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| Who Put The Ball In The Rangers Net? Davie McParland! |
by William Sheridan
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 DAVIE McPARLAND27.09.1954 Rangers [n] W2-0 (Glasgow Cup Final) Davie was yet another protégé of the Davie Meiklejohn era who would, himself, eventually take his philosophies and influences into the realms of football management. For now, he was the raw teenager being given a chance to perform at the highest level – and boy, did he take it. Only last Tuesday, he had hit the headlines as the young man that heroically settled the epic 3 game struggle in the Glasgow Cup Semi Final, shooting a glorious last-minute winner in a 5-4 victory over Celtic on their own turf. That he would go on to be the hero of the hour against Rangers in the final just 6 days later is simply ridiculous for a 19-year-old, but that’s what transpired in front of 45,000 on this Monday afternoon at Hampden Park. Thistle were “overwhelmingly superior in the arts and crafts of the game”, and the performance was all the more remarkable considering it was achieved with only 10 men for the majority of the match. After half-an-hours play, inside-right Bobby Bell was effectively put out of the game when a tackle by Menzies left his knee in bad shape. Bell limped on a few minutes at a time here and there, but eventually had to admit defeat, finally retiring several minutes into the second half. The Glasgow Herald correspondent was keen to underline that their were no excuses for Rangers: “Let us not hear a word of the foolish theory that it is more difficult to play against 10 men than 11; otherwise one may suggest to Rangers that in future they should start a match a player short… It was astonishing to see the ease with which the handicapped Thistle side, several of whom in addition to Bell were limping at various stages, could spreadeagle their opponents. Bell, Smith and McParland, all of whom are in their ‘teens and all reserve players, were confident in their trapping and control of the ball and shrewd as veterans in their use of it.”  Capitalizing on their fine early play, Thistle got the goal that they so richly deserved in the 18th minute. A Johnny MacKenzie cross was headed out of the Rangers box by Geordie Young, but he only succeeded in teeing it up for Davie McParland who took it on the volley from the 18-yard-line and sent it flying, body-high, past future-Jag Geordie Niven in the Rangers goal, the force of the ball threatening to uproot his left-hand stanchion as it did so. 1-0 to the Jags! As the clock ran down, an equally brilliant goal from John Harvey served to underline Thistle’s superiority; but for some slack finishing, the winning margin would have been much greater. Davie McParland had his first taste of silverware. The hunger for more success, and the belief that anything was possible, stayed with him for the next 20 years at Thistle!
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Originally published on 18-Dec-2017 (WAT). |
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Republished here on The Thistle Archive, 07-Sep-2020. |
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Latest edit version 18-Dec-2017. |
http://www.thethistlearchive.wikidot.com/who-put-the-ball-in-the-rangers-net-09/edit/true
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Your Archive Needs YOU! Page upload volunteers are urgently required; free time is precious for everyone but if you can spare some then please do get in touch → and play your part in helping to build an Archive for all of Jagskind to use and enjoy! Read more → |
| Who Put The Ball In The Rangers Net? Alan Hansen! |
by William Sheridan
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 ALAN HANSEN15.03.1977 Rangers [h] W4-3 (SFL Premier Division - game 26) Such were the masterful mid-70s performances of Alan Hansen in the heart of the Thistle defence that he was hotly tipped to be the next capture of both Celtic and Rangers and, being a laid-back kind of guy, he’d have signed for either without thinking twice about it. He admitted, however, to feeling especially disappointed that the move to Rangers, his boyhood club, hadn’t come off in the summer of ’76, despite many positive noises from the Ibrox insiders of the day. It’d be fair to say, the big guy felt he had a point to prove; and he did just that! Season 1976-77 was a strange one for Thistle. For the first time in our history, we were now playing each of our League opponents four times; twice at home and twice away. Things were going fairly well at home (W6 D2 L4) but not so well away (W0 D6 L7) and we were only a couple of points above the relegation place. Rangers were going for the title, and couldn’t afford to be dropping any more points at Firhill – as they had done with their 1-2 loss back in October. Brian Whittaker’s injury-time winner from that day was still fresh in the minds of all spectators who assembled on the evening of Tuesday, 15th March, 1977. Surely Thistle couldn’t do it again? In what was regarded as one of the greatest games ever seen at Firhill, that’s exactly what they did, again coming back from a losing position to win both points with an oh-so-sweet late winner. Our multi-talented stroller played a blinder on the night, being involved in 3 of the goals as an epic struggle unfolded, this way and that. His 30-yard shot in the 20th minute created the chaos which ultimately led to Harry Johnston tapping home the opener. Twice Rangers levelled (the second being a 20 yard stunner from Kenny Watson) and when Derek Parlane put them 3-2 ahead on 64 minutes, all of Thistle’s hard work had seemingly been undone. But back we came, and in the 67th minute a long pass from Brian Whittaker found Alan Hansen, once again venturing deep into enemy territory. He took it on the half-volley with his left-foot and it flew gloriously into the top corner, leaving Stewart Kennedy with no chance. 3-3! What a game. This drama wasn’t over though… With just 5 minutes left to play, John Greig mistimed a pass-back, and Jim Melrose was onto it like a flash. With a goal looking certain, a desperate Greig took the “professional” option of tripping down the striker just before he pulled the trigger. No referee, no matter how deep their love of the Rangers, could argue with that one. PENALTY! Dougie Somner had missed the last two Thistle penalties, the latest being just last week in a 2-1 defeat at Parkhead. Thus, it was time for a change. Alan Hansen took the ball, with a steely-eyed look of determination on his face. Unable to look, Alan Rough crouched at the North end, head bowed to turf. Thistle fans in the main stand looked to the rafters. Rangers fans could only look on in disbelief; it was déjà vu from October as the sweetly struck ball hit the back of the net. 4-3 to the Jags!!! Come time, Bertie Auld “bit on a bashed cigar Clint-Eastwood style, and threw assorted salutes to the 10,000 crowd at Firhill”. As for the stroller himself? “I felt an extra degree of satisfaction” said he, mindful as ever of his stay-cool personna.
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Originally published on 17-Dec-2017 (WAT). |
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Republished here on The Thistle Archive, 07-Sep-2020. |
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Latest edit version 17-Dec-2017. |