Back in Time

Last updated : 22 January 2007 By Firparkcorner

Charlie Aitken
The chapter ‘Loyalty is Their Middle Name' featured, among others, the Motherwell great Charlie Aitken who was then approaching the end of his seventeen year spell. He was a terrific right-half and yet another player who would have been capped had he been a regular for one of the big Glasgow teams.

A couple of games against Hearts were featured. They beat us twice in the league that season but we got our revenge in the Cup when Walter Carlyle scored the only goal of the game at Fir Park. The outside right made only thirty appearances for us but his cup goal sent us into the semi final where Celtic won at the second attempt.

Walter Carlyle at Tynecastle

Joe McBride was, in today's parlance, a striker. He left us for Celtic in 1965 but his few seasons at Fir Park were packed full of appearances and goals. He scored in every round of that season's Summer Cup and he is featured here bearing down on Jim Cruikshank in a game against Hearts at Fir Park.

Joe McBride against Hearts at Fir Park

He scored twice in our 2-2 Cup semi final that season.Unlike the famous replay in 1991 we lost this rematch 3-0. McBride moved on to Parkhead for a reported fee of £22 000.

Joe McBride celebrates the opener in the cup semi

The book also features a couple of photographs of the legendary Arthur Montford. However, my scanner could not cope with the checks on the jacket so you are spared on this occasion!