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Post by Deleted on Jan 17, 2020 16:09:08 GMT
Afternoon Rovers folk
I'm a Stranraer supporter these days, living in the Rhinns, but back when I was a wee laddie I used to support Chesterfield, where I stayed. Albion Rovers came to Saltergate one day to play a friendly, which I think was connected to Chesterfield buying goalkeeper Jim Brown, who went on to play for Sheffield United and (once) for Scotland. Jim was born and raised in Coatbridge, and as far as I know, still lives in Chesterfield.
He was the second player in a short period to move from Cliftonhill to Saltergate, because he followed a long haired slim & skilful young forward called Sam Ferris, who ultimately turned out to be a bit too frail for the English League.
Does anyone remember either Jim or Sam playing for the Rovers?
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Post by Rovergrant on Jan 17, 2020 16:17:17 GMT
Remember both....Jim after his travels (Sheffield United and USA) came back to Chesterfield. Think he is still Commercial Manager there. I worked alonside Jimmy`s dad Sam during the 1970s and 80s and had a lot of budsiness contact with his brother Sandy up until I retired four years ago. Sammy Ferris used to be the subject of a lot of abuse from one of our fans, the late Cathie O`Hare.
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Post by charlestheoptimist on Jan 17, 2020 18:22:00 GMT
When I was a young lad - aged 7 - I remember Rovers defeating Partick Thistle 1-0 in a league game in November 1970 when nearly 4000 were at Cliftonhill - was it Sam Ferris that got that winning goal ? I think it may be but at 7 my memory could be playing tricks - any way Rovers were on a great run that year and in an era of 2 leagues came up short in the new year to potential promotion to the old first division - both Jim Brown and Sam Ferris were lynchpins of that era.
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Post by Rovergrant on Jan 17, 2020 18:52:30 GMT
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Post by fineen on Jan 17, 2020 19:52:48 GMT
I remember the Thistle game and it was Mick Green who got the goal. I also remember Jim Brown well and he was a smashing keeper. After he became commercial manager at Chesterfield he came out of retirement for one game (v. Huddersfield?) and conceded 10 (10-0 or 10-1, I think). Saint and Greavesie had a Saturday morning TV show at the time, where they loved to have a go at Scottish keepers but fortunately this one seems to have bypassed them.
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Post by sam on Jan 17, 2020 21:18:18 GMT
Remember both....Jim after his travels (Sheffield United and USA) came back to Chesterfield. Think he is still Commercial Manager there. I worked alonside Jimmy`s dad Sam during the 1970s and 80s and had a lot of budsiness contact with his brother Sandy up until I retired four years ago. Sammy Ferris used to be the subject of a lot of abuse from one of our fans, the late Cathie O`Hare. To be fair Cathy shared her ‘views’ about a good few players so Sammy Ferris needn’t feel as if he was the only one who she picked on. I think Big Dunky probably took most of her opinions |
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Post by fineen on Jan 17, 2020 22:17:46 GMT
Having now read Grant's links I realise that it's not only my short-term memory that's becoming shaky in old age. Jim Brown was still a regular when he lost the 10 goals, but I am sure I do remember he was pulled out of retirement at some point during a goalkeeper crisis. I believe he and brother Sandy also had a unusual achievement in that Sandy also represented Scotland - at cricket.
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Post by Nanook on Jan 17, 2020 22:46:38 GMT
Page 293 of The Boys from the 'Brig confirms that Mick Green scored goal.
Page 294 team photo 1970-71, features Brown and Ferris.
Played 5 times for Scotland. Lost the best OG I ever saw, Brechin winger sends over a hard fast cross, Willie Currie meets it full on and it flew past Jim. He told me he could see what was going to happen, took up position and just hoped the ball would not hit him on the way in.
Sammy did seem light weight but he was skillful too, thought he might make it.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2020 9:08:50 GMT
Only a smurf at the time but I will never forget Sammy Ferris and big dunkie shields. Or for that matter Cathie's exquisite vernacular! Happy days and oh for a big dunkie in the squad now! (Was just wondering if the reason I remember them apart from their ability is because of all the verbal Cathie gave them! All three were rovers legends! For me anyway!)
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Post by tommysermanni on Jan 18, 2020 10:10:15 GMT
Cathie O'Hare=The Fear.Big Time.
I remember her going right down the front of our now defunct terracing to give Big Dunky Shields pelters.
He stormed over and 'told' her it was the first minute of the game and he hadn't even touched the ball yet!.
She was nuts but such a loyal fan of the Rovers.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2020 10:33:32 GMT
I remember the Thistle game and it was Mick Green who got the goal. I also remember Jim Brown well and he was a smashing keeper. After he became commercial manager at Chesterfield he came out of retirement for one game (v. Huddersfield?) and conceded 10 (10-0 or 10-1, I think). Saint and Greavesie had a Saturday morning TV show at the time, where they loved to have a go at Scottish keepers but fortunately this one seems to have bypassed them. Jim did let in 10 goals, against Gillingham, but he was a veteran by that stage, and he was injured during the first half but carried on because there was no substitute goalie. He once scored a goal with a drop kick in a gale against Stockport, and then looked embarrassed when his team mates rushed over to hug him. I don't know where he was in 1978 but if he had gone to Argentina for the World Cup and played instead of Alan Rough history may have been very different. I've just done a Google search and my memory was wrong. Jim played for Rovers in that friendly at Saltergate, which had been arranged after Chesterfield signed Sammy. He played so well that Chesterfield's manager decided he wanted him. The Chesterfield history also mentions Andy McQuarrie who was another ex-Rover to play for Chesterfield. Now, I'm going back to 1963 here but I think that in the first match I ever saw McQuarrie was wearing the number 10 shirt and was the crowd's scapegoat. Maybe he had left Cliftonhill because of Cathie O'Hare's opinion of him. I think Sam Ferris was a University student as well as a footballer, and sometimes missed matches because he had exams to sit, essays to write etc. |
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Post by sam on Jan 18, 2020 17:16:24 GMT
Page 293 of The Boys from the 'Brig confirms that Mick Green scored goal. Page 294 team photo 1970-71, features Brown and Ferris. Played 5 times for Scotland. Lost the best OG I ever saw, Brechin winger sends over a hard fast cross, Willie Currie meets it full on and it flew past Jim. He told me he could see what was going to happen, took up position and just hoped the ball would not hit him on the way in. Sammy did seem light weight but he was skillful too, thought he might make it. Jimmy only got 1 full Scotland cap Brian up at Pittodrie. Can’t mind who it was against. (East European mob) |
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Post by Rovergrant on Jan 18, 2020 17:45:30 GMT
Roumania, Sam, 1-1 draw ?
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Post by Nanook on Jan 18, 2020 21:33:50 GMT
Page 293 of The Boys from the 'Brig confirms that Mick Green scored goal. Page 294 team photo 1970-71, features Brown and Ferris. Played 5 times for Scotland. Lost the best OG I ever saw, Brechin winger sends over a hard fast cross, Willie Currie meets it full on and it flew past Jim. He told me he could see what was going to happen, took up position and just hoped the ball would not hit him on the way in. Sammy did seem light weight but he was skillful too, thought he might make it. Jimmy only got 1 full Scotland cap Brian up at Pittodrie. Can’t mind who it was against. (East European mob) Hate to admit I am wrong, especially, to you Sam, but hey ho, looked at his under 23 caps. Jim was the goalie sub the day Stuart Kennedy messed up at Wembley, 5-1. He was close several times to further caps. |
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Post by rab on Jan 21, 2020 23:42:17 GMT
Jim got his cap in the match immediately after Five Past Kennedy's catastrophe at Wembley - it was a 1-1 draw in Bucharest in a Euro qualifier. But his form dipped for his club Sheffield United the following season and he wasn't picked again.
A Rovers fan once told me of a trip a few of them made to the Chesterfield friendly. Not being flushed with cash, they decided to take tents and find a spot to camp (or maybe there was a lack of b&bs in Chesterfield). After spending some time in one of the local pubs on the Friday night before the match, they spied a suitable camping spot and climbed over a fence to pitch their tents. The guy in question stepped out for a pee early the next morning, looked around and saw a rather ominous sign, which said in bold letters: 'Derbyshire Cricket Club'. The only thing left to do (after finishing watering this particular area of the outfield) was to wake up the others and get the f out of the place before anyone discovered them.
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