Former Players Welcomed Back to Club

The club had great pleasure in welcoming 5 former players back to the club at our game against East Fife last Saturday.

The five players concerned are pictured above from left to right, Archie Rose, Ray Dunlop, Marty Boyle Billy Henderson and Billy Murdoch, who between them had played in more than Eight Hundred 1^st team appearances for the club.

The players had the following careers with the club;-

Archie Rose (Defender) – Played 365, 1^st team league games for us as well as numerous Cup appearances, having signed from the prominent West of Scotland U21 team, Campsie Black Watch, in 1969. Archie had 2 spells with the club during his playing career being transferred to Falkirk in 1980 and then again in 1981-82.

Archie went on to become the club manager in 1984 before joining St Mirren in 1987 as Reserve team manager.

Billy Henderson (Defender) – Signed from Kilmarnock and played 56, 1^st Team games between 1971-74.

Billy came back to the club in 1984 as Archie's 1^st Team coach before being appointed manager in 1987 on Archie’s departure.

Billy is now actively involved with the Scottish Schools FA National Teams at  U15 & U 18 levels.

Billy Murdoch (Midfielder) – Signed from Bristol City in 1970 and made 161 1^st team appearances in 2 spells with the club between 1970-76 when he was transferred to Kilmarnock and then again in 1980-81.

Billy is the brother of Celtic legend Bobby Murdoch.

Marty Boyle (Striker) – Also signed for us from Campsie Black Watch in 1969 and made 117 1^st Team appearances before being transferred to Raith Rovers in 1974.

Ray Dunlop (Goalkeeper) – Signed from Yoker Athletic in 1972 and played 139 1^st team games before being transferred to Hearts in 1977.

Ray was transferred to Hearts in 1977 for a £10,000 transfer fee, which at that time was a huge transfer fee for the club, in today’s terms it is reckoned it would be in the region of £70/90,000.

Archie, both Billys and Marty played in one of the most historic Warriors victories of all times when the club beat the then current European Cup Winners Cup holders, the mighty Glasgow Rangers by a 2-1 score line at Ibrox Park on 4^th October 1972, which was the only time we had ever beaten them.

Honorary Club President, Donald Smillie, hosted the guest table and Archie thanked him for looking after them, saying he was brilliant and we all had a great laugh reminiscing and telling our old stories.

He went on to say that all agreed that although they all ultimately went to other clubs after the warriors, either by being transferred or freed, that their happiest and most enjoyable times were at Ochilview and as well as being in a not bad team they all appreciated the hard work and friendliness that went on behind the scenes and Saturday's result was icing on the cake.