Published: Tuesday, 18th March, 2008 12:00
Anarchy in the UK ... and Barrfields too!
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Thistle legends ... Pete Valerio and Crawford Boyd pick up the player of the year award from the then Thistle president on the left.
Despite the arrival of promising Dane Erik Sorenson as manager, Largs
were in the wars during 1977 following their dramatic 1-0 win over
Kilbirnie.
There were brawls on the park, the club lost one of their keepers after a freak injury while cooking dinner, and another player Martin Craig
ended up in court with a charge of assaulting a referee against
Kilbirnie! As the old phrase goes, never a dull moment with Thistle...
While many will recall that colourful character Peter ‘Chico’ Valerio
was a stylish striker, capable of scoring with both feet, he also proved
to be highly dependable as a goalkeeper! If ever there was a red card
or an injury to the goalie, the Largs DIY specialist was happy to stop
goals rather than score them.
Not only is he the longest serving player in the history of the Barrfields club, spanning the 1970s and early 80s, he netted a barrel-load into the bargain.
Following that Kilbirnie win, Largs struggled in 1-1 draw against Troon in the Whyte and Mackay Cup with Davie McFall netting and Largs drew the
replay 0-0 a week later.
The odds were stacked against Thistle in the 2nd replay as they were
without no.1 John Harkness and reserve Ronnie Johnstone failed to turn
up. Harkness had been involved in a domestic accident when he injured
his hand after his cooker blew up.
While Valerio had donned the goalkeeping gloves on several occasions,
this was the first time he had to play 90 minutes. Valerio had to
contend with a strong wind in the first half as his kick-outs kept
coming back into the Largs half.
On 30 minutes, a one-two between Craig and McIntyre resulting in a foul in the penalty box. Captain Craig netted from the spot.
Troon equalised before half-time, but in the second half the Barrfields side dominated. Brian Reid tried a 40 yarder which crashed off the crossbar while McIntyre’s 50 yarder cannoned off the Troon keeper’s chest in the galeforce winds. Largs won their second penalty of the afternoon and Craig scored from the spot to seal victory.
Thistle then fought out a 2-2 draw with Kilbirnie in a trouble-free
encounter while little midfield dynamo Jimmy Elliot put Thistle through to the last 16 of the Whyte and Mackay Cup after a memorable lob against
Blantyre Celtic.
Largs were denied victory in the last minute against Ardeer as ex-Largs striker Malky McLachlan scored an opportunist goal but Largs bounced back to form in the Scottish Cup with a 3-0 win over Dunfermline
Jubilee.
For the second week in a row, Thistle hit a second half three goal spree
to beat Saltcoats Vics 4-2 and again Valerio was back in goal after Harkness was out injured.
New signing Andy McConnachie got his debut goal for Thistle but Valerio
and defenders were out of luck as Saltcoats scored two cheap goals after
the break. However, ‘Chico’ came to the rescue to make several saves,
while Brian Reid equalised. Derek Morrison and Ritchie eased Largs to a
4-2 victory.
1977 ended in controversy though as Largs overcame Annbank 4-2 in a
bruising clash which flared into battle in the second half as players
fought, swinging punches and kicks - and club officials and supporters
ran onto the field to intervene.
The melee terminated with Thistle’s Morrison clutching a sore head and a sore heart as he was ordered off the field of play but Annbank were
fortunate to escape with only one red card after numerous fouls.
However, Largs backed Morrison after his latest misdemeanour as he left the park in bandages as both clubs lodged complaints to the SFA
criticising the refereeing.
However, Martin Craig was not so lucky in front of justices at the
district court though in a trial lasting two and a half hours involving seven witnesses including Largs and Kilbirnie representatives. He was fined £2 after being found guilty of assaulting the ref by seizing hold of his tunic but was found not guilty on charges of pushing and striking -the referee.
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Winners of the Fife yacht regatta