Clydebank 0
Ayr Utd 1
League (Division 2)

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Clydebank
0 - 1
 Ayr Utd

League (Division 2)
Monday, April 28th, 1969
New Kilbowie Park. Att. 532
7:30 PM Kick-off
Goalscorers
None. Alex Ingram (40)

Team Managers
Jack Steedman
 Unknown.

Starting Eleven
1 Mike McDonald
2 Graeme Brockett
3 Davie Mitchell
4 Dennis Ruddy
5 Jim Fallon
6 Dougie Hay
7 Ian Hawkshaw
8 Bobby Love
9 Alan Munro
10 Gerry O'Brien
11 Jimmy Caskie
 Dave Stewart 1
Dick Malone 2
John Murphy 3
Alex McAnespie 4
Stan Quinn 5
Doug Mitchell 6
Tommy Weames 7
Jackie Ferguson 8
Alex Ingram 9
Dave McCulloch 10
Bobby Rough 11

Bench
12 Danny Gray
 Andy Aitken 12

Substitutions
Danny Gray for Bobby Love
 None.

Cautions
None. None.

Red Cards
None. None.
Match Officials

I Foote (Referee)



Match Report

Clydebank Press

Faced with the best that the Second Division could throw at them, in the form of newly-promoted Ayr United, Clydebank did well to hold back on this final score. Although they didn't deserve to win this match, the homesters fought every inch of the way and a draw wouldn't have been out of place.

The first half belonged to the “seaside dandies." They were fast and easy flowing in attack and sported a defence that would have done justice to the "Maginot Line."

The great wee home pair, Jimmy Caskie and Gerry O'Brien tried desperately to gain a hold in the Ayr half. They were, however, over anxious and in keeping with the rest of the Clydebank forwards found themselves run offside more often than not.

Around the home goal, Mick McDonald was in complete command. It is relieving to see that 'Bankies now have someone quite capable of taking over from Dick Madden.

Dick bruised his shoulder at Berwick on Saturday (that's partly why Clydebank lost so many goals then) so young McDonald was given his debut in the Kilbowie first team.

It was announced on Monday night that McDonald has been picked to travel to Leipzig with the Scottish Youth team to play in a European youth tournament.

Although he may not get a game at Leipzig; Motherwell's McCrae is also travelling with the team it is an honour for himself and for Kilbowie to have been chosen.

Because of McDonald's display, Ayr didn't score until five minutes from the end of the first half.

The ball came into the Clydebank area, high from the right wing, and centre-forward Ingram headed home from close in.

McDonald did a contortionist act to try to save the ball, but his was an impossible task!

Hitting back for an early equaliser, the Clydebank players were playing an easier and more fluent game.

The Ayr players were more than a little worried in the 57th minute. O'Brien, Alan Munro and Caskie all had shots at goal before the ball was knocked out for a corner.

Douglas Hay came very near from the resultant kick but his shot was sent out for another flag kick.

As the ball came in from the right, O'Brien made a run for it. He was brought down right on the edge of the penalty area and a direct free kick was awarded.

O'Brien took the kick himself, passed to Ian Hawkshaw who made an attempt at goal, but the ball was blasted clear.

Temperatures ran high again at the Clydebank end in the 70th minute.

Ayr's "wing wizard," Rough, had taken the ball in from the left. He let loose a shot which McDonald could only deflect. As the ball was running past the right post, Ferguson and ex-Ayr man Hawkshaw made a run for it. Ferguson won the duel and tried to knock the ball home-and almost succeeded.

Mitchell and Fallon both tried to stop the ball, but only succeeded in becoming entangled with McDonald, who had to get down on his hands and knees to make a desperate save.

Bobby Love was hurt in a heavy tackle and had to be taken off. Gray was put on in his place.

Despite this heavy pressure, Clydebank's moments of glory didn't come until the last three minutes. Munro, Caskie, O'Brien and Hawkshaw all had shots at the Ayr goal.

Keeper Stewart was stretched to the limit and the Ayr players could do nothing else but play for time. Every time one of them got a foot to the ball, rather than give Clydebank another chance to equalise, it went out of play.

At least the Clydebank supporters saw their team end the league season in a "blaze of glory."

Let's hope they start the new season in the manner they left this one.

Season Footnote

The young Clydebank team very sportingly stood aside and clapped the Ayr United players from the Kilbowie turf at the end of an exciting game on Monday night which Ayr won by the only goal, Yes, Ayr were back in the First Division-a wonderful performance.

It's as good a time as any to look over the past season and assess the young Bankies' team prospects for the new season.

The patient weeding through hundreds of youngsters, which started in '67-the club's second season in the league-resulted in the signing and coaching, of some 17 and 18- year-olds and retained for next year are 11 youngsters although Jackie Woods is likely to return to his parents in South Africa.

Also retained are David Mitchell, Dick Madden, Bobby Love and Ian Hawkshaw. Tommy McGhee, recovering from a cartilage operation, may yet be with the side next year.

This was the youngest senior team ever and as they got to know each other and became that bit stronger, they finished the season with great promise.

Of course, they have much to learn but the 18-year-old knows it and is prepared to do it, a more difficult task for the experienced campaigner who has played in more illustrious company.

Of course, the object of the whole exercise is to win promotion to the First Division. Now the question is - Can 11 youngsters who were playing amateur football a year or so ago, assisted by one or two more experienced colleagues, battle their way to one of the two top spots in the Second Division?

There will certainly be maximum Concentration on this project at Kilbowie. There will be no Combined Reserve League side. The cost of running a second string is now astronomical and even First Division clubs are doing it against their treasurers' advice.

Although no club can survive without selling its stars, Clydebank has so far resisted the enquiries from all over Britain for the young players and the aim is to keep the team as intact as possible without unduly restricting the career of a bright prospect.

Since there will be no reserve matches and since a new training ground is being prepared between the pavilion and the railway, the grass on Kilbowie will be given a chance next season.

During the close season the players will be having special coaching sessions by trainer coach Willie Munro, but not on the pitch which Alex, the groundsman started to work on half an hour after the Ayr game was over.

There is little doubt that the entertainment value of the football served up at Kilbowie last season was very high. Should the new season combine this with favourable results, the appreciative fans will swell in number and the Clydebank team could be on its way.

Clearly it won't be short of triers.



Squad Statistics (as at April 28th, 1969)

1968-69 All Time
League Cups All
Mike McDonald (GK) 1 - 0 - 1 -
Graeme Brockett 14 - 1 - 15 -
Dennis Ruddy 29 - 7 - 40 -
Davie Mitchell 30 - 6 - 1094
Jim Fallon 3223 - 352
Ian Hawkshaw 3510724212
Dougie Hay 31 - 5 - 501
Bobby Love 2411 - 251
Jimmy Caskie 34123 - 4313
Gerry O'Brien 3227 - 422
Alan Munro 29153 - 3215
Danny Gray (sub) 5 - 4 - 9 -







Recent Results

League results since Clydebank's last match
28th April 1969
Clydebank0-1Ayr Utd
Forfar Ath3-3Brechin City
Stranraer3-0East Stirlingshire

League Table (as at April 28th, 1969)

Pld W D L +/- Pts
1. Motherwell 35 29 4 2 +88 62
2. Ayr Utd 35 22 7 6 +50 51
3. East Fife 36 21 6 9 +37 48
4. Stirling Albion 36 21 6 9 +27 48
5. Queen of South 36 20 7 9 +34 47
6. Forfar Ath 35 18 7 10 +16 43
7. Albion Rovers 35 19 5 11 +5 43
8. Stranraer 36 17 7 12 +12 41
9. East Stirlingshire 36 17 5 14 +8 39
10. Queen's Park 36 13 7 16 -9 33
11. Montrose 35 14 4 17 -15 32
12. Cowdenbeath 35 12 5 18 -10 29
13. Clydebank 36 6 15 15 -15 27
14. Dumbarton 36 11 5 20 -23 27
15. Berwick Rangers 36 7 9 20 -28 23
16. Hamilton Accies 35 7 8 20 -36 22
17. Brechin City 35 8 6 21 -37 22
18. Alloa Athletic 36 7 7 22 -34 21
19. Stenhousemuir 36 6 6 24 -70 18