Celtic v Falkirk - The Battle of Brockville Sports 1961

Most historians refer to the two Battles of Falkirk and they are well chronicled in history books.

However, there was a third battle and it is not often written about. Anyone who was at the Brockville Sports in the summer of 1961 will never forget the madness and mayhem that took place when the semi-finals of the Five-a-Side Tournament were staged.

The final score was Falkirk 4-3 Celtic. These were not the numbers of goals scored- it was the number of players left on the park at the final whistle. It was one of the most extraordinary games ever seen at the old ground and landed the players in deep trouble with the SFA who described the events as “serious”.

For those who aren’t old enough to remember the Brockville Sports, the Five-a-Side Tournament was the highlight of the day and several big- name players took part.

The games took place on the full-sized pitch and on a hot summer day were strength-sapping.

There were no substitutes and quite often an outfield player would be the keeper.

HISTORY: Volume Five of The Falkirk Bairns available for download

Falkirk faced Celtic in one of the semi-finals and the omens were not good.

Celtic were not happy about being allocated the little gym under the main stand as their changing accommodation which was “basic” to say the least.

The floor was dusty and there were no coat-pegs to hang clothes on.

Referee John Paterson from Linlithgow had only recently been appointed as a Class One referee, and showed he meant business when he booked local boy Davie Provan of Rangers and Bobby Roberts of Motherwell in an earlier game.

The referee was given the choice of the semi-finals and he chose the Falkirk- Celtic one. He must have regretted that decision.

Celtic fielded a strong side and included Pat Crerand, Billy McNeill, Jim Kennedy, Duncan MacKay as well as Mike Jackson.

Crerand, who had been sent off playing for Scotland against Czechoslovakia in the World Cup game in Bratislava in May, was first to go.

He started complaining that a Falkirk player had passed back to his keeper from within his own half.

A heated argument started with Falkirk’s Irish defender Tommy Lowry and then all hell broke loose.

Crerand said: “The scuffle was not my fault. But no doubt I’ll get the blame, as if things were not bad enough. There is nothing I can say about it.”

The Scotland star was already due to start a suspension and miss the first two League Cup games. The crowd could hardly believe their eyes, as the tackles flew in and the tension mounted. Billy McNeill claimed he had been hit by a stone thrown from behind the goal and then Mike Jackson was felled by a tackle from Tommy Lowry. The pair started to trade blows and the beleaguered official had no option but to send both players off.

The respective quotes from the offending players are interesting.

Mike Jackson said: “I was tackled and brought down by a Falkirk player. As I got up we clashed. I had to defend myself. Both the other player and myself were ordered to the pavilion. He was cheered all the way. I got the cat-calls.” He knew he was in big trouble with the SFA panel, as he had been caught playing in unauthorised football in Spain.

Tommy Lowry had only re-signed for The Bairns on the day before and said: “It was quite a re-signing celebration wasn’t it? But what would you have done? I had to defend myself. I don’t know what steps the club will be taking as a result of this. None of the officials mentioned it to me afterwards.

The referee, subject to the all too familiar SFA gagging edicts, said: “I’m not allowed to talk about any incident. But it was a stormy baptism in the Senior Grade.”

Celtic’s only official at the tournament was trainer Bob Rooney and he certainly had more than enough to report on when he reported for duty at Parkhead on the following Monday morning. The implications for Celtic were considerable. McNeill and Jackson were already in trouble for their Spanish adventures and Crerand was already banned for two games. Duncan MacKay had already handed in a transfer request before the events in Falkirk.

Falkirk faced Motherwell in the final of the tournament and lost 3-1.

The eventual disciplinary punishments were meted out by the SFA and Crerand was fined £75, while Jackson and Lowry were each fined £30.

HISTORY: Volume Five of The Falkirk Bairns available for download