by Alex Gordon
Without a trace of bitterness, Law added, ‘In a way, it’s good to reach the bottom as well as hit the top. During my bad spell I found out who were my friends in football as well as outside.’
Gordon Banks, so often a foe at club and country level, observed at the time, ‘Denis has done remarkably well for a player, who, according to some people, was finished two years ago. He is an outstanding striker, one of the fastest movers over a short distance, and is constantly looking for mistakes. If a defender slips up, Denis is the first to go for the ball. He senses danger and he’s in there looking for a goal. He’s a constant menace and he is just as deadly with his head and feet as ever he was.
‘Perhaps he doesn’t mix it quite the same as far as bodily contact is concerned, but that takes nothing away from his undoubted skill. He can still strike a ball hard and still get up with the best of them in a crowded penalty area. He doesn’t go chasing from man to man like he used to do. He sizes up situations, but you know he will still be right in there if a chance is presented.’
Denis, as ever, had come up with the answers. It was dangerous to write off this man.
Chapter Seventeen
RETURN OF THE KING
Denis Law played only six games for Scotland in the years spanning 1967 to 1972. ‘It was a thin time for me,’ he admitted with masterly understatement. A persistent knee injury, an unexpected collapse in form and a perplexing loss of confidence hindered Law’s progress. In all, he sat out 25 international contests during that bleak period.
Tommy Docherty, who had replaced Bobby Brown as Scotland manager, brought the player back for a friendly match against Peru at Hampden on 26 April 1972. Remarkably, Law would play for his country seven times over the next three months and would miss only two games that year – the back-to-back World Cup victories over Denmark in October and November. He was removed from the international scene for the first six matches in 1973 before his astounding and victorious return against Czechoslovakia at Hampden on 26 September. It wasn’t easy keeping Denis Law out of the limelight.
Preparing for his fourth game in charge of his country, The Doc had been suitably impressed by Law’s club form to not only bring him back from the international wilderness but to also make him captain against Peru. Denis was one of nine Anglo-Scots in the team, with only Celtic goalkeeper Ally Hunter and Hibs right-back John Brownlie making their living in Scotland. The Scots boss was never one to be too bothered about public outcries and those who continually demanded that Home Scots only should be selected were wasting their time in voicing their outdated opinions. Some Anglos were almost portrayed as traitors for taking their skills outside the nation of their birth. And, just to stir up things even more, Docherty, planning for his first game as a manager at international level, brought in Chesterfield-born Bob Wilson for his debut against Portugal in a European Championship tie at Hampden on 13 October 1971. ‘If he’s good enough for Arsenal, then he is good enough for Scotland,’ was Doc’s thoughts.
So, in came Law against the Peruvians, welcomed back to the fold by a crowd of just over 21,000. He was returning as captain, too, the fifth time he had led his country. The other four occasions were split equally in 1963 – a 1-0 loss against the Republic of Ireland and a 6-2 win over Spain in Madrid – and the following year, a 3-2 defeat to Wales in Cardiff and a 3-1 victory over Finland at Hampden. Docherty put out this side: Ally Hunter (Celtic); John Brownlie (Hibs), Eddie Colquhoun (Sheffield United), Bobby Moncur (Newcastle United), Willie Donachie (Manchester City); Willie Morgan (Manchester United), Willie Carr (Coventry City), Asa Hartford (West Brom), Archie Gemmill (Derby County); John O’Hare (Derby County) and Denis Law (Manchester United).
There were suggestions that Law had been selected to add a bit of glamour and sell some tickets for a fixture that was being played at the end of a season and held little appeal. The Doc’s response? ‘Rubbish.’ Law was in on merit. The South Americans had reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Mexico two years earlier before losing 4-2 to eventual winners Brazil. In Glasgow, they paraded the likes of Teofilio Cubillas, Hugo Sotil, Juan Munante, Rodolfo Manzo, Jose Velazquez and Percy Rojas. Six years later, the same players were on show again in one of Scotland’s darkest days – the 3-1 defeat in their first game of the World Cup Finals in Argentina 1978. Who could ever obliterate from their memory bank Cubillas rifling two long-range rockets behind Alan Rough within six second-half minutes to seal the Scots’ fate? Denis Law was there to witness the downfall of his nation, working as a broadcaster with the BBC. He spent more time in Argentina than the Scottish team as he also took in the final, the host nation’s 3-1 extra-time victory over Holland.
Back in 1972, though, Law was sharply focused on events on the field and saw the bustling John O’Hare put Scotland ahead shortly after the turnaround when he touched in a free-kick from Willie Morgan. The Manchester United man, revelling in his return, had the final say with a second goal in 65 minutes. Tommy Docherty declared himself ‘more than satisfied’ and began making preparations for the upcoming Home International encounter against Northern Ireland at Hampden the following month. Scotland won 2-0 and it was memorable for one reason; Denis Law netted his 30th – and final – goal for his country. There was never any doubt about Law playing against the Irish after facing Peru with renewed vigour. The swagger was back; and it was good to see.
Law’s good friend George Best had gone AWOL – again! – and Northern Ireland were denied his marvellous skills in Glasgow. However, they still possessed a twin threat up front in Willie Irvine and the crafty Derek Dougan. Docherty, mindful that Scotland would play Wales and England over the next eight days before embarking on a three-match trip to Brazil, wanted to use as many of his squad as possible to keep them tuned up. Into the team against the Irish came Aberdeen goalkeeper Bobby Clark, Celtic pair Billy McNeill and Jimmy Johnstone, Arsenal’s elegant midfielder George Graham and Billy Bremner, the Leeds United dynamo taking the captain’s armband from Law. The Northern Irish either retreated into defence right from the off or they were forced back by Scottish attacking aggression, but they seemed content to have nine men behind the ball with only Irvine and Dougan foraging for scraps in enemy territory. Denis Law was an admitted fan of goalkeeper Pat Jennings – ‘a man with hands as big as dinner plates’ – and the Northern Irish No. 1 was in fine form in Glasgow. It was heading for a scoreless stalemate until Law struck with only four minutes remaining.
As you might expect from Denis Law, it was something special, another defining moment. It was a goal that was a compelling combination of everything Law was renowned for in the game; speed of thought, breathtaking mobility, electric reflexes, athletic prowess and devastating accuracy. The visitors failed to clear a corner-kick. Jennings was out of position, but David Clements, the Northern Ireland defender, was on the goal-line. The ball dropped awkwardly to Law, about hip level. No problem. He launched himself into the air, was virtually horizontal when he caught the ball perfectly and his effort soared high into the net. The arm, once more, was characteristically thrust towards the heavens, the cuff tightly clenched while the Scottish fans saluted the legend. No-one could have thought at the time that they would never again witness the famous Denis Law goal celebration in the dark blue of his country. However, once more Law had reached a milestone in style. That was the end of the Irish resistance and Peter Lorimer, a substitute for Jimmy Johnstone just after the hour mark, slammed in a second.
Next up was Wales for Hampden’s third international inside four weeks and once again Tommy Docherty shuffled the pack with Hibs skipper Pat Stanton coming into the defence alongside Celtic’s Billy McNeill, Newcastle United’s Bobby Moncur and Martin Buchan, the composed Manchester United defender. Tony Green, of Newcastle, took Asa Hartford’s midfield berth and there was a starting place for Peter Lorimer. The Doc, for the third successive game, went with the forward line pairing of John O’Hare and Denis Law. Lorimer and Green combined in the 72nd minute to fashion the game’s only g
oal. The Leeds United forward strode forward purposefully to thunder another of his specials behind his Elland Road teammate Gary Sprake. Three games, five goals scored and none conceded. The run came to a halt when Alan Ball squeezed a 28th-minute shot under Bobby Clark to give England a 1-0 win at Hampden three days later. That encounter is covered in more detail in another chapter.
Denis Law and his international teammates were allowed to spend some time with their families during the brief summer interlude, but they were all back in place again by the time the Brazil Independence Cup kicked off in Belo Horizonte on 29 June. A disappointing crowd of only 4,000 bothered to attend at the Estadio Mineiro for the game against Yugoslavia which was a pity because they missed a stirring, rousing confrontation. Law started alongside Celtic’s pint-sized predator Lou Macari who would later become a teammate at Manchester United, bought for £200,000 by Tommy Docherty, an obvious admirer of the player. The Doc sprung a surprise by giving Partick Thistle defender Alex Forsyth his first cap. John Hansen, brother of Alan, also made his international debut, coming on for Firhill teammate Forsyth at the start of the second-half. In searing temperatures of 80 degrees, Macari enhanced his growing reputation by turning in a cross from Willie Morgan in the 40th minute. Dusan Bajevic equalised just after the hour, but Macari responded immediately by giving the Scots the advantage again, once more set up by Morgan. It seemed as though Manchester United winger Morgan could do no wrong, but he slipped up in the 77th minute when he missed a penalty-kick. Yugoslavia took full advantage with the leveller from substitute Jure Jerkovic near the end.
Law lasted 76 minutes in uncomfortable conditions before being replaced by Jimmy Bone and would play 78 minutes in the next match, a goalless draw with Czechoslovakia in Porto Alegre watched by a crowd of 15,000. Law, substituted by Colin Stein, had started the match up front alongside Macari and it was a pairing that more than satisfied the manager. ‘They dovetail perfectly. They are a good mix, they both put a lot of energy into their game and there are goals in them, too.’ The next game was the one in which everyone wanted to be involved; Brazil in the Maracana, the massive grey bowl of a stadium in Rio de Janeiro. A crowd of 130,000 was there to witness the action on 5 July. Scotland were earning good reviews in South America and were undoubtedly making friends with their enterprising, entertaining style of play.
The Brazilians had Jairzinho, who had scored in every round of the 1970 World Cup Finals, leading the attack, abandoning his more orthodox outside-right role, and also gave starts to Roberto Rivelino, Hercules Brito, Clodoaldo, Gerson and Tostao, five of the team that beat Italy 4-1 to claim the trophy in Mexico. Law and Macari were once again the double spearhead with Aberdeen’s Bobby Clark preferred to Ally Hunter in goal for the second successive game. Alex Forsyth, Eddie Colquhoun, Martin Buchan and Willie Donachie made up the back four with a midfield of Willie Morgan, Billy Bremner, George Graham and Asa Hartford backing up Law and Macari. Everything was going according to plan, but Jairzinho spoiled the party ten minutes from the end with the game’s solitary goal. The Doc was far from despondent. ‘We came to put on a show and I think we managed that. I am so proud of the boys, they were a credit to their country. There wasn’t a failure in sight and everyone played their part.’
The Brazilian press again marvelled at the Scots and quizzed if Denis Law was really 32 years old such was the impact he had made in the mini-tournament. The South American hacks rated Law as ‘a phenomenon’ and Docherty as ‘a master strategist’. They also acclaimed Partick Thistle full-back Alex Forsyth who, oddly, would only win another seven caps. Like Macari, he had done well enough to be noted by the manager and he was also snapped up for Manchester United once Docherty had quit the international post.
Law had been hugely impressed, too, by the din created throughout by the colourful, drum-beating, samba-dancing fans inside the Maracana, but, although he didn’t realise it, that carnival atmosphere would be eclipsed by a Hampden crowd on 26 September the following year.
Chapter Eighteen
NINE AND OUT
Dear old Hugh Taylor, chief sportswriter and a splendid colleague for over a decade at the Daily Record, wrote in his Scottish Football Book No. 18 about the 1972 Scotland v. England encounter at Hampden. The doyen of the written word was far from impressed with what had been on show in Denis Law’s ninth and last head-to-head with the Auld Enemy. Denis was hailed, but the confrontation of the oldest enemies in world football did little to ignite the imagination of my old journalist friend.
Hugh wrote: ‘It was to have been the day of Scottish national rejoicing – the day of triumph over England, our oldest rivals. Hopes had seldom been higher than on the windy afternoon of 27 May 1972. As the 119,325 spectators filed into Hampden they felt disasters in the past were over. They considered the new spirit and confidence of the boys in blue would bring an epic victory.
‘With the advent of Tommy Docherty as team manager, there was great enthusiasm. Scotland had beaten Northern Ireland and Wales and needed only a point to win the Home International Championship. England had faltered, losing at their own Wembley to little Ireland. The scent of victory was in the air.
‘Alas, for the high hopes. Alas, for British football.
‘The international of 1972 between Scotland and England was a disgrace, a blot on football and the season ended in one of the most unpleasant matches between the two countries, with a snarl and a scowl and a bitter clash. Everything went wrong for Scotland – and it was a pity red-shirted Italian referee Sergio Gonella was so lenient. We all knew it would be a tough game – but little did we think it would turn into a battle.
‘The teams were: Scotland: Clark (Aberdeen); Brownlie (Hibernian), Donachie (Manchester City); Bremner (Leeds United capt), McNeill (Celtic), Moncur (Newcastle United); Lorimer (Leeds), Gemmill (Derby County), Macari (Celtic), Law (Manchester United) and Hartford (West Bromwich Albion).
‘England: Banks (Stoke City); Madeley (Leeds), Hughes (Liverpool); Storey (Arsenal), McFarland (Derby County), Hunter (Leeds), Moore (West Ham capt); Ball (Arsenal), Bell (Manchester City), Chivers (Tottenham Hotspur) and Marsh (Manchester City).
‘Hardly had the match begun on a dreadful day for football, with the violent wind starching the flags to the poles, than the martial arts began and high tackles, wild kicks and brutal charges were taken as a matter of course. Who was to blame? Undoubtedly England took a psychological advantage. They knew the Scottish temperament – and its failings. They felt that the menace of husky destroyers like Peter Storey and Norman Hunter would provoke the Scots, fiery bantam cocks, into retaliation. That is what happened. So no-one took credit.
‘Scotland started promisingly enough. In the third minute John Brownlie, a magnificent young back, surprised even the redoubtable Gordon Banks with a high, dropping shot from the wing and the Scots claimed the ball was over the line as the keeper grasped it above his head.
‘Then the kicking started and the game became disgracefully physical. Roy McFarland fouled the volatile Denis Law – and was then punched on the jaw. Hunter kicked Brownlie, Storey had a swing at Billy Bremner, Alan Ball felled Bremner from behind. And these were merely the principal fouls in a period of violence that had no place on any football field, far less an international arena.
‘Three players were cautioned, England’s Ball and Scotland’s Billy McNeill and Asa Hartford. Matters became so bad that referee Gonella called the two captains together and asked them to calm their men. It made no difference. It took nearly 25 minutes for the Hampden fans to see a real soccer move and that was when Storey kicked a Hartford shot off the line that had been deflected by Bremner and deceived Banks. Scotland were on top, but were cynically stopped by sheer strength and they were spiteful in retaliation, although it was a case almost of boys against men.
‘Scotland, however, played neat, constructive football and Banks blocked a Peter Lorimer effort. Then, in almost complete silence, England scored against the run of play – a goal, in the words of sad Tommy
Docherty, like something out of Comic Cuts. A bad pass from Bremner was intercepted by Ball and he and the massive Martin Chivers combined well deep into the Scotland penalty area. Ball’s final prod sent the ball under Bobby Clark’s diving body and it rolled slowly over the line, with a posse of blue-clad defenders trying vainly to stop it.
‘Still the violence went on and there was a tackle on little Lou Macari which left the Celtic striker with his torn jersey flapping round his neck. Now there was unease in the Scotland defence and Colin Bell, the best player on the field, had bad luck with a superb shot which shaved the outside of the post. Some of the poison drained out of the game in the second-half, with England much less violent, but the polluting effect of their earlier fouls were felt until the end. Play was much better, with England the more organised side. Yet Scotland went near in an exciting spell, with the irrepressible Denis Law and Macari stirring up the action.
‘A great tackle by McFarland on Law saved a goal. Macari crossed from the left and a careful Law header was stopped by Emlyn Hughes on the line. Banks hurt a hand as Hartford charged in. Jinky Jimmy Johnstone was brought on for Archie Gemmill, but it was too late and the Celt, who can be so brilliant, did not sparkle. Fifteen minutes from time manager Docherty made another change, taking off the clever left-back Willie Donachie and bringing on Tony Green.
‘This enabled Scotland to build neater play in the midfield, but the strong England defence held out. Sir Alf Ramsey took off Rodney Marsh and substituted Malcolm Macdonald and near the end England almost scored again when Chivers, showing his massive authority, flicked a header just past the Scottish post. Unfortunately, the game ended as unhappily as it began, with the petulant Ball giving a two-fingered gesture to the Scottish fans as he walked off the pitch.