In this week’s ‘Know Your News’, the Scotland team were preparing to take on the might of World Cup champions Brazil with a training trip to Largs in 1972.

Celtic player Lou Macari, of Largs, signed the visitors’ book at the Moorburn municipal chambers along with a few famous faces in June 1972.

The Scottish international football team had been training at Largs, and were given a civic reception by Provost Dan Doris.

Provost Doris, in welcoming the team to the chambers, said that Largs was proud of its association with the Scottish team who had trained for so many years in the town. He offered good wished for the players’ success in Brazil, and said that Tommy Docherty had great responsibility in being team manager.

“But he has a good pair of shoulders that can carry it,” he added.

In reply, Tommy Docherty, said that Largs had held many happy memories for the team members and added: “The lads have worked hard, they are a good crowd,” The Scottish party left Largs for Paris, before flying direct to Rio Di Janerio. Scotland lost out 1-0 in the Brazilian Independent Cup match in front of a crowd of 130,000 at the Maracana after an 80th minute winner from Jarzinho.

More than 100 Inter Milan fans spent part of Wednesday afternoon in April 1972 in Largs before the European Cup game at Celtic Park, Glasgow. They were brought on the outing in coaches, arranged by travel agents. Rangers FC, who beat Bayern Munich at Ibrox in the European Cup semi-final, trained at Largs and stayed at the Marine and Curlinghall Hotel, while Celtic players were based at the Seamill Hydro.

It was a memorable occasion for the Italian community in Largs in the summer of 1972 as the mayor of the city of Barga, a town in Northern Italy in the province of Lucca, paid an official visit during a tour of several Scottish towns.

The ‘News’ reported: “It was not only a happy day for the Italian community; it was a day of much pleasure for many Largs people who joined in the welcome to the mayor, Signor Felice Menichini, his wife and yougng son Paulo. Five other promote citizens from Barga accompanied the mayor on his visit to Scotland.

Provost Dan Doris did Largs proud by making a 10 minute speech in Italian at a welcome civic luncheon in Nardini’s restaurant.

The committee in Scotland organising the mayor’s visit, arranged a dinner and dance in the evening, at the Moorings and this was attended by more than 300, most of them members from a wide area of the West of Scotland.

Largs Provost Dan Doris, said he believed it was the first civic welcome to Italian people in the history of Largs, yet for many years, they had been welcoming Italian people to town almost continually.

After speaking of Italy’s great contribution to the world’s culture and European civilisation, the Provost added: “Above all else, you have given us fish and chips and ice cream. For these, you have our heartful thanks.” * Anger was expressed at the poor state of the Largs-Cumbrae Sunday service in April 1972.

Baillie Miller White hit out at Largs Town Council on Monday at what he described as the ‘totally inadequate service’ provided by the controversial ferry ‘Coruisk’ He said he wanted publicly to apologise to holidaymakers who used the ferry. He spoke of the Coruisk ‘sitting at Largs’ for 35 minutes in every hour while cars built up at the Cumbrae Slip.

People at Cumbrae had the frustration of seeing the Coruisk lying at Largs because there was an hourly timetable.

The Baillie told councillors he had decided to go to Millport on Sunday and had been held up for hours at Largs and at Cumbrae Slip.

He could not understand why the Coruisk had not run a shuttle service to clear the build-up. Cars, he said, were held up for four to five hours.

Baillie White said: “I understand a shuttle service started at 6pm, but it should have started earlier in the afternoon,” said the Bailie, who likened the struggle to get on boat the ferry to a busy international football match at Hampden Park with people pushing and jostling to get home. And because of the number of cars carried by the ferry, only around 30 foot passengers were able to get space.

Baillie White declared: “This is our problem as well as Millport’s as it affects tourists coming to Largs.” There was further criticism of the quality of the ferry at a March meeting of Largs Town Council when Councillor David Beattie said that the Caledonian Steam Packet Company should buy a ‘proper ferry for the service and not run an old ‘landing barge’, and felt that the Coruisk was unsafe.

Further trouble was ahead when a new bus for Millport Motors Ltd met with a slight mishap as it was being backed on to the Coruisk at Largs on Wednesday. It slipped off the wooden ramps when some of the boarding gave way. The vehicle balanced delicately for 15 minutes while the ramp was jacked up. The bus was to link the town with the Tattie Pier ferry.

And in the sports pages, Largs Thistle FC were in mourning over the death of centre forward Ian Craig. He was killed on Saturday 30 May 1972 in a car crash while returning from the Scotland-England international.

Ian, aged 24, of Gourock, was a passenger in the car which hit a tree in Dumbreck Road, Pollokshields. Mr Wilson Dick, the club manager, said; “Ian was a loyal and good player, and his tragic death is mourned by us all.” Mr Gordon Law, former Thistle coach, said: “Ian was a player’s man, He was always getting on with thie job and making chances for his colleagues.”