A Statue For Hampden

[the Sunnylaw Jag]

With Scotland playing the USA in rugby tomorrow, there's been quite a few shots of Billy Bremner's statue at Elland Road on the tv in the past couple of days. It reminded me of an article I wrote for the Scotland Epistles Facebook page and I thought I would post it here. Who would you choose for a statue though?

A Statue for Hampden

Going to Hampden for a Scotland match should be a pilgrimage in a way, whether you’re travelling 500 miles or like me 500 yards. There should be a sense of the occasion, a sense of history and the shared legacy of it.

At Celtic Park, there’s quite a few statues including Jimmy Johnstone, Jock Stein and the newly unveiled Billy McNeill. I imagine quite a few Celtic fans take their sons, grandsons etc. and show them the statues before the game and tell tales of days gone past. I’m sure others do likewise with John Greig’s one at Ibrox and indeed Billy Bremner’s down at Elland Road, home of Leeds United. Although, I was in Barrow-In-Furness once and saw Emlyn Hughes’ statue and just thought “ Aye, yer still a dick.”

So what do we have at Hampden? Nothing, not a sausage, although I do admit to liking the big pictures on the concourse walls, although I was a bit confused when I was at the Gibraltar game to see two of what looked like a Peru goal from Argentina on show. However, we don’t have that icon that we can say to our sons etc. “Aye, he was a great player” to. Isn’t about time we did though?

So who could we have? Well, Denis Law is probably the most likely, in that one arm raised salute holding his collar by the cuff pose. I suppose we could have Billy Bremner in that iconic moment when he has just missed the opportunity to score against Brazil with his hands to his head. Or what about Jim Baxter playing keepy uppy at Wembley. Then there’s Archie Gemmil’s nonchalant pumped fist in the air when he has scored the greatest goal ever, ever.

Then there’s also WGS in Mexico ’86 when he pretends to jump the barrier. Or in the modern era what about James McFadden as he has just hit the trigger to score that great goal in France. Joe Jordan with his teeth out is always a classic pose.

Given our penchant for shooting ourselves in the foot, maybe one or two showing our less celebrated moments could be apt. What about Jinky on a rowing boat or even Jinky given the two fingers up to the press a couple of days after the boat incident. Chris Iwelumo missing against Norway. Alan Rough, Asa Hartford et al with perms! Barry Ferguson rubbing two fingers against his nose at Hampden after Boozegate. Willie Johnston holding out two pep pills.

Maybe we could have a surreal faceless Ally McLeod holding two Janus masks, one his happy ebullient self and the other that face of abject misery in Argentina where he seemed to age years in minutes.

Or what about a dedication to the Tartan Army with three foot soldiers in regalia, arms around each other with the two outer characters arms also out, so we can pose either side and have our photos taken. Of course they could all have sporrans to drop money into and raise funds for the Tartan Army Sunshine Appeal.

It goes without saying that about ten yards away there should be a lonely anorak reading his programme and I’m sure Robert Marshall would volunteer to model for it. It would also make an apt place for us to sell the Epistles magazine, rather than saying we will be on Somerville Drive selling the magazine, we can say, buy from the anorak at the Anorak.

It goes without saying that as long as it’s not Rod Stewart; badly done like that Michael Jackson one at Fulham, a few years back.

At the very least let’s have some of the stands named after some of our greatest players, that way I won’t get East and West mixed up with North and South.

[redstevie007]

I think it would be wrong to place one individual above others. A series of statues around the ground maybe? Stein, Dalglish, Law etc.

[bonzo]

I think it would be wrong to place one individual above others. A series of statues around the ground maybe? Stein, Dalglish, Law etc.

can you honestly see the Sfa forking oot fur a series o statues? You know their tighter than 2 coats o paint

[TA Sunshine Appeal]

With Scotland playing the USA in rugby tomorrow, there's been quite a few shots of Billy Bremner's statue at Elland Road on the tv in the past couple of days. It reminded me of an article I wrote for the Scotland Epistles Facebook page and I thought I would post it here. Who would you choose for a statue though?

A Statue for Hampden

Going to Hampden for a Scotland match should be a pilgrimage in a way, whether youre travelling 500 miles or like me 500 yards. There should be a sense of the occasion, a sense of history and the shared legacy of it.

At Celtic Park, theres quite a few statues including Jimmy Johnstone, Jock Stein and the newly unveiled Billy McNeill. I imagine quite a few Celtic fans take their sons, grandsons etc. and show them the statues before the game and tell tales of days gone past. Im sure others do likewise with John Greigs one at Ibrox and indeed Billy Bremners down at Elland Road, home of Leeds United. Although, I was in Barrow-In-Furness once and saw Emlyn Hughes statue and just thought Aye, yer still a dick.

So what do we have at Hampden? Nothing, not a sausage, although I do admit to liking the big pictures on the concourse walls, although I was a bit confused when I was at the Gibraltar game to see two of what looked like a Peru goal from Argentina on show. However, we dont have that icon that we can say to our sons etc. Aye, he was a great player to. Isnt about time we did though?

So who could we have? Well, Denis Law is probably the most likely, in that one arm raised salute holding his collar by the cuff pose. I suppose we could have Billy Bremner in that iconic moment when he has just missed the opportunity to score against Brazil with his hands to his head. Or what about Jim Baxter playing keepy uppy at Wembley. Then theres Archie Gemmils nonchalant pumped fist in the air when he has scored the greatest goal ever, ever.

Then theres also WGS in Mexico 86 when he pretends to jump the barrier. Or in the modern era what about James McFadden as he has just hit the trigger to score that great goal in France. Joe Jordan with his teeth out is always a classic pose.

Given our penchant for shooting ourselves in the foot, maybe one or two showing our less celebrated moments could be apt. What about Jinky on a rowing boat or even Jinky given the two fingers up to the press a couple of days after the boat incident. Chris Iwelumo missing against Norway. Alan Rough, Asa Hartford et al with perms! Barry Ferguson rubbing two fingers against his nose at Hampden after Boozegate. Willie Johnston holding out two pep pills.

Maybe we could have a surreal faceless Ally McLeod holding two Janus masks, one his happy ebullient self and the other that face of abject misery in Argentina where he seemed to age years in minutes.

Or what about a dedication to the Tartan Army with three foot soldiers in regalia, arms around each other with the two outer characters arms also out, so we can pose either side and have our photos taken. Of course they could all have sporrans to drop money into and raise funds for the Tartan Army Sunshine Appeal.

It goes without saying that about ten yards away there should be a lonely anorak reading his programme and Im sure Robert Marshall would volunteer to model for it. It would also make an apt place for us to sell the Epistles magazine, rather than saying we will be on Somerville Drive selling the magazine, we can say, buy from the anorak at the Anorak.

It goes without saying that as long as its not Rod Stewart; badly done like that Michael Jackson one at Fulham, a few years back.

At the very least lets have some of the stands named after some of our greatest players, that way I wont get East and West mixed up with North and South.

Many thanks for thinking of the Sunshine Appeal!

[fringo]

Dalglish

[Bino's]

William Wallace

[JECK]

Craigie Broon

[ErsatzThistle]

Alec Cheyne, who's last minute equaliser in 1929 against England is said to have invented the "Hampden Roar".

Otherwise Stevie Crawford or Robbie Stockdale.

[Chico]

[Kirk]

Faddys goal in paris. Perfect for a statue.

[Robroysboy]

Faddys goal in paris. Perfect for a statue.

seconded

[jock strap]

A caption moment if ever there was !

[Guest allyc]

Oor willie.

[Ally Bongo]

Stewart Regan

[Chico]

A caption moment if ever there was !

I believe the popular meme was, "I'll put you on so the fans can boo you." "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO....."

I can't thinking of a more fitting tribute to Mr Levein's reign.

P.S. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[Chico]

seconded

In all seriousness, in my time this is the only option.

Edited to say, it's actually a flipping brilliant photae. So much sexy.

Edited September 27, 2015 by Chico

[Graham of Montrose]

We've already got one. Unfortunately, it's on the pitch.

Stephen Fletcher.

[Return of Yermaw]

We might be able to get a Michael Jackson one from Fulham for a good price.

[bonzo]

I believe the popular meme was, "I'll put you on so the fans can boo you." "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO....."

I can't thinking of a more fitting tribute to Mr Levein's reign.

P.S. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

??

[ByronLoon1986]

I'd have a statue of Diego Maradona's hand of God outside the west stand!

And make it the size of the Wallace monument!!

[Flora MaDonald]

Scunnered.

[Kirk]

seconded

Perfect

[The Black Bra]

As brilliant as it was, McFadden's goal in Paris ultimately didn't lead to anything. A typical glorious failure. Unfortunate same goes for Gemmill against Holland.

Statue would have to be Law (top scorer, our only European Footballer Of The Year (I think?))

Or Dalgleish (joint top scorer & only 100 cap man).

Who's that in the photo with levein, Ian Black?

[scoobydoo]

Danny McGrain.

[Pete Gas]

Davie Weir holding the Kirin Cup.