KilbirnieNewtonBearette
Well-Known Member
Used to love watching him & Greavies. Some of my earliest memories of watching football & football related programs. RIP
Correct, back then Motherwell had a good skilled footballing team, St John was a big part of that. Unlike the current team there.My old man always talked about the Ancell Babes Motherwell team that St John was a part of, said they were a smashing side.
Ian is Gaelic for JohnHis birth name was John but like a lot of guys called John in the old days, they got called Ian.
Wonderful broadcaster, too young to remember him playing but was a staple diet of the 80s to play for my boys club team and go home and watch Saints and Greavsie.
Yes Tommy, he was one of the key signings made by Bill Shankly (nephew of Rangers player Bob Blyth and uncle of Rodger Hynd) along with Billy Stevenson from Rangers and Ron (rowdy) Yeats from Dundee United.So sad to hear. He was possibly one of the original "reds" as the team he was in started the Liverpool revolution under Shankl
Rest in peace Ian.
If my ailing memory serves me correctly, he played in, arguably, the best Scottish side ever, the one that lost in a play-off to reach the 1962 World Cup tournament. They lost out, after extra time, to Czechoslovakia who would go on to the final itself, only to be beaten by the wonderful Brazilian side containing Pele and Garrincha.Sad news. In addition to being part of the Liverpool revival, he was one of the great Scotland team of the early 1960’s. RIP
Our best and last chance probablyWe should have won the European Cup that year...
Was there that night, train to Ibrox platform.Tremendous player in late 50s, early 60s. Remember seeing that Motherwell team beat us 5 2 at Ibrox in Scottish Cup after we drew 2 2 at Fir park. Game was 60 years ago yesterday. 80k crowd.
What a player Motherwell had a great team when he was there center forward (striker)82 years old.
Always enjoyed Saint & Greavsie
Edit, Apologies for the spelling mistake in his name.
I used to go drinking there...John St.John?
Bang on the money. Of for those days again. Before when offence was sought in every quarter and everything was politicised.The good old days, when folk were allowed a sense of humour; you could laugh at others and had to take it back in return.
As you say, a great Scotland side. I have a photo of the Scotland team that beat England 2-0 in 1962, with Ian at the centre of the front row.If my ailing memory serves me correctly, he played in, arguably, the best Scottish side ever, the one that lost in a play-off to reach the 1962 World Cup tournament. They lost out, after extra time, to Czechoslovakia who would go on to the final itself, only to be beaten by the wonderful Brazilian side containing Pele and Garrincha.
Saint played alongside Slim Jim, Eric Caldow, Ralph Brand, Ian MacMillan, Alex Scott, Bobby Shearer and Davie Wilson, as well as McNeill and Crerand, Denis Law and John White as well as his old Motherwell partner, Pat Quinn. What a list of names that side was.
It’s built into Liverpool mythology that when Shankly went to the board to plead for funds to sign Saint, the board immediately answered, “How can we afford to sign him?” to which Shankly instantly retorted, “We can’t afford not to”.
A supreme player, a wonderful broadcaster and a great loss. God speed, Saint.
He indeed did kick with the right foot and good friend of Davie and Wullie White when he played with MotherwellHe was my late Grandpa's apprentice when he worked at Motherwell Bridge Work and Ravenscraig.
He was just making his way with Motherwell then.
Hopeless apprentice, but a brilliant footballer and a good Bluenose then too, according to my Grandpa.
Hope not, Greaves is still alive.Another one from my childhood gone
Hope you're up there sinking a pint with your old pal Greavsie.
RIP
Jimmy Greaves is still alive, mateAnother one from my childhood gone
Hope you're up there sinking a pint with your old pal Greavsie.
RIP
There was a clip on the news this morning of the Liverpool team of that time training and right in front of the Saint was Billy Stevenson ex Rangers which reminded me of the Scottish influence on this Liverpool team for obviously you had Bill Shankly as manager , Tommy Lawrence in goal , Ron Yeats at centre half , Billy Stevenson at left half and the Saint up front.I watched Bill Shankly’s docu-movie recently, it places a lot of emphasis on how St John was one of the main guys behind Liverpool’s revival.
Another legend of the game gone, very sad.
The Saint pretty much summed up here what it was like to be a Scotland fan -
Rest in peace Saint.
Liverpool will always be Liverpool's second side.A Liverpool legend.
He was there at the start of their revival. Maybe Shankly's greatest signing.
He was the idol of the Kop and scored a hat-trick in his first Merseyside derby.
When he signed for Liverpool they were very much the city's second side, he helped change that.
Sad day for the whole city.
80k might have been official figureTremendous player in late 50s, early 60s. Remember seeing that Motherwell team beat us 5 2 at Ibrox in Scottish Cup after we drew 2 2 at Fir park. Game was 60 years ago yesterday. 80k crowd.
The Saint and Greavsie were the 80's Football Ant and Dec..82 years old.
Always enjoyed Saint & Greavsie
Edit, Apologies for the spelling mistake in his name.