Today we have a guest writer, Archie Macpherson, Scotland’s most celebrated broadcaster. Archie started broadcasting for the BBC in the 1960s and was the authoritative voice of football commentaries, and comment, for decades thereafter. He was co-commentator for our first European Cup win and remains a regular newspaper columnist and TV contributor.
I had a brief conversation with Archie last month when he categorically stated that Jock Stein was best manager Scotland has ever produced was. Pleased, though I was, to hear this, in the light of accolades earned by Sir Alex Ferguson, I asked him if he could substantiate his claim.
These questions are enormously subjective but few have the breadth of perspective, not to mention the analytical capacity, to tackle this one properly. This is the article he offered to write for us on the subject:
Jock and Fergie, by Archie Macpherson
If there had been no Jock Stein there would have been no Sir Alex Ferguson. It may sound a contentious statement to make but even though it is tempting to play around with history according to your own beliefs and perceptions I would stand by that as a sound interpretation of the way the respective merits of these men can be set against each other.
It helps in this matter if you can lay aside the achievements of those men from the record books and instead consider their personalities and the context in which they plied their trade.
When Jock came to Celtic as manager in 9th March 1965, he fully understood from his past experience there as a player and coach that he would find a club desperate to achieve a commanding status in Scottish football. The frustration they felt only reflected that which their massive support similarly endured around that period. They were massive underachievers.
He also knew from his own background that his task would not simply be about selecting a team, then motivating them, but about radically overhauling the perception the public in general had about the club and which stemmed mainly from the constructs of the media.
It may be difficult for a current generation to fully comprehend this but Celtic then were simply perceived as bit players in a drama where the lead actor came from Govan and always took the curtain-calls. Stein changed all that. He took on the press-pack like he had been sent in from the city’s sanitation department to fumigate.
If you didn’t turn up on the dot for his press conferences then the door was slammed on your face no matter the size of your ego. His television interviews, unlike the passive posture of that likeable man his predecessor Jimmy McGrory, were often truculent and challenging. All of this concentrated the mind of those who wrote and spoke about Celtic. They would think twice about saying anything that might offend the big man. He was strengthening Celtic’s image and, as a by-product of that, securing the self-esteem within the playing staff which previously had been sadly lacking.
And where was Sir Alec at this time? He was watching, observing. I saw him sitting in the lounge of Malpensa Airport Milan in 1970, in the aftermath of the European Cup Final there, amidst thousands of Celtic supporters, which given his Rangers connections only indicated his deep interest in what Jock was doing.
Fergie to his credit was a learner. When he went to Old Trafford it was not to a club about which there was lack of public respect. It was initial lack of respect for himself which made him take up arms against his detractors. To go to a Fergie press-conference was to see a recreation of Jock at the height of his powers. And from being beside Jock in the dressing-room, and on the bench at Scotland games, he absorbed Jock’s handling of men which could range from wrath to wit. The so-called ‘hairdryer’ treatment Fergie handed out only simulated what Jock could do to make the walls of a dressing-room bulge when it got up his hump.
Where they differed enormously as men was that Jock did not harbour grudges in quite the same way as Fergie. Jock did have his difficulties with the BBC initially but never refused to deal with them. Fergie barred them for over a decade, then got an award from the same people. So I am suggesting that although you cannot compare the achievements made in entirely different footballing environments, Fergie served his apprenticeship in the Stein era by consequently adopting much of the big man’s methodology. Jock was the ice-breaker. Fergie was the follow up.
In that sense, as the one was indispensable to the success of the other, I rate Jock as the master of the two.
My thanks to Archie for his contribution.
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Jackie Mac, if you can listen for comic value and not let the inaccuracies and blatant lies wind you up.
I do now and again, for a wee chortle at the incompetence of the “journalists” and stupidity of some of the poor wee Sevcovian straw clutchers.
Down in D&G picturedwith his Team Top on Alfie Crosbie, 60, from Dumfries used a combination of his grandchildren’s ages to pick his numbers and secure a payout of £585,956.
Mr Crosbie said he would buy a new car and might also treat himself by going to more football matches of his favourite team, Celtic.
Describing the moment he won, he said: “I just couldn’t believe it so I shouted my wife Anne down to double check.
“When she saw the numbers she burst into tears.
“Then we were straight on the phone to my daughter Carrie who lives in Catterick; she jumped into her car right away to drive up and join us.”
Praecepta:-)
Pog
Seen a sign at the local Asda in Bury.
Help Bury Samaritans.
Thought that was a bit harsh.
With the share price in sevco dropping faster than Jordan’s knickers a hun asked some fellow Huns if it was a good thing because he thought it was haha mad stupid zombies they say a fool and his money are easily parted well the Huns are the proof that it’s true HH
Guys, my Bros.-in-Law flying from Oz to Belfast on 24th Jan looking for some good Hotels he will be there until 31st before arriving at Chez Lennybhoy on 31st to take in St. Mirren and Aberdeen games.
He plans on seeing a bit of the Emerald Isle starting in the north. He hasn’t decided where exactly but if anybody can help with Hotels and places can you post or e-mail me lennybhoycfc@gmail.com
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Stock Exchange at closing time tonight!
http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz31/leftytwoguns1/SELLSELLSELL_zps178b3b95.jpg
Those FF guys have us by the short and curlies
exhibit 1
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/112897/response/281577/attach/4/s2dFCAFE96193D99AAF47385CA3967C7DC8%201.pdf
Its a conspiracy
Former Rangers player Ian Redford has died aged 53.
RIP to Iain Redford, sad news
I remember going with the old man and Celtic playing Clyde and winning 6-1. Ronnie Simpson did the warm up and that was the only time since Lisbon the Lions ever lined up together again. The main stand was getting done and the directors all sat on wooden chairs. Bert sat on the ball that day. Sun was shining too as I recall. HH.
http://markets.ft.com/research/Markets/Tearsheets/Summary?s=RFC:LSE
Before investing in shares always take into account that shares can fall as well as plummet !
Down in D&G pictured with his Team Top on Alfie Crosbie, 60 – it was of course this season’s Celtic top he was wearing – best of luck to him and his family
Doc
a HH on, a hahahahahhahahahaha
sue the sevco board
a hahahahahahahahaha
this is great
Can we Tims no do the right thing and buy the shares in the newco and then let them die properly? Mind you, it might be a good thing to transfer our young lhads to them for the rest of the season and let them play in the old shamrock strip.
Do you think there might be threats emanating from Edmiston Drive??
WhatawonderfulworldthatwouldbeCSC.
Jackie Mac, I’m listening too.
Seems Hugh Keevins never heard of Celts for Change as he thinks the Celtic fans didn’t know what was happening and didn’t organise themselves to oust the old board.
Taken from today’s BBC website:
The regular assessment for Business Insider Magazine showed that the biggest jump in that magazine’s Insider 500 League Table of Scotland’s biggest companies was made by Celtic Football Club, up 362 places to rank 133.
There was no reference in this article to Sevco.
I think he was trying to help the Sevcovian that’s on feel better that they have done nothing.
Some things are far bigger than our football rivalries.
The tragic premature death of Iain Redford is one such event.
Condolences to his family & may he Rest In Peace.
Keevins= an “expert” who knows nothing
Doc
18:17 on
10 January, 2014
There was a real feeling of resignation from that caller. They know the game’s up.
E=MC2
There isn’t anything to stop a celtic fan buying a controlling interest in the swine for about 6-9 million – changing the strip to pink, purposely signing the world’s worst players, converting the club to buddhism- I mean if you are worth 100 million, why not??
We could all buy shares individually and take control… Bobby Sands FC…?
!!bada bing!!
I heard about PT,what a shock.
Ajax game on Virgin 551 @6-25
HH
wtf HH on clyde ?
sorry
do the sevco directors want sevco to go defunct ?
there’s more sense out there than you think ?
HK
If an offer came in for lee Wallace ?
stop tittering at the back ?
Celt55, he did didn’t he.
Shame.
On them mind, not for.
hang on
sevco fan on talking full and utter sense
how is the money being haemorrhaged ?
Doc
Aye! Given he was the M.C. on the night of the Victory Rally in the City Halls.
Think he suffers from Green Amnesia!
Seemingly Sevco paid someone £2.5m for advice, according to the accounts!
Good advice, from my point of view.
Comedy Gold.
Praecepta, not surprising, although shamefully inaccurate reporting.
weet weet weet(gbwo)
18:22 on 10 January, 2014
!!bada bing!!
I heard about PT,what a shock.
Ajax game on Virgin 551 @6-25
HH
Will you make his do?
Rangers have to get the balance sheet right, words of wisdom from Shug.
Okay Sherlock, thanks for that.
Swally on stv… looks like the pressure is getting to him.
Still the lapdogs lick his ali mcgraws and laugh at his pathetic jokes.
Any update on Sally’s wage cut?
can i have raspberry on that champions league ice cream
18:28 on 10 January, 2014
Try my best mate,waiting for details
Worked with him for a few years at A2
Great guy
HH