Relichtie

   

Memorable matches No. 30

Gibby Shireffs

These matches were requested by Kevin, whose father Gibby Shireffs was a regular player for the club in this era.

 Season 1959/60.

Scottish League Division 1.

 Dec. 12 1959      Aberdeen 0-Arbroath.

19 March 1960        Rangers 1-1 Arbroath.

I've put both these matches together, as they were the only points Arbroath picked up away from Gayfield during the course of the season.

Arbroath were bottom of the league when they travelled north to meet Aberdeen, who were not much better placed just a few places above them. The visitors opened brightly, and had the better of the first half. Ogston, in the home goal, kept his side in the match with some fine saves, but Easson should have scored when he neatly sidestepped Baird, and fired in a fierce shot which the Dons custodian parried brilliantly. At the other end Fraser, Young and McLevy dealt comfortably with anything that came their way.

Ogston saves, while Shireffs on right looks on.

Aberdeen came out for the second period determined to put up a better show for their fans, and Williamson was soon called into action with saves from Davidson and Little. The match boiled over with 18 mins. left, when Alec Wright of Arbroath was sent off by referee Davidson after a clash with his namesake at number 9 for Aberdeen. Baird of Aberdeen was then booked after an incident with Quinn. As the match drew to a close, Williamson came to Arbroath's rescue when he saved a Little header, and the match finished goalless. It was a welcome point for Arbroath, after a long fruitless spell on their travels.

Aberdeen - Ogston, Hogg, Sim, Baird, Clunie, Kinnell, Ewen, Wishart, Davidson, Little, Mulhall.

Arbroath - Williamson, McLevy,  Young, Brown, Fraser, Wright, Shireffs, Dunn, Easson, Grierson, Quinn.

Referee R.H.Davidson, Airdrie

Attendance 6000.

1947.                   1968.                   1969.                   1980.

Easson challenges the Rangers defence at Ibrox

Picture from Arbroath's visit to Ibrox in the Scottish Cup 2nd round February 1960

Arbroath travelled to Ibrox, in the knowledge that they had never won or even drawn there in the past, and with the club firmly anchored at the foot of the table, a result seemed unlikely, but "hope springs etc". Rangers were 3rd in the league and still in with a chance of reaching the European Cup semi finals. ( They did, where they lost to Eintracht Frankfurt, who in turn faced Real Madrid in that remarkable Hampden final ).

Arbroath surprised Rangers as they took the match to the Glasgow side from the start, and stunned the Ibrox faithful when Dunn passed to Easson, who carved open the home defence to allow Grierson to put the ball in the net in the 7th minute.

 "Sensation" as a well known sports commentator of the day might have said.

It took Rangers the rest of the half to recover from this setback, but a minute from the interval, Scott cut the ball back to McMillan, and the inside forward despatched a shot through the Lichties defence into the net.

The Rangers fans were probably rubbing their hands together at the thought of the second half slaughter to come, but it failed to materialise. Try as they might, the Glasgow giants couldn't break down the maroon rearguard, who stood up manfully to every assault by the light blues. With Williamson in fine form, ably backed by his defence, the rest of the side worked like Trojans to neutralise the home side. Arbroath hardly looked like a side practically relegated, and the tirade of abuse and booing with which the Ibrox legions subjected the home side to as they left the field, must have been music to the ears of the visitors.

Rangers - Niven, Caldow, Little, Davis, Patterson, Stevenson, Scott, McMillan, Murray, Wilson, Hume.

Arbroath - Williamson, McLevy,  Young, Crawford, Fraser, McLean, Shireffs,  Easson, Dunn, Grierson, Quinn.

Referee T.R.Minto, Hurlford.

 

back                  1972                1974                  1993                   1978