Published on Friday 27 January 2012 01:08
IT says everything about the contrast in eras when you consider the reason why Alfie Conn jnr missed yesterday’s event to promote the 40th anniversary dinner of Rangers’ European Cup-Winners’ Cup win in Barcelona.
While the Ibrox club are braced for more multi-million pound bids for striker Nikica Jelavic, Conn, who left Ibrox for Tottenham Hotspur in 1975 on a £180 per week deal, was absent from the reunion because he was working as a courier. He wasn’t the only one missing. Willie Mathieson, the full-back, was away on holiday, as was the most conspicuous absentee.
John Greig was skipper that night in Camp Nou, when Rangers defeated Moscow Dynamo 3-2. He went on to be named Greatest Ever Ranger and was, until recently, a director at the club. The reason he is no longer one – he resigned in October, claiming to have been left “isolated” by new owner Craig Whyte – meant that his absence was initially considered to be significant.
Sandy Jardine, however, confirmed there was “no ulterior motive” for Greig not being present to promote the dinner, the profits from which will be split between the members of the cup-winning squad. “In many ways he is the central figure,” said Jardine, before issuing an assurance that his former team-mate and, latterly, work colleague will attend the dinner itself on 18 May, when he will hear Sir Alex Ferguson’s turn as guest speaker.
So, too, will Willie Johnston, another central figure in the story of the Barcelona Bears. The winger was the match-winner in the final with two goals. “It amazes me sometimes just how much we’re reminded of Barcelona,” he said yesterday. “You wouldn’t expect people to remember it so much.
“It doesn’t feel like 40 years. It’s gone very quickly. The thing I remember most is the fans coming on the park and Colin Stein waiting for me in the tunnel. He said to me: ‘Bud, that’s the first time I’ve ever beaten you in a sprint!’”
The pitch invasion meant Greig was handed the trophy deep inside the bowels of the stadium. “We felt robbed by the fact we didn’t get the proper trophy presentation,” recalled Johnston. “We were on a right downer. We weren’t even sure if we were going to get the Cup when we found out what had happened.”
There was even friction within the Rangers camp, revealed Johnston. Unsurprisingly, he was involved. “After the game we were up in the mountains, at a place called Sitges, and we had a party. I was just drinking tea at the time and having a fag as normal. I always remember [manager] Willie Waddell sending the wives and girlfriends back to their hotel.
“We started arguing about it but he said: ‘This is a night for the men!’ I said: ‘What about the wives and girlfriends?’ That was me arguing with him again. I was always arguing with him.”
Johnston is, however, appreciative of the club’s efforts to honour the players who contributed to Rangers’ greatest European success. “We didn’t expect it,” he said. “We’re not looking for anything, but it’s nice.”
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