When I was a wee boy, round about 1943, my grandfather took me on some expedition or another into Glasgow. We were sitting on a bench in George Square when he jumped to his feet, obviously startled when an elderly man, an ordinary-looking man smoking a pipe, passed us.
He grabbed me by the hand, and raced after the man, and caught up with him at the traffic lights. Flustered, he started to speak:“Mr Quinn, Mr Quinn, could you, I mean would you shake hands with my grandson, please?”
This was done, and we made our way back to the bench and sat down. My grandfather, normally an unemotional man, still found it hard to collect his thoughts; finally, he was able to speak: “Never forget this. Today, you shook hands with the greatest centre-forward that ever kicked a ba'”.
To be perfectly honest, I have very little direct recollection of the event but it has passed into the Campbell family lore. The other instances cited here, I can remember…
‘My admiration stemmed as much from his genuine sportsmanship as his undoubted skill and artistry’
One of my favourite Celtic players was Willie Fernie, and my admiration stemmed as much from his genuine sportsmanship as his undoubted skill and artistry. I saw him make his debut against St Mirren at Love Street on a miserable, rain-swept day, and was reasonably impressed … and delighted in watching him perform for Celtic in later seasons. Sturdily-built with square shoulders, an erect posture, a graceful stride … and a genuine player even from the start of his senior career.
In 2000 Pat Woods and I arranged for an interview with Willie Fernie
In 2000 Pat Woods and I arranged for an interview with Willie at his home in Glasgow’s Newlands Drive. Audrey, his wife and who had been Jimmy McGrory’s long-time secretary, greeted us almost apologetically; Willie, apparently, was out, driving a visitor home and had not yet returned. Much worse was the news that he had very recently been diagnosed with ‘early-onset Alzheimers’ (and might at times be forgetful).
Continues on the next page…
