Motherwell beat Swedes at Fir Park - 53 years ago!

That game was not the first under the lights in season 1958/9.  Towards the end of October Motherwell had trounced a decent Leeds side (Charlton at centre half) 7-0.  Those of a certain age will remember fondly the goalscorers:- Quinn, Weir (2), Reid, St John (2) and Hunter.

The Swedes had beaten Hearts 2-0 at Tynecastle the week before and manager Ancell and chairman Muirhead were in Edinburgh to meet the Djurgården officials and confirm arrangements for the game the following Monday.  Over 16,000 turned out to see the our young team face the first foreign opposition to visit Motherwell and, although the game was not a thriller, they left happy enough at the result.

Despite the loss of a few players because of international duties Ancell’s team won the match 2-1.  The visitors had the best of the first half and were unfortunate to have secured only a one goal lead.  We got into our rhythm in the second period and raised the pace.  A characteristic of that famous era was the speed and passing that we displayed.  It was not a big team and it relied on players such as Pat Quinn to deliver the ball with pin point accuracy to an impressive array of forwards.

St John scored the equaliser when he pounced of the rebound from a Forrest shot and the winner came after a McSeveney run down the touchline was followed by a cross to Weir.  The winger’s powerful header sealed the match.

That game was the first of several floodlit friendlies over the next few years.  Others in the series include:-

Opportunities to see teams outside our own leagues were very limited in the late 50s and early 60s and the supporters filled the old terraces.  Over 25,000 saw the 9-2 dismantling of Flamengo.  The advent of televised games and sky high gate prices have ensured that attendances of that order for friendly matches can only be found in the history books.