Battle Fever Management

[scottyc06 6,915]

Its 22 years to the day since Jock Wallace sadly passed away and Iv just came across this article from a few years back in the guardian. 

 

 

It is an immutable law of pub talk that if you introduce the topic of Brian Clough, you will hear at least one of the following cliches within 60 seconds: He was the best manager England never had, he was the best manager of all time, and he could not have thrived in the modern game. . What you are less likely to hear is an exploration of the uncomfortable paradox, that Clough was exceptional then but would be unsuitable now, and to what extent that reflects poorly on modern football.

Fans regularly lament the extinction of the hard man, yet just as striking is the disappearance of the hard manager. If Clough's instinctive idiosyncrasy was his major strength, then his regular demonstrations of the toughest love were also integral to his unparalleled success. He would regularly get his players to run through nettles, and once slugged Roy Keane to the floor as punishment for playing a backpass.

Clough's mentor was Harry Storer, a man who proudly boasted: "I have a team of bastards, and I am the biggest bastard of them all." This was an era when masculinity was an extreme sport, when household items like tea cups, plates and hairdryers found an alternative use or an alternative meaning. It was not just a British trait. The legendary Internazionale coach Helenio Herrera once ordered two players to walk six miles back to the team base because they were 20 seconds late for the coach.

Nobody encapsulated that school of management better than the late Jock Wallace, one of Rangers' greatest managers. Wallace was a chillingly hard man with a granite face, an even stronger will, and a voice that rarely softened from its default growl. His army background shaped so much of his management. Wallace was stationed in Northern Ireland and the Malay peninsula in the 1950s, engaged in jungle warfare and surviving by eating what he called "monkey steaks".

Wallace's militarism was such that his dressing room might have been a scene from the film Full Metal Jacket. Gary Lineker recalls a reserve game at Leicester when, at half time, Wallace threw him against a wall. Leicester were 2-0 up. Lineker had scored them both.

His most famous act at Leicester was to introduce a gloriously sadistic form of pre-season training. During his time at Rangers, while having a picnic with his wife, Wallace stumbled across the sand dunes of Gullane, jauntily entitled "Murder Hill". He made his players run up and down the hill until they could run no more – and then he made them do it again.

When he got to Leicester, Wallace scouted a similar incline. There is a wonderful clip of the Leicester players panting their way through a session with Wallace barking "Hands off that bloody sand!" every two seconds. Pre-season training should have been called Wallace and Vomit: players were frequently sick as their bodies surrendered.

Some will comfortably dismiss Wallace as an antiquated barbarian, yet it is difficult to reconcile that with the fact most of his players adored him. Ted McMinn, who Wallace took to Sevilla when he managed them in the 1980s, described him as "everything to me, a dad really". Wallace could inspire most players to run to the ends of the earth – or, worse still, up Murder Hill. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Jock Wallace," said Manolo Jiménez, who played under Wallace at Sevilla and later managed them. "He was a great, great manager who instilled in me my belief and fighting spirit."

He also instilled a winning mentality. At Rangers, Wallace ended celtic's run of nine consecutive titles, and then won two trebles in three seasons. In a TV interview before the 1984 League Cup final against celtic, Wallace announced: "I fancy us very strongly. We've got the battle fever on today." They won 3-2 and the phrase stuck, a mantra for Rangers fans.

Wallace's focus on fitness made him something of a visionary, even if his methodology was emphatically of its time. He was the Arsène Wenger of his day, only armed with sand rather than pasta.

John Greig, perhaps Rangers' greatest ever player, says Wallace's regime was the reason he was able to play until he was 35. Others felt the value of the training was as much psychological as physical. Wallace may have made some of his players vomit, but then there could be no battle fever without sickness.

He also knew that hardship begot hardness. Wallace was obsessed with character-building, having built a deceptively complex character of his own. In many respects, Wallace was a gentle beast. On the day Rangers won their first title for 11 years, he sent on a palpably unfit Greig for the last two minutes so that he could drink in the moment and collect the trophy. Wallace also forged a friendship with Johan Cruyff and nearly persuaded him to join Leicester in 1981.

"They don't come with giant character and personality like 'Big Man' Jock Wallace any more," wrote Sir Alex Ferguson – and that was in 1994, before the game really started to change. Wallace would have no chance with the whirligig of snidery that is modern football, particularly with player power rampant. But he is a perfect reminder of an age when football well and truly had the battle fever on.

[big blue Fin 3,724]

I was a stewarding at Ibrox during Wallace's period as manager in the 1980s and I got to meet him. A proper gentleman and as staunch a Rangers man as you could ever hope to meet.

[simplythebestest 2,145]

That was a good read. Thanks for that.

[One Jock Wallace 858]

Standing outside the Main Stand on a pissing wet match day & JW entering the main door seeing us drenched & brings us inside, took us up to the kitchen & got us some soup before giving us a quick tour of the trophy room. He then handed us over to a steward & told him to look after us and off he went. Watched the game that day in total disbelief as my hero turned out to be everything & more. 

He was a hard bastard indeed but had a heart of gold & a true Ranger. 

[.Williamson. 82,581]

1 minute ago, One Jock Wallace said:

Standing outside the Main Stand on a pissing wet match day & JW entering the main door seeing us drenched & brings us inside, took us up to the kitchen & got us some soup before giving us a quick tour of the trophy room. He then handed us over to a steward & told him to look after us and off he went. Watched the game that day in total disbelief as my hero turned out to be everything & more. 

He was a hard bastard indeed but had a heart of gold & a true Ranger. 

Class mate 

[One Jock Wallace 858]

17 minutes ago, .Williamson. said:

Class mate 

Was only 12 at the time so you can imagine how we felt. Can't speak highly enough of the man. 

[Der Hammer of Der Gods 421]

HA HA Fucking monkey steaks ??, brilliant read.

[BlueRD 138]

My favourite all time Ranger. A man who wouldn't sell his "why I left Rangers" story to the press. Principles before £££s, there ain't too many of that type in football today, a great man.

[lewislaudrup 852]

My Grandad served with wallace in the army. He was a hibs fan but was always invited to join Wallace for a drink after hibs played at Ibrox. Always speaks very highly of 'Jocky'

[BridgeIsBlue 66,614]

Cracking article, older bears had Jock Wallace to adore, myself and others my age have Walter. 

That's the way I've always seen it. 

[Dread 69]

I'd give my left ball for a figurehead like JW at Ibrox once more.

[hammer time 653]

Can only imagine how he would have dealt with all the shite that happened in the last six years, sadly missed

[Bears 794]

What would the great JW have thought of today's JW?

 

[CoopsLaud 4,186]

2 hours ago, One Jock Wallace said:

Standing outside the Main Stand on a pissing wet match day & JW entering the main door seeing us drenched & brings us inside, took us up to the kitchen & got us some soup before giving us a quick tour of the trophy room. He then handed us over to a steward & told him to look after us and off he went. Watched the game that day in total disbelief as my hero turned out to be everything & more. 

He was a hard bastard indeed but had a heart of gold & a true Ranger. 

Fantastic memory to have.

[Moody Blue 9,401]

Once found myself playing a hole behind him at my golf club in Johnstone when I was a junior, he was at Motherwell just before moving back to us. He acknowledged me as he was leaving a green and I was playing down to it, I just mumbled “hello Mr Wallace”. Couple of holes later he opened his bag and gave me a can of coke and said “have that son”. I didn’t like coke (and still don’t) but drank it that day. Silly story really but I will never ever forget it and telling my Dad when he picked me up after the round.  Legend and far more approachable outside of managing than many would have you believe but I would not get on his wrong side. 

[OzzieBear 204]

At 14 years old I lost a watch at a home game, it was advertised in the lost and found section of the Rangers news, I phoned the number and was told to come to ibrox to pick it up.

I dodged school and headed up to ibrox, on arriving at the main doors, I am pretty sure there was a small window (ticket window). I told them why I was here.

i was promptly brought inside, and sent up the marble staircase and told to go in a room at the top, on entering the room I was stunned to see big Jock with my watch and Davy Cooper (my two hero’s), big jock said “is this your watch” and handed it to me. 

After getting there autographs I left and floated along Edmiston drive, only to see the reserves coming back from training at the Albion. A few autographs later I headed home. Couldnt believe what had happened.

to Top it off the next game was at love street, I was in the corner near the main stand, and coop comes up to take the corner. I yell out Davy (as if he is my mate), he looks up and gives me a nod. 

They were the days when the players attended supporters club POTY on a Saturday, we as junior members were allowed to go at beginning of night and get autographs.

yes things have changed...

[Begby 224]

and to think that fraud Warburton had the audacity and brass neck to criticize Jock's training methods. 

Although maybe outdated id much rather that than Warburton's  everyone's a winner powder-puff approach.

[OzzieBear 204]

19 minutes ago, Begby said:

and to think that fraud Warburton had the audacity and brass neck to criticize Jock's training methods. 

Although maybe outdated id much rather that than Warburton's  everyone's a winner powder-puff approach.

Why would Warburton even mention it?

a manager from 30 years before is of no relevance to him. 

[miracle 7,819]

43 minutes ago, OzzieBear said:

Why would Warburton even mention it?

a manager from 30 years before is of no relevance to him. 

Warburton was an apprentice at Leicester City when Wallace was manager there.

"He was a Marine. We had runs on sand-dunes, running until we threw up. I learned a lot from that, never treating a player that way"   (Warburton on Wallace)

[Begby 224]

2 hours ago, OzzieBear said:

Why would Warburton even mention it?

a manager from 30 years before is of no relevance to him. 

Wallace coached him as a youth, must have been at Leicester. 

Made a comment with regards to not treating players right as making them run.   

[hammer93 15,057]

Cracking read that, it really puts the modern game into perspective, the players are just spoiled brats, money has turned the working mans game into a farce

[LochendBilly 8,413]

Just brilliant mate, thanks for the post. My favourite manager ever who gave me so many happy memories throughout the years, there will never be another like him.

[With Heart and Hand 8,949]

was too young to remember him as our manager, but everything ive watched and read about him and his love and passion for Rangers makes him one of the men in our Clubs history that i admire the most. A true Ranger in every sense.

[With Heart and Hand 8,949]

i love this video, "i was confident before it started son". Pure class

 

 

[thedarvelmarvel 796]

8 hours ago, scottyc06 said:

Its 22 years to the day since Jock Wallace sadly passed away and Iv just came across this article from a few years back in the guardian. 

 

 

It is an immutable law of pub talk that if you introduce the topic of Brian Clough, you will hear at least one of the following cliches within 60 seconds: He was the best manager England never had, he was the best manager of all time, and he could not have thrived in the modern game. . What you are less likely to hear is an exploration of the uncomfortable paradox, that Clough was exceptional then but would be unsuitable now, and to what extent that reflects poorly on modern football.

Fans regularly lament the extinction of the hard man, yet just as striking is the disappearance of the hard manager. If Clough's instinctive idiosyncrasy was his major strength, then his regular demonstrations of the toughest love were also integral to his unparalleled success. He would regularly get his players to run through nettles, and once slugged Roy Keane to the floor as punishment for playing a backpass.

Clough's mentor was Harry Storer, a man who proudly boasted: "I have a team of bastards, and I am the biggest bastard of them all." This was an era when masculinity was an extreme sport, when household items like tea cups, plates and hairdryers found an alternative use or an alternative meaning. It was not just a British trait. The legendary Internazionale coach Helenio Herrera once ordered two players to walk six miles back to the team base because they were 20 seconds late for the coach.

Nobody encapsulated that school of management better than the late Jock Wallace, one of Rangers' greatest managers. Wallace was a chillingly hard man with a granite face, an even stronger will, and a voice that rarely softened from its default growl. His army background shaped so much of his management. Wallace was stationed in Northern Ireland and the Malay peninsula in the 1950s, engaged in jungle warfare and surviving by eating what he called "monkey steaks".

Wallace's militarism was such that his dressing room might have been a scene from the film Full Metal Jacket. Gary Lineker recalls a reserve game at Leicester when, at half time, Wallace threw him against a wall. Leicester were 2-0 up. Lineker had scored them both.

His most famous act at Leicester was to introduce a gloriously sadistic form of pre-season training. During his time at Rangers, while having a picnic with his wife, Wallace stumbled across the sand dunes of Gullane, jauntily entitled "Murder Hill". He made his players run up and down the hill until they could run no more – and then he made them do it again.

When he got to Leicester, Wallace scouted a similar incline. There is a wonderful clip of the Leicester players panting their way through a session with Wallace barking "Hands off that bloody sand!" every two seconds. Pre-season training should have been called Wallace and Vomit: players were frequently sick as their bodies surrendered.

Some will comfortably dismiss Wallace as an antiquated barbarian, yet it is difficult to reconcile that with the fact most of his players adored him. Ted McMinn, who Wallace took to Sevilla when he managed them in the 1980s, described him as "everything to me, a dad really". Wallace could inspire most players to run to the ends of the earth – or, worse still, up Murder Hill. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Jock Wallace," said Manolo Jiménez, who played under Wallace at Sevilla and later managed them. "He was a great, great manager who instilled in me my belief and fighting spirit."

He also instilled a winning mentality. At Rangers, Wallace ended celtic's run of nine consecutive titles, and then won two trebles in three seasons. In a TV interview before the 1984 League Cup final against celtic, Wallace announced: "I fancy us very strongly. We've got the battle fever on today." They won 3-2 and the phrase stuck, a mantra for Rangers fans.

Wallace's focus on fitness made him something of a visionary, even if his methodology was emphatically of its time. He was the Arsène Wenger of his day, only armed with sand rather than pasta.

John Greig, perhaps Rangers' greatest ever player, says Wallace's regime was the reason he was able to play until he was 35. Others felt the value of the training was as much psychological as physical. Wallace may have made some of his players vomit, but then there could be no battle fever without sickness.

He also knew that hardship begot hardness. Wallace was obsessed with character-building, having built a deceptively complex character of his own. In many respects, Wallace was a gentle beast. On the day Rangers won their first title for 11 years, he sent on a palpably unfit Greig for the last two minutes so that he could drink in the moment and collect the trophy. Wallace also forged a friendship with Johan Cruyff and nearly persuaded him to join Leicester in 1981.

"They don't come with giant character and personality like 'Big Man' Jock Wallace any more," wrote Sir Alex Ferguson – and that was in 1994, before the game really started to change. Wallace would have no chance with the whirligig of snidery that is modern football, particularly with player power rampant. But he is a perfect reminder of an age when football well and truly had the battle fever on.

a young player got a knock in practice and the big fella response was ..son when i was your age i was fighting communist in the trenches, get up .