WEDNESDAY 1 MAY 1974 – Hampden Park, Glasgow:
At the monthly meeting of the Scottish Football Association International Committee, Chairman Walter Allan was in danger of losing control of proceedings as an argument between Vice-Chairman Ernest Munro and senior member Robert Young showed no sign of abating, secretary James Irvine now having given up on trying to take minutes.
‘Norway‘ said Munro firmly.
‘Think you’ll find its Sweden‘ countered Young.
‘I’m telling you its Norway‘ remarked Munro with a point of his finger. Young, however, refused to waver, ‘Definetly Sweden.’
The chairman raised his voice in an attempt to restore order. ‘If this is about our second World Cup warm-up game I can categorically say it’s Norway.’
Munro and Young were silenced but neither could hide a perplexed expression.
‘Er…..actually chairman we’re disagreeing over where that pop group who won the Eurovision Song Contest a few weeks ago with that ‘Waterloo’ song were from.’
Secretary Irvine rolled his eyes at Kenneth McEwan, the other committee member present, but picked up his pen again when Allan continued speaking:
‘Yes, well,’ he began, unable to keep an air of irritation out of his voice, ‘I can’t help you with that,’ admitted Allan, but was quick to add, ‘although mention of the World Cup does bring us onto the next agenda item, namely preparations and participation for the tournament in West Germany.’
‘Hope we get to go to Berlin,’ interjected Young.
‘We’d have to reach the second stage at the very least for that to happen’, said Irvine not looking up from the pad he was writing on – but stopped on hearing Young say:
‘I love all those spy films, fascinating to see the Berlin Wall.’
Allan sighed. ‘One of the barriers presenting itself to ‘us,’ he said, casting his eyes around the table, ‘having an enjoyable trip is the militant attitude of the players. The secretary is in receipt of the latest demands from G.R.A.B.’
‘Grab?’ ventured McEwan.
‘It’s a group the players have formed – stands for Greater Remuneration and Bonuses.’
‘And what do this grabbing lot want,’ enquired McEwan tersely.
With a nod to Irvine, Allan prompted the secretary to speak.
‘G.R.A.B hold the view that a thousand pound bonus be put in the players pool for every point they take at the World Cup.’
When McEwan banged his clenched fist against the dark wood oblong table, it gave each of his four colleagues a jolt. ‘That’s an outrageous request. Who do they think they are? Since we qualified all they have done’ – in the minutes he was taking Irvine put an ironic circle around ‘they’ and ‘we’ – ‘is raise question after question about how much they are getting paid. They seem to think qualifying for the World Cup is all down to them.’
To the surprise of his fellow members the usually restrained Munro also waded in on theme of players forgetting their place. ‘This is unacceptable. Look at that carry on at the airport when we played that friendly in West Germany six weeks ago.’ His tone took on more indignation, ‘the players asking why they weren’t in business class – where does this sense of entitlement come from?’
McEwan had not finished having his say on the matter. ‘Do they get paid for playing in internationals?’
Irvine confirmed they received an appearance fee.
‘But they travel and are put up at the expense of the Scottish Football Association,’ snapped McEwan, ‘and now they want money put into the players’ pool if they win or draw. Grab is the right name for that lot.’
Munro maintained the sense of annoyance but broadened the focus. ‘The manager has to take some responsibility for this – not enough discipline among the squad as far as I can see. I wonder sometimes if Willie Ormond is the right man for the job.’
‘Oh come on,’ stated Allan joining the conversation, ‘he’s got us through to our first World Cup since 1958, so credit where it’s due.’
‘I’m not convinced he’s the one to take us far in the tournament,’ grumbled McEwan.
‘Let’s see how we do in the Home Internationals,’ said Allan in conciliatory manner. ‘Be good to see our old friends from Lancaster Gate here on May 18, particularly as they haven’t qualified – besides if we changed the manager now only weeks away from the World Cup we’d look proper Charlies.’
‘If we get to Berlin I’d like to go to Checkpoint Charlie,’ ventured Young, his comment greeted with a round of headshaking and glances at the ceiling.
‘Anyway,’ said Allan continuing, ‘at this stage of the game.’ He stopped at the sound of a ringing telephone on a stand in the far corner of the room. The Chairman gestured for Irvine to leave the table and take the call.
He carried on speaking over the interruption. ‘As I was saying, where at this moment would we find a manager who could instill discipline into the squad, who has also got…..’ He paused while Irvine answered the caller in hushed tones. On ending the call he replaced the receiver and went back to his seat next to the Chairman, who finished his sentence by saying, ‘and who also has great World Cup experience. Who was that on the phone?’
‘Reporter from the Daily Record.’
‘Not very impressed at having a crucial meeting interrupted,’ complained Allan, making no effort to hide his irritation, ‘what was so important?’
‘He wanted to know if we’d heard England have sacked Alf Ramsey.’
II
The capabilities of the team and conduct of the squad, in regard to reservations expressed by the Scottish FA International Committee, came back to the fore less than two weeks later. On Saturday 11 May, Scotland began the Home Internationals with a lacklustre 1-0 defeat against Northern Ireland, the match switched from Belfast to Glasgow due to the Troubles. Three days later they improved sufficiently to inflict a Hampden Park defeat on Wales, Kenny Dalglish and Sandy Jardine from the penalty spot on target in a 2-0 victory.
With the visit of England looming at the end of the week, when the players returned to their hotel in the coastal town of Largs after the win over Wales, manager Ormond gave the players his blessing for a night out in the vicinity. Full license was taken and at dawn the following morning, some members of the squad could be seen heading back to the hotel, the journey interrupted when Celtic winger Jimmy Johnstone sat in rowing boat on the quayside.
As a joke Rangers full-back Jardine pushed the boat with his foot, which promptly slipped its moorings and began drifting out into the water. Celtic team-mate David Hay and Hibernian full-back Eric Schaedler found another boat and set off in pursuit, only to find they were quickly taking on water so scrambled back to shore.
In the meantime the tide was taking Johnstone further out to sea necessitating involvement of the coastguard to implement a rescue. Reports of ‘The Largs Boat Incident’ quickly appeared on numerous front pages, much to the embarrassment and fury of the Scottish FA who demanded Ormond impose disciplinary action on the player.
Most of the International Committee thought the manager should have gone further than a behind-closed-doors reprimand, although Johnstone responded to the headlines and hauling over the coals with a superb performance in the defeat of England – his two-fingered gesture to the press box as he left the field in front of a rapturous Hampden, interpreted as either antipathy toward Scottish scribes or reminder of the score to English journalists.
While a victory over the ‘auld enemy’ was always welcome (the 2-0 margin of victory flattering the visitors more than Scotland who dominated the match from start to finish), mistrust between the players and the international committee remained at a heightened state, the fragile peace capitulating in the space of twenty four hours.
When the party flew to Brussels on Saturday 31 May for the friendly against Belgium the following day, they left behind widespread media reports of the squad being in revolt due to a dispute with the governing body over World Cup bonuses and appearance money – McEwan inflaming the situation by telling a journalist ‘some of them seem more interested in personal gain than playing football.’
The tension between the two camps increased further when a goal from Johnstone could not stave off a 2-1 defeat when facing the Belgians and was further exacerbated when the scorer and skipper Billy Bremner broke curfew by visiting the off-limits hotel bar the following afternoon. Their socialising with other guests was brought to the attention of Allan – who immediately called an emergency meeting of the committee, who would convene in his Brussels hotel room.
Sitting with his back to the dressing table he addressed Munro, McEwan and Young who were sitting on the edge of the bed, Irvine having to take the minutes while standing up in front of the bedroom door.
With four pairs of eyes upon him, Allan gave a nervous cough then began to speak:
‘I cannot be the only one who has lost patience with what’s happening’, his words infused with rancour, ‘this constant carping about money, the Largs business and now what’s gone on here – therefore the time has come for us to act decisively. So any thoughts on what our move should be?’
McEwan, sitting in the middle of three bedfellows was first to respond. ‘Willie Ormond, nice fella that he is, can’t impose discipline on the players, so we need someone who can – a tough nut that can get this lot into line and knows what international football is about.’
‘I accept what you say Ken,’ said Allan ending an uncomfortable silence, ‘but how do we move forward from this? In other words do we bring someone in to work alongside the manager or replace him? Which raises the question of who? Any thoughts?’
‘What about Sir Matt Busby?’ offered Munro.
‘Would have the respect of the players’ mused McEwan, ‘but has been out of frontline management for four years now so might be too big an ask.’
‘Big Jock’ said Munro, although no sooner had he said it than was doubting his own suggestion, ‘although I doubt Celtic would release him even on a short-term basis – same with Liverpool and Shankly – and I can’t imagine either of them wanting anything else than full control.’
‘Come on guys thinking bonnets on,’ said Allan imploring his colleagues to wrack their brains, ‘there has to be someone capable who we can approach.’
With eyes searching the walls and ceiling in the hope of finding a name written there, Munro mumbled out a suggestion.
‘There is one person we could ask,’ he said, hastily adding, ‘tough disciplinarian, managed at the highest level.’
‘Come on,’ baulked McEwan, ‘end the suspense, because I cannae think of anyone.’
‘Alf.’
‘Alf who?’
‘What Alfie Conn, the ex-Rangers boy now at Spurs?’ asked Young, a comment prompting Irvine to gently bang his head against the wall.
‘Alf Ramsey’ confirmed Munro.
‘You’ve got to be joking,’ scoffed McEwan.
‘Hear me out Ken,’ replied Munro, directing his comments toward the chairman. ‘He wouldn’t stand any nonsense from the players, his achievement we’ve been reminded of for years – and more than that, he’s available.’
‘I can’t see how that would work, the manager and players would be in uproar,’ remarked Allan, ‘and come on Alf Ramsey? And imagine how the public would react. It would be like the Scottish FA appointing a German to the position – and that couldn’t happen either.’
‘Let’s not be too hasty in dismissing this out of hand,’ said McEwan to the surprise of those around him. ‘Ernie has a point in Ramsey being a stickler for discipline – and it would get right up the noses of the English FA which is always worth doing. I’d go along with it if only to needle the players.’
‘I can’t believe what I’m hearing,’ said Allan shaking his head in disbelief, ‘are we seriously considering this as an option – and let’s be honest, he dislikes us as much as we dislike him.’
McEwan, however, would not be deterred. ‘I propose’ he announced, ‘through the secretary, overtures are made toward him.’
‘Seconded,’ said Munro.
‘What are we voting on?’ enquired Young.
‘Ramsey’
‘MacDonald?’ asked Young clearly confused.
Irvine softly placed his head against a different piece of wall and began making intermittent contact.
‘This I cannot believe’ said the chairman, ‘Can you imagine Ireland ever appointing an English manager.’
III
The furtive moves aimed at gauging what interest Ramsey might have in working with the Scottish national team moved at frantic pace during the next 48 hours. Irvine left Brussels and flew to London while the rest of the Scottish party moved on to Oslo where Scotland faced Norway at the weekend in their final World Cup warm-up game.
At a modest but comfortable dwelling on the outskirts of Ipswich, Irvine, once his credentials were established as authentic, was allowed across the threshold to put proposals from the Scottish FA to a knight of the realm.
Ramsey listened with a sense of incredulity to what Irvine had to say, but the only pitch making an impression on him was the one at Wembley in 1967. On seeing the ball of his Yorkshire Terrier on the carpet next to where Irvine was sat he wondered if the Scot would start playing keepy-uppy with it in the style of Jim Baxter, which would be the final punchline in this obvious joke.
But when Irvine produced two plane tickets marked ‘London-Oslo‘ the inference was clear, Ramsey being offered invitation to attend the Norway match whereupon his role with the team would be defined. After briefly discussing the matter with Lady Ramsey in the garden while Irvine waited in the lounge, his decision to accept in the first instance based on her gentle encouragement. Besides quickly returning to international football was one in the eye for The FA, who had handled his recent exit with such spitefulness – even if the return was with Scotland, a race he had never been keen on.
As the taxi pulled away bound for Heathrow Airport, Sir Alf allowed himself a wry smile. As an agreeable joke, to him at least, he would suggest the Scottish FA also take on the elder Charlton brother as coach – knowing full well no national association would employ such a dyed-in-the-wool Englishman as Jack.
IV
THURSDAY 6 JUNE 1974 – Oslo, Norway;
The Ullevaal Stadium, located in the northern quarter of the Norwegian capital, had undergone noticeable renovation since Ramsey had last been there, England recording a 6-1 victory at the venue just a month before he led them to the pinnacle of world football. Sitting twenty rows back in the redeveloped south stand with a vantage point level with the halfway line, he had been placed on the opposite side of the ground so not to receive attention from the press.
Eight years before Ramsey had seen Jimmy Greaves score four times in a convincing England win, but now was left largely unimpressed by ninety nondescript minutes, Scotland at least having the boost of coming from behind to win, goals in the final quarter hour from Joe Jordan and Kenny Dalglish securing a 2-1 win.
Noting that Scotland manager Willie Ormond never set foot outside the dug out all evening and had only made one substitution (and that at half-time), as the teams shook hands and swapped shirts at the final whistle Ramsey pondered how much the Scots’ boss knew of the clandestine contact his employers had made with another manager. Feeling a tap on his shoulder he turned to see Irvine in the seat behind him.
‘You and I are taking a taxi back to the hotel,’ said Irvine as spectators filed out of the ground, ‘there’s a room booked for you at the hotel and your suitcase has been delivered.’
Waiting for the rows around them to empty, he continued: ‘The chairman’s called a meeting of the players for when they get off the coach so they can be informed of developments.’
‘Which are?‘ asked Ramsey, having so far not received any confirmation of what his role would entail.
Irvine looked out into the distance. ‘You working alongside the manager in an advisory capacity.’
‘And has the manager been informed of this?‘ enquired Ramsey who remained seated despite Irvine standing up to leave.
‘He has,’ replied Irvine, the floodlights now shining down an empty expanse of green, ‘the chairman has informed him of what the committee have decided.’
‘How did he react?’
‘Didn’t say much‘ remarked Irvine, ‘although he looked like a man who’d been spared the guillotine only to be told the stocks were waiting.’
V
Back at the Panorama Hotel in central Oslo, renamed the ‘Paranoia‘ by the Scottish press due to the obvious antagonism between the players and Scottish FA, Ramsey was shown to his room by Irvine who then returned to the foyer to await the squad on their return from the stadium – Sir Alf to be informed when his presence at the meeting was required.
It had gone midnight when Ramsey heard a knock on the door, Irvine leading the way down to the restaurant where the Scotland party were gathered.
‘How did they take the news the manager he would be receiving assistance?‘ Ramsey enquired.
‘Och not too bad,’ said Irvine over his shoulder as they advanced down a corridor, the comment more encouraging than Ramsey had expected – only to be then informed:
‘But they haven’t been told it’s you yet.’
VI
During all his time in public life Ramsey had never before heard audible gasps turn to sullen antagonism. Most of the ire emanating from the players was directed at the International Committee, Ormond sitting stone-faced as the players raised their objections, some of which even included ‘with the greatest respect to the man here you’ve brought in.‘
But the chairman, despite squirming uncomfortably in his chair on a couple of occasions, remained unbowed.
The players were given ten minutes to vent their anger, but with the time quickly approaching one o’clock Allan brought the meeting to an end and dismissed the squad with instruction that everyone was to return to their rooms. As the disgruntled group filed past Ramsey, who was sitting closest to the doors of the restaurant, he heard one mutter, ‘I don’t know if I want to be here‘ – Sir Alf tempted to reply ‘from what I saw in that game tonight, if Alan Ball had Scottish ancestry you wouldn’t be’, but decided to bite his lip.
When news broke of Ramsey accepting a position with the Scottish national team for the forthcoming World Cup, it polarized opinion on both siders of Hadrian’s Wall. One newspaper columnist north of the border went to the extreme of saying it had raised the whole issue of Scottish independence, while some claimed it was an affront to their national, let alone football, heritage.
During an ITV World Cup preview programme, panelists Ian St. John and Malcolm Allison clashed over the matter, the former Liverpool man speaking for many of his fellow countrymen in saying the Scottish FA had taken leave of their senses – nobody quite sure if Allison was joking when he remarked the only concession the Scots could expect from Sir Alf was that at training he would his England track suit top ‘inside out.’
VII
By now the Scotland squad were ensconced at their Frankfurt base for the World Cup group games, the first of which against Zaire was only twenty four hours away on Friday 14 June. After the team trained for the final time before facing the Africans, the Scottish press were granted a five minute audience with Ramsey.
‘What opinion have you formed of the Scotland squad Alf?’
In his customary way Ramsey considered the question, only answering when he was sure there was not a catch to it.
‘Bremner and Lorimer I have come across many times down the years,’ he replied in his unmistakably clipped tone, ‘McGrain is a fine full-back, as good as I’ve seen since George Cohen. Dalglish I like. He reminds me of Bobby Charlton in the good positions he takes up.’
‘Is this a better squad than the England one in 1966 or 70?’
‘That gentlemen,’ he said with a coy smile, ‘is something we will know in three weeks time.’
‘One more thing Alf – will you have any say in team selection?’
Ramsey bristled at the enquiry. ‘Team selection is always the prerogative of the manager, so no. And one more thing – it’s ‘Sir Alf.’ Good morning gentlemen.’
From his seat in the stand at the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund, Ramsey saw Scotland, through goals from Lorimer and his Leeds club-mate Joe Jordan reach half-time with a 2-0 lead, but decided to watch the second half sat on the bench alongside Ormond and the substitutes.
By the 70th minute the Scots, while in no danger of losing the match had lost impetus, the performance becoming increasingly ragged. Thinking back to the Wembley draw against Poland eight months before that cost England qualification and Ramsey his job, he had since regretted not playing with more width as the game wore on. The memory prompted him into making the suggestion:
‘The Zaire defence is tiring – might be worth sending Johnstone on to attack them out wide.’
After thinking it over, in the 75th minute Ormond withdrew Denis Law and replaced him with the Celtic winger. His direct running and deft dribbling paid immediate dividend as he left a couple of defenders trailing in setting up the chance from which Kenny Dalglish fired home the third. With their forward play finding renewed purpose Scotland looked capable of scoring at will, Lorimer netting his second in the last minute to complete a 4-0 triumph.
While Zaire had carried little in the way of attacking threat, the two late goals had increased the margin of victory to put pressure on other group members Brazil (who Scotland faced next) and Yugoslavia, the two sides having shared a goalless draw the previous day. Ramsey, meanwhile, had been vindicated in his observation to introduce Johnstone, credit for the substitution coming to the notice of the press and player in question.
‘Hey Alf, heard it was down to you I got on today,’ said Johnstone when their paths crossed back at the hotel. Ramsey offered a brief accenting smile, but made no comment. ‘Anyway cheers, didn’t think I’d get a kick in this tournament after that Largs carry on.’
‘That happened before I was involved‘ said Ramsey, ‘but if I had been you’d have been asleep in your room at five o’clock in the morning.’
VIII
Four days later Scotland were at the nearby Waldstadion Frankfurt, June 18 bringing the mammoth task of taking on world champions Brazil. Making one change to the starting XI, Ormond resisted press clamour to play Johnstone and instead picked Manchester United winger Willie Morgan in preference to Law.
In a tight match of few clear-cut chances the teams had an equal share of possession without being able to force a breakthrough, Scotland going agonisingly close on the hour when Bremner steered a close range effort just wide of the post.
With ten minutes left Ormond received a nod of acknowledgement when he leaned into Ramsey beside him on the bench and whispered ‘Wee Jimmy‘, the winger being sent on to replace Morgan. Although Brazil were wary of threat, when Dalglish found Johnstone with a clever pass his dash into the box resulted in him being tripped by defender Marinho Chagas.
From the ensuing penalty Lorimer fired Scotland into an 86th minute lead and while Brazil mounted a series of dangerous raids in striving for a leveler, the Scots held firm to record the most famous win in their history.
On coming across David Lacey of The Guardian afterwards, Ramsey was asked if he had suddenly recognised the benefit of playing with an orthodox winger. ‘If I’d had one as good as Johnstone in 1966,’ he replied, giving Lacey an icy stare, ‘I might have played him.‘
With Scotland all but through to the next stage, (the second phase also a four team group format with the winners advancing to the final), before they faced Yugoslavia and amidst the widespread tartan euphoria that greeted the win over Brazil, Ramsey was asked where he felt Scotland stood in relation to the top teams in the world.
‘You usually answer that question yourselves don’t you‘ he answered with a steely gaze, ‘you did after beating the world champions in 1967.’
Having beaten Zaire 9-0, Yugoslavia only needed a point from the June 22 meeting against Scotland in Frankfurt to join them in going further. With nine minutes left they appeared to have won the game when Karasi was on hand to score, only for Scotland to respond with a Jordan equaliser 90 seconds from time. When issues were settled in the other first round groups, the Scots found themselves in a section with Sweden, Poland and West Germany, the other consisting of Holland, Argentina and the Yugoslavs.
IX
When he was asked, with discernable glee, by the Scottish press if England going out to Poland in failing to qualify offered any insight to Scotland for the impending fixture against the Poles, Ramsey refused to be drawn – although he could not miss the irony when on June 26 in Dusseldorf, the Scots won the game in controversial fashion.
Jan Tomaszewski, the Polish goalkeeper and England’s Wembley nemesis, along with his team-mates were furious when the only goal was allowed to stand, the ball on striking the wrist of Bremner deflecting into the Polish net midway through the second half.
The incident thereafter known as the ‘arm of the almighty‘ goal remaining a contentious issue in Warsaw to this day.
When Sweden were overcome with headers from Jordan and towering centre-back Jim Holton in Frankfurt on 30 June, it brought the group to a winner take-all clash against West Germany back in Dusseldorf on July 3, the hosts like Scotland having won both of their second phase games.
Having already accounted for the holders Brazil, it was the European champions who stood between Scotland and the World Cup final, the Germans impressive thus far, but not infallible as indicated in their 1-0 defeat against East Germany in the first group stage.
In what amounted to a semi-final meeting Scotland not only carried the football hopes of Britain in being the best side of the home nations, but the squad also found themselves number one in other spheres – topping the UK pop charts with their thumping Bay City Rollers-styled World Cup song ‘Easy Easy.’
Detractors were quick to point out the label of the 45 read ‘Made in England‘ – which, given Ramsey’s involvement with the team, was how Fleet Street was viewing Scotland’s success………..
X
On the evening of Wednesday 3 July ten thousand Scottish supporters were inside the Rheinstadion, Dusseldorf, while an estimated 30,000 thronged the bars and streets of the city.
Before the biggest UK television audience for a sporting event since the 1970 Chelsea v Leeds United FA cup Final replay, Ramsey made no reference to his previous encounters against the West Germans, simply stating Scotland were well prepared and in good heart for the game.
But his comments, made in a pitch side television interview, were drowned out by hordes of Scotland supporters chanting ‘We’re on the march we’re Sir Alf’s army’ the opening line of a song they had taken to singing.
With the teams identical in relation to goal difference, West Germany quickly made clear their intention to win the game, Leeds goalkeeper David Harvey keeping Scotland in the match with fine saves from Overath and Bonhof. Yet despite the German midfield having plenty of the ball, after 29 minutes the home side were punished for neglecting their defensive duties, the visitors going ahead against the run of play.
When Jordan and Holton created havoc in the West German penalty area on Scotland winning their first corner, the loose ball fell to Bremner who shot home from eight yards – the captain maintaining his notable of record scoring vital semi-final goals, having previously done so for Leeds in both the Fairs and FA Cup.
After the break, West Germany mounted incessant pressure but found the Scotland defence in resilient mood – and when Harvey was beaten by a 65th minute Gerd Muller drive, Rangers full-back Sandy Jardine was handily placed to clear off the line.
With the Scots unable to progress beyond the halfway line, they were constantly forced onto the defensive, their resilience apparently broken two minutes from time when a cross from Grabowski found Muller whose fierce shot on the turn beat Harvey to blast down off the underside of the crossbar. In that split second nobody was sure if it had crossed the line, a hefty clearance from Martin Buchan sending the ball thirty yards downfield.
The French referee and nearside Belgian linesman were immediately surrounded by West German players, vehement in their protests that a legitimate goal had been scored – unaware Morgan had kept the ball in play, his next move involving a pass to Dalglish who was now advancing toward the German goal. With no whistle from the referee to halt his progress, the Celtic man ran on to shoot past Sepp Maier, celebrating Scotland players leaving the West Germans to their ongoing protestations.
The referee, on receiving a quick shake of the head from his fellow official, ran back to the centre circle for the restart, still pursued by angry white-shirted West Germans. On checking with his other linesman there was no reason the second Scotland goal should not stand, he indicated for West Germany to kick off – but in doing so were in possession only sixty seconds before the final whistle sounded.
With the Rheinstadion stadium a mixture of delirium and derision, the West German players continued venting their fury at the match officials. The DFB (West German FA) were already preparing to lodge a protest, a television replay indicating the shot from Muller had crossed the line – FIFA subsequently taking no action with a stance that goals cannot be awarded or disallowed on what is captured by a TV camera.
On leaving the field Bremner sought out opposite number Franz Beckenbauer in order to exchange shirts, unaware they would next shake hands prior to the Leeds United v Bayern Munich European Cup Final ten months later.
From being derisive about the appointment three weeks earlier a headline of ‘Ramsey’s Raiders‘ on the back of one Scottish tabloid showed how much the press had altered their stance.
The change was also evident in a petition signed by 100,000 of the public supporting Sir Alf being made an honorary Scotsman, irrespective how how they fared against Holland in the final – the dazzling skills of Cruyff, Neeskens, Rep and co, carrying the Dutch through their second phase group.
On the night prior to the final, Ramsey joined the players for a live television interview from the squad hotel, the ITV panel of host Brian Moore, Derek Dougan, Malcolm Allison and Ian St. John directing most of their questions toward Ramsey, who received some good natured mickey-taking from those around him.
St. John, however, looked to have crossed a line when he asked Sir Alf if he would be seen in a kilt anytime soon.
The players quietened as Ramsey gave the camera a cold glare.
‘I shall indeed wear a kilt if…...’ the Scotland squad, his England World Cup winners of ’66 watching at home and everyone looking at their television sets, having the same premonition based on the result against Holland the following day.
‘If‘ continued Ramsey, seemingly about to confirm what everybody was thinking, ‘if I get a rendition of ‘They’ll always be an England’ out of my friends here.’
Hence, there are no photographs of Sir Alf in a kilt…………..
XI
SUNDAY 7 JULY 1974 – Olympiastadion, Munich; the World Cup Final: Scotland v Holland:
The stadium was already full to its 75,000 capacity when Ramsey entered the VIP area of the main stand to take his seat. Not even at Wembley had he seen so many Scotland flags or Scotsmen for that matter, one of whom, actor Sean Connery, turned from the row in front to shake hands. Another, a husky voiced rock singer with a shock of blonde hair and wearing a tartan suit, patted Sir Alf on the back and promised him free tickets for life to his concerts. Ramsey was informed who he was by journalist Hugh McIlvanney, who came across from the press area to make conversation.
‘Any reaction to the news The FA have just announced Don Revie as your successor ?‘ asked McIlvanney, raising his voice to be heard above the noise of chanting Scotsmen.
‘I just hope he gets better co-operation in the matter of releasing players to play for England from the Leeds manager than I did‘ replied Ramsey with a wry smile, his words somewhat prophetic as the next Elland Road incumbent would only last 44 days during which there would be no international fixtures.
‘You asking me about England,’ said Ramsey wistfully to Scotsman McIlvanney, ‘and me concerned with how Scotland play today. What a strange universe we live in.’
Many had predicted an exciting contest to conclude the 1974 World Cup, although nobody foresaw the drama of the very first minute – a dribble into the box by Cruyff ended with him being fouled and when Neeskens slotted home the subsequent penalty, Scotland found themselves behind without yet touching the ball.
Buoyed by such a positive start, Holland were quickly playing in expansive manner, the Scotland defence surviving several close calls only to be breached again on twenty five minutes, Cruyff starting and ending a sweeping move that finished with him putting the Dutch further ahead.
But on the stroke of half-time Scotland were thrown a lifeline when Suurbier was caught in possession by Dalglish and when the Scottish attacker was brought down Lorimer reduced the deficit from the penalty spot.
After the break there were near things at both ends, although the Dutch had begun to reassert their superiority when the two goal advantage was restored, Rep firing low past Harvey with fourteen minutes remaining.
As time slipped away Ormond gambled on a final throw of the dice in sending on Johnstone and once again he made an instant impact, skipping away from two challenges and then side-stepping Dutch ‘keeper Jongbloed in scoring one of the great World Cup goals.
Ultimately, however, Scotland were unable to force extra-time, Dalglish missing by inches in striving for an equaliser just seconds from time – total football just edging out total commitment.
Through much of the previous year Ramsey had imagined himself in the Olympiastadion, Munich on this day, but never envisaged it in such circumstances. He would have been proud had England just produced a comparable display, so therefore stood to applaud a gallant Scotland performance.
As he looked down on the pitch where Scottish players were commiserating with each other, Ramsey was certain one glanced up to give him a wave of acknowledgement – pretty sure of it being the same one who referred to him as ‘Captain Mainwaring‘ at the Oslo team meeting a month before…………..
WEDNESDAY 4 SEPTEMBER 1974 – Hampden Park, Glasgow;
At the first meeting of the Scottish FA International Committee since the World Cup, Chairman Walter Allan reported that due their magnificent showing in West Germany interest in the Scotland national team had never been higher, with forthcoming home fixtures against East Germany and Spain to be played in front of capacity Hampden crowds.
He also informed the meeting that while manager Willie Ormond had indicated his intention to remain in post, Sir Alf Ramsey had not yet decided whether to continue in his role, Allan then referring to newspaper speculation that morning of Leeds United about to end the short and troubled Elland Road reign of Brian Clough, Ramsey being widely tipped as the likely replacement.
That would, however, not affect the decision to make Ramsey a Life Vice-President of the Scottish FA in recognition of his contribution to Scotland reaching the World Cup final – a magnanimous gesture that further underlined his tawdry treatment by their English counterparts.
Although Ramsey had not yet confirmed his attendance, the Scottish FA said Allan would be represented at the renaming of an Edinburgh street in his honour.
‘Who are they renaming the street after?’ asked Young.
‘Ramsey‘ confirmed secretary Irvine.
‘Ramsey?‘ said a puzzled Young.
‘Ramsey MacDonald‘
‘Oh I see.‘
AUTHORS NOTE:
From time to time these ‘parallel universe‘ football articles of mine prompt the question of ‘what’s the point of them ?’ to which the honest answer is there is not one – they are merely intended to be satirical and entertaining.
That said, despite ninety nine per cent of this one, (and the others for that matter), being completely far-fetched, there are a smattering of true events running through the narrative. The ‘Largs‘ incident happened, there were disputes over payments between the players and Scottish FA that created a fractious atmosphere within the camp, while the breaking of curfew by Billy Bremner and Jimmy Johnstone also occurred – although for the purposes of this flight of fancy it has been switched from Oslo to Brussels.
Mention of Johnstone does provide an instance of fact being stranger than fiction. He was indeed, a member of the 1974 Scotland World Cup squad, but did not take the field in any of three games they played at the tournament, a player with match-winning capabilities left kicking his heels throughout (Scotland exited the tournament at the first group stage on goal difference with an unbeaten record of two draws and a win, Brazil and Yugoslavia scoring more against Zaire, who each bettered the Scots’ ‘ 2-0 victory).
No slight whatsoever is intended on the two men at the centre of this quantum leap, namely Willie Ormond and Sir Alf Ramsey.
By all accounts Ormond was likeable and respected figure, although not the first (or last) to be sometimes perplexed by the conundrums of international football. Sir Alf, meanwhile, for all his complexities and perceived aloofness (no doubt exaggerated in this article), remains a unique figure in the English game and as each global tournament comes and goes remains on his own at the table reserved for English World Cup winning managers.
There is no exaggeration, however, attached to the appalling treatment he received from The FA at the end of his tenure with England on failing to qualify for the 1974 World Cup.
Few disputed it was time for Sir Alf to go, but the lack of respect he received from senior figures at Lancaster Gate warranted the governing body charging themselves with bringing football into disrepute.
Indulging in such a personal ego trip as this suggests an author with an (over) active imagination and too much time on his hands, neither being an accusation he would deny – all the Wembley ’67, Jack Charlton/Ireland, ‘hand of God‘, ‘ball over the line‘ allusions adding to the charge of self-indulgence.
Then again, in an era when Sunderland and Southampton won the FA Cup from Division Two and with the decade ending in the unlikely spectre of Nottingham Forest being European champions, it is tempting to say that when such events were fact, then no fiction based on 70s football can be too outlandish.
Indeed, they were strange times – the actual football universe on occasion no less mystifying than anything cooked up for a parallel one………….
This story is from a collection gathered in ‘THAT’S FOOTBALL BUT NOT AS WE KNOW IT‘ – available now as an Amazon Kindle book.
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NEIL SAMBROOK is also the author of ‘MONTY’S DOUBLE’ – an acclaimed thriller now available in paperback and as an Amazon Kindle book.
