East Stirlingshire fans will gather at the Inchyra Grange Hotel next Friday, 16th September for a fundraising event entitled the ‘Shire Big Night Out’ and whilst a lot of focus will be on plans to help Head Coach John Coughlin and his young squad, historic tales of Boardroom divisions, set against falling attendances, a disconnect between the fans and the club will be in the air.
As well as these tales being told, a nostalgic treat lies in wait as footage of a triumphant day for fans of the Third Division club will be shown for the first time in over four decades. These are not new tales, these are tales that are nearly 50 years old, during a time when The Shire won promotion and were relegated, moved out of their home and came back, changed name and went to court to win everything back, all in the space of little more than three seasons.
A colour cine film, produced by local film club, The Laurieston Film Club, was shot in 1965 and centred on the club’s return to their then Firs Park home following a season in Clydebank where they played under the moniker of ES Clydebank. The footage was uncovered by former player Jim Meakin and given to Shire supporter, Tom Scott, who is writing a book about a remarkable 11 year period in the club’s history from 1955 to 1966.
The book is a labour of love for the London based Scott, who moved away from his homeland bang in the middle of the period he is now researching, and the obvious questions were why this period and why now?
Scott said: “I was brought up in Grangemouth and as a youngster, the only football ground that I was allowed to visit, unsupervised by family members, was Firs Park. I developed a lifelong affection for the club and especially the team that won that famous promotion in season 1962/63.
“I reckon that I first went to see The Shire with my father the year before in a match against Stenhousemuir at Ochilview when Eddie McCreadie was playing. Part of the transfer deal that took Eddie, Tommy Knox and Jim Mulholland to Stamford Bridge ensured that Chelsea would come back and play a friendly at Firs Park, which they duly did on the 28th of November 1963 in a game that ended in a 2-2 draw. That side which won promotion and played in the First Division are who I refer to as ‘my team’ and are a huge part of my affection for East Stirlingshire.”
Despite his admiration for the players that moved on to England, the promotion side certainly burn brightly in Scott’s thoughts as he explained: “One of the greatest days for being a Shire supporter came that season when Morton visited Firs Park. The Greenock side, The Shire and St. Johnstone were all fighting for promotion and it was a busy time as there was a massive freeze that winter and there were three or four games getting played a week.
“Morton had the famous Bobby Evans in their ranks as well as the terrific goalscorer Allan McGraw, and they were looking for revenge after a 3-2 win for The Shire at Cappielow. There was an estimated 8,500 fans in the ground with a huge number up supporting the visitors but The Shire won 2-0.
“That game tipped the balance in favour of The Shire in terms of being promoted and even better than that, it was on Scotsport where well known Morton fan Arthur Montford had to do the analysis on how well we had done.”
Scott and his family moved away in the middle of the First Division season however, a flame continued to burn and after 30 odd years working in economic and social development, Tom, spurred on by the experience of researching and writing a brief history of Butlers Pond close to his wife’s home in Quincy, near Boston in the United States, decided to take a year’s sabbatical to see if he could write about this period.
He said: “Rather than the many different reports required by my profession, I wanted to look at this period, which was exciting in my life but also incredibly bittersweet for my first true club. I hope not to disappoint the many people who have willingly shared their memories, analysis and memorabilia of the times.”
Scott continued: “This is the saga of 11 dramatic years in the history of East Stirlingshire Football Club, told from the perspective of those who took part in the events and 60 people in all gave their time. This includes the players, the club officials, the supporters and the local community.
“The players who contributed included Alex Forsyth, Davie Forsyth, Eddie McCreadie (by e-mail from his home in Kentucky in the United States), Gordon McKenzie, Neil Duffy, and Owen Archdeacon who played at various times in the period from the mid 50s to the early sixties.”
The side that won promotion were well represented with Scott adding: “Half of the promotion team, namely Jackie McQueen, Ronnie Swan, Joe Frickleton, Tommy Craig, Arthur Hamill, Ernie Collumbine, Jackie Coburn, as well as those whose service came a little later like Brian Miller, Billy Munro, Walter Gerrard, Robert Ross, Alan Miller, Jim Meakin and Tommy Reynolds all helped as well."
Representatives of supporter family dynasties at The Shire, like the Croziers, Muirhead’s, Lapsley’s and Mallice’s, were also interviewed, as were lifelong fans like Bert Johnston and former players and officials from local rivals Falkirk, Alloa Athletic and Stenhousemuir.
One of the Steedman brothers, who bought unissued shares in the club to the value of £1,000 that gave them a majority shareholding in 1957, also contributed by e-mail with Scott advising: “Jack is well into his eighties now and was reluctant to be interviewed however, we did exchange e-mails. He also contributed a copy of the relevant section from his autobiography describing his time at The Shire.”
Scott’s book is set in the industrial community of Bainsford where the club originated and begins in a period of austerity and National Service, one year after rationing, which had been introduced during the Second World War, had ended in 1955.
“East Stirlingshire had just been reinstated as a permanent member of The Scottish Football League after some 16 years spent largely in The East of Scotland League and the ‘C’ Division of the SFL,” said Scott before adding, “On one level, the book tells the story of the efforts the club made to survive in the first two years back in ‘B’ Division and the immediate impact of the purchase of a majority of club shares by Jack and Charlie Steedman in the summer of 1957.
“I then look at the next six years where the Steedman brothers, in tandem with the active members of the Board and Supporters' Club, took the club from the basement of the Second Division to promotion. The manner in which they accomplished that by signing and developing the best available Junior players, selling them on to produce the capital necessary to purchase the best talent in the Second Division is described. I also look at the events that contributed to the club being relegated the following season.”
Scott added: “The Steedman brothers were never convinced that The Shire could be a going concern in Falkirk. Consequently, my book charts the many plans they had to overcome that difficulty and describes the events that led, finally, to the purchase of Clydebank Juniors and The Shire’s removal to the west of Scotland. It is the first example of a “franchise” in Scottish football, if not in the UK itself.
“The way that the supporters, community and, ultimately, the shareholders responded and organised themselves to contest the actions of the Steedman brothers is, to some extent, the climax of the tale.”
Scott is now facing turning the personal recollections, anecdotes, correspondence and reports as well as the full transcript of the court case that finally decided the future of The Shire, into a book.
It is a challenge he is looking forward to saying: “As well as The Shire’s story, it is also the story of Scottish football in what was arguably its most competitive era and of a society undergoing significant change.
“My book attempts to capture something of the way the game was played at the time and the many bizarre, humorous and absurd events that took place inside the dressing room, the team bus and the home and away grounds. It will focus on the restrictive contractual arrangements, the limited training methods and tactics and the effects of no substitutes and poor medical facilities on the long term health and fitness of players.
“It looks at the relationship between the community, supporters and the club and the various financial schemes and social facilities that were developed, as well as the regular contributions made by local people to keep the club afloat and viable.”
It is not just a football book set 50 years ago as Scott explained: “It is intended that the book will be generously illustrated and will include full statistical details of the 11 seasons, as well as selected match reports of the key games that decided The Shire’s fate.
“It will also tell something of love, marriage, drink and infidelity, disorderly conduct, tragedy, National Service, referees, match fixing, unofficial fixtures, family values and affirm the lesson, perhaps, that a football club cannot just belong to those who bought the major shareholding."
Having seen the long lost film that marks the return, Scott is able to give a sneak preview of its contents saying: “I do not want to give too much away and spoil it for the diners at the ‘Big Night Out’ as that is an important occasion for the club. All I would say is that the film, which was shot to a high standard, lasts for about 18-20 minutes and is spilt into three sections.
“The first few minutes are of a luncheon organised to mark the return of the club and it then moves on to the famous march to the Firs Park ground by club officials and players which is led by World Champion Pipe Band, The Muirhead Pipe Band.
“Finally, the team played Alloa that day and ironically, they play them this weekend as well and there is footage of the game. We won that one 1-0 and hopefully, we can get the same result and capture the goal this time as well.”
Unfortunately, Scott cannot attend the 'Big Night Out' as to use a footballing term, he is carrying a hip injury, although it is fair to say that he will be there in spirit.
Scott has started writing the book and his research continues in tandem and he would be delighted to hear from fans of The Shire or clubs that they faced during the period 1955–1966 with tales or anecdotes from that time which may be of interest. That can be done by e-mailing [email protected].
**Tickets are still on sale for the evening which will also include a three course meal, live music and fundraising auction and it is hoped that a number of former players will be in attendance.
Live music will be provided by Future, a four piece band who cover a wide variety of popular musical styles and Central FM presenter, Steve Courtney, will be the host for the fundraising auction and the prize raffle as well as rounding the evening off with a disco.
The event starts at 7.00 p.m. and you can book tickets at £25 each, or tables of ten, from the club by e-mailing [email protected] or contacting Tadek Kopszywa on 07802 816759.
PLEASE NOTE: When Tom Scott's book is published, it will be on a 'not for profit' basis with all proceeds going to The Shire Trust.
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