| You Couldn't Make It Up! |
by Jack Little
In November 1951 the "Manchester Evening News" reported that one Joseph McCudden, a master baker from High Blantyre, had been charged with attempting to bribe St Mirren's Willie Telfer to "throw" the match against Thistle on 17/11/1951. "Forbearing to exercise his skill" was the phrase used. £200 was the amount offered (around £6,000 today). Where did he get that kind of dough? He was subsequently charged with two similar offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 and appeared at the High Court in Glasgow. He was found guilty on all three charges and sentenced to 9 months in jail. He lodged an appeal but it was thrown out by the court in the Spring of 1952. At the end of the trial the judge praised Willie Telfer for his honesty in reporting McCudden to the authorities. [Thistle v St Mirren ended 0-0.]
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An original Thistle Archive publication, 12-Feb-2021. |
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Latest edit version 11-Feb-2021. |