linnyplant 303 Posted December 22, 2012 Share Posted December 22, 2012 Enjoyed the clip of the Rangers v Elgin match today and while we still have a way to go to get back to where we were, the signs are positive. Not many teams score 6 at Elgin and I was wondering when was the last time an SPL team playing away from home in a cup tie hit a fourth tier team for six.? It wasn't the goals that I enjoyed most from that clip however,it was the look of delight and satisfaction in Ally McCoists face when the last couple of goals were scored.He was positively beaming with pride and satisfaction watching his young players continue with their development. Once again Barry Mckay caught my eye with his ability to run at high speed at defenders, with the ball close at his feet and under control, then hitting a defence splitting pass to set up a chance. He is too good for most of the part time players in our division and sterner tests and opposition lie ahead for Barry .I will watch his progress with great interest.Watching Barry tonight got me reminiscing about wingers from the past and there was one player from the early 70s who immediately sprang to mind ,Iain Mcdonald. Iain was 17 years old when he made his debut against Ayr United at Ibrox in the old first division. Iain was a left winger and capped a great display with a superb left foot volley in a 3-0 win for the bears. Iain got great press the following week for his very skillful display and thoughts turned to the next game against Hibs at Ibrox. The papers ran an interview in the build up to the match with the Hibs right back Chris Shevlane who had previously been on Celtics books (I think he ran a pub in Springburn in the 70s and 80s if memory serves me well). Shevlane told anyone who would listen that he would not be treating Iain any different from any other player just because he was so young and he kept his word on that one. In the opening minutes of the game Shevlane committed a crude tackle on Iain and he was stretchered off the park and although we didn't know it at that time, that tackle effectively ended his Rangers career. Iain had a severe knee injury problem and he had a long battle to get his fitness back. Sadly Iain never really recovered and he was eventually transferred to Dundee United where he had a good career but was always prone to injury.The story does not stop their however because Iain whilst still at Ibrox scored the finest goal I have ever saw by any Rangers player and I doubt I will see it being emulated again. I used to play for Harmony Row and we played at Ibrox school across from Ibrox and our games on the red ash park kicked off an hour before the Rangers games. This gave us an opportunity to watch the 2nd half of games in Ibrox and they always opened the gates at half time for reserve games.Rangers reserves were playing Hibs reserves and as my fellow Row team mates and myself entered the east enclosure Hibs scored. Rangers kicked off and the ball was passed to Iain and he dropped his right shoulder and went past one Hibs player in the centre circle ,another Hibee challenged him and and he dropped his left shoulder leaving him for dead. Iain then weaved his way past another four Hibs players and then strolled round the keeper and nonchalantly stoked the ball into the empty net. It was a goal of breathtaking skill and there was less than 100 spectators to witness it. I have never personally seen any other player score such a goal . If he hadn't been so crudely injured by Shevlane who knows how far he might have gone?. Hopefully Barry McKay will get that opportunity. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mabawsa 888 Posted December 22, 2012 Share Posted December 22, 2012 I thought this was at first about wee Iain McDonald who played for the Thistle in the 70's and 80's and was a right bluenose. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
slimjim1690 4,534 Posted December 22, 2012 Share Posted December 22, 2012 I was at Ibrox for his debut, and everyone was raving about this youngster, he had some turn of speed and the skill to go with it, but as you said, sadly shevlane done him and he never recovered enough to play for The Rangers. It can be a cruel game at times. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedarvelmarvel 796 Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 did we not have a right winger about the same time called billy mckay.who,s career went the same way,with a very similar story,he had a time at hearts later..what mighht have been. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
iwasthere72 0 Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 Remember him well .the tackle from shevlane was commited in front of where I was standing ,where the Govan stand is now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
saturn 15 Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 Good read mate ,brings back memories i was at the game,and can remember John Grieg giving Shevlane a crunching tackle after his assault on Mcdonald.Thought he would have been a great player for us. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
harlands plater 16,989 Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 I remember Iain McDonald, it looked like we had uncovered a gem until a hammer-thrower stepped in. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buggleskelly 3,772 Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 did we not have a right winger about the same time called billy mckay.who,s career went the same way,with a very similar story,he had a time at hearts later..what mighht have been. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buggleskelly 3,772 Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 did we not have a right winger about the same time called billy mckay.who,s career went the same way,with a very similar story,he had a time at hearts later..what mighht have been. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buggleskelly 3,772 Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 Billy McKay was at Rangers about 78-80. Good pacy winger who had bad luck with injuries. Iain McDonald was earlier , about 70-71 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Fester 186 Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 I remember Ian well and he was a great loss for us as everyone could see he was very special, what happened to him was a disgrace. Harmony Row I played centre forward for Blue Star and still huv yees on my mantle piece Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
linnyplant 303 Posted December 24, 2012 Author Share Posted December 24, 2012 Hi Fester,It is very noble of you to have a photo on your mantlepiece of the Row receiving another winners trophy at your expense. Mind you, we were some team!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmiston Drive 3,846 Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Hi Fester,It is very noble of you to have a photo on your mantlepiece of the Row receiving another winners trophy at your expense. Mind you, we were some team!!!I need to go and look out my old copies of the Govan Press...all those man of the match awards. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmiston Drive 3,846 Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Recall the speed and his skill, what a future he had in front of him............ a sad loss, yet today he would have made a comeback. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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