Peter McCloy

[Woodrow Call]

From November to March most Scottish pitches were swamps down the middle. We did play a bit of football with McLean and Jardine but big Peter took all that nonsense out the game

He could kick it for phuckin miles

 

[Rio Bear]

Was there a period when McCloy and Kennedy were rotated on a regular basis as we couldn’t decide who was our No.1? Or am I just imagining that....

 

[GEODGC]

Thinking about it, it’s actually surprising big Peter never scored at some point with that big punt. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a keeper kick a ball as far as he could.

 

[imager]

Swinging on the crossbar, shudder.

That was Stewart Kennedy.

 

[GEODGC]

That was Stewart Kennedy.

McCloy definitely swung on the crossbar in a cup final or semi.

 

[MearnsUnionist]

McCloy definitely swung on the crossbar in a cup final or semi.

1978 SC Final v Aberdeen mate.

 

[GEODGC]

1978 SC Final v Aberdeen mate.

Just looked it up myself. We won the game 2-1 but it’s an image a lot of people still associate McCloy with.

 

[Thornliebank_Bear]

 

[Marstonbear]

Was there a period when McCloy and Kennedy were rotated on a regular basis as we couldn’t decide who was our No.1? Or am I just imagining that....

They vied for the jersey but were never rotated as such. One would play then either a mistake or injury would put the other back in.

Clemence and Shilton though were rotated on a game by game basis by England boss Ron Greenwood in the late 70s/early 80s

 

[alan16]

Swinging on the crossbar, shudder.

This is my abiding memory of him, not sure whether this was a one off or a regular occurrence

 

[The Janny]

A loyal servant to the club, huge kickouts led to many a goal, barcelona for one.
One word though "penalties"

 

[flensbear]

Big peter was always a golfer youmight thinking of Forsyth,

Colin Stein I was talking about

 

[Rio Bear]

Thanks for clarifying...

They vied for the jersey but were never rotated as such. One would play then either a mistake or injury would put the other back in.

Clemence and Shilton though were rotated on a game by game basis by England boss Ron Greenwood in the late 70s/early 80s

 

[KazKoz]

There has been a few threads over the years about the best Rangers keeper/save witnessed. The best save I have seen, and and rarely mentioned, is the one McCloy made in the dying seconds against Juventus in the Stadio Communale in the European Cup 1st round !st leg in 78. It's only rarely mentioned because I think there were tv problems and may only be recalled by the band of about a thousand Bears in the stadium, of which I was one. Rangers down 1-0 to an early Paulo Virdis goal and we were hanging on under unbelievable pressure. From a corner kick a Roberto Bettega header was heading into the top corner when McCloy clawed it back from under the apex of post and crossbar and away to safety. I still remember the Juve fan I was standing next to applauding and shouting "Bravo, Bravo".
Without that save it would have been much harder to achieve one of the greatest nights I have ever witnessed at Ibrox when we beat a Juventus side, that contained nine of the eleven Italian players that reached the World Cup semi-final that year, 2-0 in the return leg.
McCloy was at his peak IMHO in the years 1972 and 73 when he was instrumental in the victory in Barcelona, and the 72/73 league season when we pushed Celtc as close as we had for a few years culminating in that great 3-2 victory in the Centenary Cup Final.
As for Scotland caps, I was at Wembley in 73 and McCloy was due to play for Scotland that day but got injured on the eve of the game and was replaced by Ally Hunter.

That’s a fairer summary. Thanks for the memories

 

[BlueHaze]

Colin Stein I was talking about

Yes I stand corrected I didn't see the post you were referring to , apologies.

 

[Weesam]

Met him at Ayr races in January - still a Big Gentleman

There were other keepers brought in to replace him but they had various issues themselves , none other than Stewart Kennedy , who became the international keeper only to have the nightmare at Wembley in the 5-1 pumping

Kennedy had good season we won the league

 

[Smiles]

Everyone has different memories and opinions. Mine is that he was easily the worst keeper in my time supporting Rangers.

 

[MearnsUnionist]

Everyone has different memories and opinions. Mine is that he was easily the worst keeper in my time supporting Rangers.

When did you start going to games mate and do you still go?

 

[The Barcelona Bear]

Tbf mate, goalkeeping has become more and more of a specialist position as the years have progressed, plus we've been blessed with outstanding keepers over the past 35 years with Woods, Goram, Klos and to a lesser extent McGregor.

Maybe fairer to compare him to Neef, Kennedy, Stewart, Latchford and other keepers of his era.

He certainly had the best career out of all keepers of his generation in Scotland.

Strangely enough these were the four that I had in mind, but you make a good point

 

[Gee]

Met him at Ayr races in January - still a Big Gentleman

There were other keepers brought in to replace him but they had various issues themselves , none other than Stewart Kennedy , who became the international keeper only to have the nightmare at Wembley in the 5-1 pumping

and the big money signing Jim Stewart who was dreadful

 

[biggee]

McCloy swung from the bar in the 1978 Scottish Cup Final. A game which we won to clinch our second treble in 3 seasons. Hardly pumped.

It was freak goal in all honesty. No one could believe it ended up in the

I was on holiday in Tenerife in the summer of 94 with family.

Was drinking in the pub across the road from the hotel when a group of lads came in. Amongst them was a young Rangers player at the time Gregg Shields, who my brother in Law and I noticed instantly and we began talking away to him.

He introduced us to his group of friends , one of which he said "and this is ***** Kennedy.... you might remember him , his dad was a goalie for Rangers"

"Not 5-1 Stewart Kennedy?" was my reply

"Every kunt says that" said the lad , who walked away and never spoke to us the rest of the holiday!!!

Kennedy was a good keeper despite the Wembley game. (Good enough to be capped ) I am struggling to think of too many poor games in a Rangers jersey.

 

[Skyy Bluenose]

I started going to the games in 1972, so saw the thick of McCloy's career. I certainly remember a few blunders, including the 78 SC Final (which we still won). We used to stand in the Enclosure, so as I sit here today, I can close my eyes and see one of those big punts skying above the height of the stands and going for miles. That's what childhoods are made of.

 

[Craigie]

Everyone has different memories and opinions. Mine is that he was easily the worst keeper in my time supporting Rangers.

Worst Rangers player is a thing I hate discussing and cringe when I see threads on here.

However to take your point specifically, yes it's your opinion, but you are wrong.

Unless you stopped supporting Rangers after McCloy left.

 

[VelvetOrange]

Ive never seen the figures but he must have more assists than any other keeper.
Big kicks were often instrumental in getting the big Gers goals eg Barcelona 72, Motherwell sc sf 76 spring to mind.
Loads of them.
Best Season was 72 - 73.
Remember when he first came to the club around March 70 , looked really dodgy! But settled down to have a great career.
Had a few crazy moments - Borussia away in 73 was mental.
Cracking big gent all the same.

 

[MearnsUnionist]

Worst Rangers player is a thing I hate discussing and cringe when I see threads on here.

However to take your point specifically, yes it's your opinion, but you are wrong.

Unless you stopped supporting Rangers after McCloy left.

Classy way to speak about a Rangers keeper who won 2 Trebles and was our keeper in our only European trophy victory.

 

[Trevor Reznick]

I was a wee bit ambivilant regarding the big gas meter, but he was a fairly consistent keeper.

He did have a mistake in him, more so towards the end of his career.

If memory serves Willie Waddell wanted to sign Keith McCrae from Motherwell and went to a 'Well game to see McCrae in the flesh. The keeper gets injured before the game/ in the warm up and the bold Peter plays and has a stormer, the rest is history.

WATP

We swopped Bobby Watson and Brian Heron for Peter. My information at the time was that Waddell wanted Bobby Clark from the Sheep but Watson being a Lanarkshire boy refused to go to Aberdeen so Waddell turned his attention to Peter.

 

[Boybloo]

to be fair i only saw the latter end of his Rangers career ... but he was murder and should have been replaced far earlier than he was

Nonsense

 

[The Goal Machine]

He had his mistakes certainly but we would not have won the centenary cup final 3-2 against Celtic, Tom Forsyth winner if Peter was not in goals v Hibs at Easter Road, 50,000 crowd winning 2-1 against Hibs who had a great team Stanton,Edwards, Cropley etc.

His greatest game I would say, we stole it because of Peter.

 

[Carltonblue]

Mind big Peter saved a penalty away to Valencia, taken by Rainer Bonhof no less! He wasn’t exactly famous for saving pens but did the biz that night. On the down side mind him dropping a cross v Porto at Ibrox at the feet of none other than Fernando Gomez, who was one of Europes top strikers at the time.

In short, never a dull moment in Euro games with Peter about. And much as I am an advocate of modern style passing football, there have been times I confess in the past few seasons when a good punt up the park would have been quite welcome!

 

[Mosset Bear]

Was there a period when McCloy and Kennedy were rotated on a regular basis as we couldn’t decide who was our No.1? Or am I just imagining that....

It's a long time ago but I was at a game at Love Street in the late seventies and I'm sure we were losing at half time. Can't remember if it was McCloy or Kennedy in goals but they were replaced for the second half. Got a feeling we drew the game. Will have to check this one out as it's driving me nuts trying to remember the details!

 

[0028]

He's probably the least respected player in our history who had over 500 appearances for the club.

Remembered far more for his mistakes than his good games (and there were too many mistakes in big games), but selected consistently by Waddell, Wallace, Greig and Wallace again. I think he might even have started a game with Walter as caretaker before Souness arrived from Italy.

He has the medals, the appearances, the European trophy and the Hall of Fame membership to show for a great Rangers career, although most fans of my age wouldn't have him anywhere near our best eleven.

Deserves to be remembered more fondly I would say.

This is probably a fair summing up.

 

[gersin008]

A big gentleman but never the best though better than Nicky Walker. Chris Woods was from a different planet when he came

 

[Rio Bear]

Only two subs back then, be very unusual to even have a keeper on the bench?

It's a long time ago but I was at a game at Love Street in the late seventies and I'm sure we were losing at half time. Can't remember if it was McCloy or Kennedy in goals but they were replaced for the second half. Got a feeling we drew the game. Will have to check this one out as it's driving me nuts trying to remember the details!

 

[Saudiger]

can someone tell me if we were ever interested in Bobby Clark the Aberdeen goalie to replace the big gas meter ?

 

[Leeonell Tidy]

I remember going up to Tannadice the Saturday after we had played Fortuna Dusseldorf in the CWC and the big man received an amazing ovation from the Bears. Sadly I remember his blunders more than his better performances, Porto & Valencia at Ibrox, swinging on the crossbar vs the sheep and a few others, I was at the Scotland v Brazil game in '73 when he had to wear the Queens Park goalies jersey which was green (Scotland were amatuerish back then as well, playing Brazil & only bring a yellow jersey for your goalkeeper!) and big DJ scored the only goal of the game, for Brazil!! the green jersey got the blame not the 2 Rangers players

 

[Drumchapel]

Never seen him in orange top until that video

 

[Alex Venters]

can someone tell me if we were ever interested in Bobby Clark the Aberdeen goalie to replace the big gas meter ?

I believe so.
Plenty of rumours linking us with a move for him.

 

[WilkinsBullet]

They vied for the jersey but were never rotated as such. One would play then either a mistake or injury would put the other back in.

Clemence and Shilton though were rotated on a game by game basis by England boss Ron Greenwood in the late 70s/early 80s

Clemence and Shilton. McCloy and Kennedy.

 

[jackstar]

My absolute goalkeeping hero when I was growing up, as others have previously said, he wasn't without his faults but as a wee lad back then I didn't care! Legend of a big guy in my eyes!

I preferred him to Stewart Kennedy, I don't know what he was like as he was coming to the end when I was becoming more interested in the game,but he doesn't come near Goram or Greegs for me.

 

[Caldow3]

It was him and Stewart Kennedy competing for the keepers shirt when I was growing up.

I never doubted big McCloy at anytime when he was our keeper.

 

[senefelder]

Plenty of games and medals, but in truth he wasn't very good. I doubt he would make my top ten I've seen at Ibrox.

 

[Stevie13000]

Swinging on the crossbar, shudder.

Aye I remember that one well .

 

[JayDee]

I reckon Peter was a better keeper than some folk gave him credit for, including some of our fans. He wasn't the flashiest keeper but was generally very effective, despite the occasional error (and which of us hasn't made the odd mistake?). Over 500 appearances for the Gers, over 200 shut-outs.

 

[instructor]

The Girvan Lighthouse had his ups and downs with us, a reasonable goalkeeper for me.

 

[No Hiding Place]

He wasn't the greatest shot stopper but commanded his area better than any Rangers goalkeeper,he could punch the ball further than some keepers can kick it and with that kick out must have had a few assists.

 

[Brant Hurley]

He's probably the least respected player in our history who had over 500 appearances for the club.

Remembered far more for his mistakes than his good games (and there were too many mistakes in big games), but selected consistently by Waddell, Wallace, Greig and Wallace again. I think he might even have started a game with Walter as caretaker before Souness arrived from Italy.

He has the medals, the appearances, the European trophy and the Hall of Fame membership to show for a great Rangers career, although most fans of my age wouldn't have him anywhere near our best eleven.

Deserves to be remembered more fondly I would say.

Admirable summary. Capable of a blunder, but long-serving, loyal & a lovely bloke.

 

[stonewall Jackson]

The Gas Meter was a competent goalkeeper who saw off multiple challenges to his position throughout his Rangers career. He was also laughably poor at times unfortunately. Bottom line he's a Gers legend despite being well down the list of Rangers goalkeepers. A nicer man you couldn't meet and a true Rangers man.

 

[Arminius]

He's probably the least respected player in our history who had over 500 appearances for the club.

Remembered far more for his mistakes than his good games (and there were too many mistakes in big games), but selected consistently by Waddell, Wallace, Greig and Wallace again. I think he might even have started a game with Walter as caretaker before Souness arrived from Italy.

He has the medals, the appearances, the European trophy and the Hall of Fame membership to show for a great Rangers career, although most fans of my age wouldn't have him anywhere near our best eleven.

Deserves to be remembered more fondly I would say.

He was actually a very solid, good keeper, as evidenced by the longevity, appearances, winners medals, Hall of Fame, etc. Consistent, without ever being absolutely brilliant.

So, it was almost certainly the consistency of his displays that kept him on various manager’s team sheets for so many years.

That said, he was capable of some crazy moments and it’s hard to expunge the image of him swinging from a Hampden crossbar as the ball looped past him into the net . Worth remembering, though, that we won a treble that day.

Anyway, hard for me to really go overboard criticising a man with so many winners medals and a part of our finest European moment.

Plus, he was always an absolute gent in the Turnberry Starters Box. Never failed to take a moment to chat with the bears teeing off at the first. A real gentleman.

 

[wee bud's pit boots]

He's probably the least respected player in our history who had over 500 appearances for the club.

Remembered far more for his mistakes than his good games (and there were too many mistakes in big games), but selected consistently by Waddell, Wallace, Greig and Wallace again. I think he might even have started a game with Walter as caretaker before Souness arrived from Italy.

He has the medals, the appearances, the European trophy and the Hall of Fame membership to show for a great Rangers career, although most fans of my age wouldn't have him anywhere near our best eleven.

Deserves to be remembered more fondly I would say.

That's a fair summation.

The big kick outs? I'm sure there will be loads but Barca 72 obviously and at Hampden v M'Well in 76 are the stand outs for me.

However, the palming the ball out from a shot straight to the feet of an inrushing forward ending in a goal for the opposition means the cons far outweigh the pros.

Apparently one of his most famous displays was in a 0-0 draw in Dusseldorf in the 2nd leg in 1979, allowing us to go through to meet Valencia.

Like Alfie Conn, I'm pretty sure the big man's old man won a SC badge for St Mirrren, which would have been 1926. Don't quote me but I think his old man might have been a goalkeeper too.

 

[wee bud's pit boots]

That was Stewart Kennedy.

McCoy swung on the crossbar in the 78 SC final. With a few minutes to go dolly's full back, Ian Ritchie, put in a speculative lob cum cross and the rest as they say is history.

Possibly Kennedy did it one time, but I don't recall that one as such, but McCloy's antics on Cup Final day made headlines.