sinjy Posted September 5, 2016 Report Share Posted September 5, 2016 I remember a few years ago reading somewhere about our club having a tradition of terrific left backs. With Stevie Hammell nearing the end of his career and the no football weekend I spent some time looking into this. As you can see from the table below it looks like we have had only 7 regulars in the last 70 years. However there have been others who have filled gaps in the timeline. Baldy Shaw 1946 to 1958 256 League games Bobby McCallum 1958 to 1968 157 Joe Wark 1968 to 1984 464 Tom Boyd 1983 to 1991 252 Rab McKinnon 1991 to 1996 152 Steve McMillan 1993 to 2001 152 Steve Hammell 1999 to 2006 215 2007 to 2016 253 Significant other left backs Pat Holton 1956 to 1959 played 69 games between Shaw and McCallum then sold to Chelsea Matt Thomson 1961 to 1969 played 172 games and filled in at left back between McCallum and Wark although Matt played in lots of different positions during his career. During Joe Wark's time with Joe either injured or playing at right back. Chic McLelland 1979 to 81 played 51 games Ian MacLeod 1978 to 1986 played 243 games although he played lots of different positions with only a few at left back. Derek Murray 1984 to 1988 played 95 games Jim Paterson 2004 to 2008 played 108 games and exactly half of them at left back in seasons 2006/7 and 2007/8 when Hammell was at Southend. The games and seasons played are thanks to a terrific web site http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com which lists only league games played. ( I believe Neil died recently and the web site may no longer be being updated but it is still a fantastic site) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coolhandluc Posted September 5, 2016 Report Share Posted September 5, 2016 Certainly had some very good left-backs. I'm sure Ecosse1991 can give some more detail if required ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Dog Posted September 5, 2016 Report Share Posted September 5, 2016 Rab was one of my favourites, shame Stevie McMillan got injured and had to give up as he could've been a Scotland cap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fizoxy Posted September 5, 2016 Report Share Posted September 5, 2016 Some forgettable fill ins: Franz Resch (known for signing at the same time as Mario Dorner) Danny Murphy (known for signing alongside Trevor Molly and his taxi driver). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrosshillWell Posted September 5, 2016 Report Share Posted September 5, 2016 I recently Google searched those two masterful Austrian signings of McLeish. Darlington signed both of them from us. I was surprised that Darlington have dissappeared into the non leagues. Some forgettable fill ins: Franz Resch (known for signing at the same time as Mario Dorner) Danny Murphy (known for signing alongside Trevor Molly and his taxi driver). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weeyin Posted September 5, 2016 Report Share Posted September 5, 2016 For me, there was Joe Wark then everybody else. It's difficult to explain to anyone who didn't see him play just how good he was. Perfect timing in the tackle, crunching but fair, great game reading skills,precision curled passes up the left touchline time after time, picked up his first yellow card after about 15 years in the game. And to cap it all, used to entertain with his ball juggling skills if there was a stoppage in play. Tom Boyd started off in the middle of defence playing a sweeper type role, but really grew into the left back role when he became a little stronger and faster. Another one who had great game reading skills. Then there was Derek Murray whose main skill seemed to be standing 3 yards too far off his man and never quite being in the right place. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrosshillWell Posted September 5, 2016 Report Share Posted September 5, 2016 To me, Tom Boyd really soured his time at the club by his goading of the Motherwell vans at Hampden and badge kissing antics. A bit like Scott Brown, he seemed happy to play at Celtic instead of pushing himself to play at a higher level. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gadgey Posted September 6, 2016 Report Share Posted September 6, 2016 Tom Boyd only became a decent player when Davie Cooper arrived. Coop was able to exploit Boyds pace and was instrumental in transforming a guy that was (in my opinion at least) second in the youth development pecking order to Chris McCart to a quality overlapping fullback. The badge kissing thing was an err in judgment. I'm sure it was meant in jest but he made himself look a right cock. But then, that was largely consistent with Boyds behaviour the rest of the time too. He's just a bit of a cock. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Posted September 6, 2016 Report Share Posted September 6, 2016 Darlington signed both of them from us. I was surprised that Darlington have dissappeared into the non leagues. They went bust a la Rangers after being bought by an owner which turned very messy, reformed as a newco backed by the fans now called Darlington 1883 and reentered the leagues at the 9th tier. Successive promotions have led them to now being the tier below the conference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpy Posted September 6, 2016 Report Share Posted September 6, 2016 For me, there was Joe Wark then everybody else. It's difficult to explain to anyone who didn't see him play just how good he was. Perfect timing in the tackle, crunching but fair, great game reading skills,precision curled passes up the left touchline time after time, picked up his first yellow card after about 15 years in the game. And to cap it all, used to entertain with his ball juggling skills if there was a stoppage in play. And was also a pretty decent goalie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ya Bezzer! Posted September 6, 2016 Report Share Posted September 6, 2016 Stevie Hammell displaced Stevie McMillan at left back and McMillan had a short and unconvincing spell at centre back before moving on to Wigan. It was way back at the very beginning of my time as a supporter and I was just a kid but I seem to remember Tom Boyd started as a midfielder and him scoring a couple of goals in a high scoring win over Hibs...and in those days any kind of win was big, never mind a high scoring one. Having said that I might have just invented that memory to see me through those seasons! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Dosser Posted September 6, 2016 Report Share Posted September 6, 2016 For me, there was Joe Wark then everybody else. It's difficult to explain to anyone who didn't see him play just how good he was. Perfect timing in the tackle, crunching but fair, great game reading skills,precision curled passes up the left touchline time after time, picked up his first yellow card after about 15 years in the game. And to cap it all, used to entertain with his ball juggling skills if there was a stoppage in play. Tom Boyd started off in the middle of defence playing a sweeper type role, but really grew into the left back role when he became a little stronger and faster. Another one who had great game reading skills. Then there was Derek Murray whose main skill seemed to be standing 3 yards too far off his man and never quite being in the right place. A great summary of Joe's skills. I also remember his India rubber legs which managed to steal the ball from his opponent in a tackle from the back. He was a complete gentleman. I'm too young to remember Baldy Shaw but I hear he was a terrifying prospect for any right winger: "hit 'em hard, hit 'em early." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onthefringes Posted September 6, 2016 Report Share Posted September 6, 2016 Stevie Hammell displaced Stevie McMillan at left back and McMillan had a short and unconvincing spell at centre back before moving on to Wigan. It was way back at the very beginning of my time as a supporter and I was just a kid but I seem to remember Tom Boyd started as a midfielder and him scoring a couple of goals in a high scoring win over Hibs...and in those days any kind of win was big, never mind a high scoring one. Having said that I might have just invented that memory to see me through those seasons! Disagree. It was his form in that position that earned him the move to Wigan which was arguably his best spell in the first team. One of the poorer full backs we've had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goggles & Flippers Posted September 6, 2016 Report Share Posted September 6, 2016 I now have a mental image of Rab's boaby popping out in an iconic photo. Talking of pricks .... Tom Boyd, did he actually play for us? He seems to do his best to gloss it over Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrosshillWell Posted September 7, 2016 Report Share Posted September 7, 2016 Actually, I'm going all in here. Tom Boyd is a complete cock. Sitting just behind Charlie Nicholas in the most unpleasant footballers I've come accross in my professional career. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waldo Posted September 7, 2016 Report Share Posted September 7, 2016 Ever met Mark Hatley? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellowell Posted September 7, 2016 Report Share Posted September 7, 2016 Got to agree with comments re Boyd he came to our table when in hospitality at Celtic park and asked if any well fans I said me and he said nae luck . I then said wasn't like that when we were paying your wages and he replied only 3 good things about Motherwell my signing on fee ,getting a cup medal ,and best of all leaving .Everybidy at table said he was totally out of order and they were all Celtic fans for someone who I had so much respect for previously to bring down my team so much was a disgrace and just in case anybody in doubt he wasn't joking said even when at Motherwell ,Celtic were the only team he cared about . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The African Posted September 7, 2016 Report Share Posted September 7, 2016 Boyd sounds like a bit of a twat. Still, for every Boyd there is an O'Donnell. Remember the good guys and forget the idiots. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weeyin Posted September 7, 2016 Report Share Posted September 7, 2016 And was also a pretty decent goalie That too! Did he not end up in goals in his first game for us? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superward Posted September 7, 2016 Report Share Posted September 7, 2016 Its a shame Boyd has been a bit wankish with aome well fans. I was surprised last time it came up on here. Not that I am doubting anyone on here but I have met him aa couple of times (once at an official do and once in a pub) and has always been friendly and didn't speak badly of the 'Well at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoshi-1991 Posted September 7, 2016 Report Share Posted September 7, 2016 Its a shame Boyd has been a bit wankish with aome well fans. I was surprised last time it came up on here. Not that I am doubting anyone on here but I have met him aa couple of times (once at an official do and once in a pub) and has always been friendly and didn't speak badly of the 'Well at all Probably because there were no celtic fans around he could suck off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wellowell Posted September 7, 2016 Report Share Posted September 7, 2016 You beat me to it my thoughts exactly if at a well do or met individually in sure would not slag them off but IMO he was showing off to the Celtic fans when in fact it backfired as they all thought he was a twat and were shocked by his comments so impressed no one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
claretband Posted September 7, 2016 Report Share Posted September 7, 2016 Anyone remember an absolutely sickening collision between McMillan and I'm sure it was Den Biemen of Dunfermline? Right in front of the East Stand, Stevie got studs in his head at high speed and after being carried off his father was asked for over the Tannoy.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrosshillWell Posted September 7, 2016 Report Share Posted September 7, 2016 Believe me, Tom Boyd is known as an absolute horror, even within Celtic Park. With regards to Mark Hateley, he was always an aloof, arrogant bastards. Perhaps, given his background of being a successful, high profile player, but also having muppets in hell holes such as Renfrew fill his pockets. He's a relic, but the very worst was Graham Roberts. Anyway, a different thread perhaps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texanwellfan Posted September 7, 2016 Report Share Posted September 7, 2016 That too! Did he not end up in goals in his first game for us? he certaily ended up in goals at some point and you may be right that it was his first game. Was it a friendly against Tranmere? I also seem to recall him scoring a hat trick for us as well, early on in his career. we were down by 0-1 to Montrose at home with 15 mins to go. Joe got moved forward and scored 3 goals in a 4-1 victory for us.............. it would be great if someone could confirm that since the mind plays tricks after a while :-) My era of going to the games covered Bobby McCallum, Joe Wark and Tom Boyd. Moved over here in 1989 and so the rest I have only seen on TV or odd game over the years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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