Inverness'. You can do a few interesting   things at this point but we got off at Plockton  which is a sheltered village facing the sea; there were a lot of yachts and sailing people there when we visited. Once again there are plenty spaces there but book ahead. It's a great wee place this ,surprisingly  had a nice public pool which we used just to stretch out, plus the series "Hamish MacBeth" was set here if you want an example of the location scenery.. We went on to Inverness by train next day. Great scenery on the route . In Inverness I'd take the cruise along Loch Ness which is a good day or night out. I like Inverness socially; you should look at all the choices in terms of hotel/B&B and food because all the standard UK companies are here again and the west is a memory. It's the area around Inverness which is worth a visit but Inverness is central. It's a straight run to Perth 2 1/2 hours on train, then Edinburgh 1 1/2 further. Obviously this travel info. Is tourist/holiday orientated and misses out the north east rail and  bus routes to Dundee/Aberdeen; When I say taxis and hotels/B&B I'm not talking big money at all.; You can get travel cards of various types. hat was a one-off venture and I used car for all my other travels throughout these areas over the years.  It's easier and more flexible time wise. I lived in the Western Isles for a while and could help you with travel info there or pass you on to locals since there have been change. Ironically it's much easier to get over there than say Fort William, Plockton etc. because you can just fly from Glasgow (to Stornoway or Barra) 1 hour or Inverness (to Stornoway) 1/2 hour. The ferries take about 4 hours however.
 
The weather is predictably unpredictable so be prepared.

Puskas from what you can make out was an incredible player too. He also played for his national team when they were regarded as the "Golden Team" in the 1950's. On reflection you may think that he made Hungary at that time since they have never been a great international team again in history. However there was much more to it if you look into it. World football at the time generally played what was known as the WM or 2-3-5 formation but they changed it to four at the back with their two wingers coming back into what we call midfield. In addition they introduced a club style mentality and serious fitness regimes into the national team rather than the normal formality of international football. In 1953 they beat England 6-3 at Wembley which stunned football at the time because England if they got beat were never beaten by big scores, plus Hungary's style looked different. England decided over the next few months to organise a return game primarily motivated by both revenge and curiosity. That game in 1954 resulted in a 7-1 defeat for England in Budapest. Hungary reached the final of the World Cup in 1954 where Scotland were massacred by a small country called Uruguay 7-1 without Luis Suarez. Hungary visited Hampden in 1955 and won 4-2.
 
De Stefano and Puskas were incredible and it just shows you that the giant clubs in Spain have always had a far reaching international reach with a top Argentinian player combining with one of Hungary's golden team. De Stefano later became a traitor and played for Spain.  
 
I was just thinking ...

I am an atheist and the theory of evolution and the Big Bang (one point of singularity) sit comfortably in my mind. However because I believe that it doesn't have any effect on anybody elses belief and everybody has their space. So if I don't believe in a particular religion it doesn't mean I'm anti that religion or individual. That's the general view anyway but there are a few religious people who think if you don't believe in what they believe in you are automatically anti their faith (Christian/Muslim etc) which you're NOT.
 
There are people marching around today in Northern Ireland so one of you can test my thory out if you're there - say you don't believe what they do and we're all free to think for ourselves and we're all fine.
 

YES HE SHOULD GO back into his office and make three more signings within our budget.  Yes I accept he's only won one Scottish Cup in one year in charge but he's just learning and things will get better.

On BBC sport gossip that Tommy say he will be more than happy if still managing Saints in ten years time. Best year ever so far as Saints supporter and if we win cup then better have another Hall of Fame Dinner when Tommy and his squad can be inducted as heroes forever!

I think England have looked better in recent games just because they look as if they have a more active forward line evem with Rooney not clicking yet. Maybe I'm alone in this view. Uruguay are always a difficult side to play even when they are not playing well. You could say that Uruguay are the most successful international football team in the world per head of population (3.4 mi..ion which is smaller than Scotland or Wales or Ireland). they've won the World Cup twice, have been at most World Cup Finals and have been South American (now all American) champions several times. I think if Forlan and Suarez get their teeth into the game (woops sorry Luis) they should win. Suarez is just brilliant to watch.
 
I remember when we played Uruguay in 1986 they were a dirty team and Ernie Walker called "The Scum Of World Football" after the game.
 
However here is a totally unbiased commentary of a previous football game between Uruguay and England by Marty Feldman -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqEDIxqReNQ&feature=player_detailpage#t=31

Most people don't know that in his younger days Marty somehow played for Paraguay, a neighbouring country to Uruguay -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqQaLnj7uNg&feature=player_detailpage#t=2

Queer how a certain day /month has a habit of throwing up a big result .

On the 13the June 1963 ....... Spain 2....Scotland 6.

How times change .

Notice on BBC that Engerland gave football to the World .

What they don't tell you is that 2 Scots introduced football to Brazil .

I would like to thank Dundee Utd. for not being as good as us in the Final.
 
 

still not really sunk in and Iam sure it will take a while for the players and management to realise just what a momentous win that was.
 
A wee word though for the people behind the scenes at Perth - TC having had his health scare earlier this year was still hard it well after most fans had left Celtic Park assisted by the young youth players. Also read yesterday about Jocky peebles and the fight he is facing at the moment. Hopefully that will be a boost to him. And to everyone else at the club well done.

Another step towards the double.

Another step towards the double.

Great player going to the World Cup 1974, but got a leg break and missed out.



http://www.toffeeweb.com/season/12-13/comment/editorial/24411.html

Great player going to the World Cup 1974, but got a leg break and missed out.



http://www.toffeeweb.com/season/12-13/comment/editorial/24411.html

No it's broken again.

Aye who put this in Saints Chat, Hibernian are vile.
Yeah I knew that about Willie and the reigns were handed on to Bertie Auld and what a grin he had. Aberdeen vs. Saints games with Willie and Eddie in opposing dugouts were big games in these five years. People keep on going on about Hibs being a great team in 1971/72 but I don't think they were that good because we were better.

I think the two friendlies proposed but not settled yet will be further chances for Scotland to keep the progress going hopefully. Preferably tou want to play a higher ranked nation who are beatable and not what they were a couple of years ago ..... the USA Czech Republic. Good stuff by Strachan.

I agree.. How did he know we had six fingers?
 
I still think you should be able to express an opinion even when it's contrary to public or socially imposed opinions.