DAVIE HAY has paid tribute to Bobby Brown, the Rangers Hall of Fame inductee and former Scotland manager, who has died at the age of 96.
Brown gave Hay his international debut when in charge of the national side, and the former Celtic full-back has never forgotten the opportunity that the former Rangers goalkeeper gave him, nor the way he treated him when he was part of his Scotland squad.
“He was always very dapper," said Hay. "He was a gentleman of the highest order.
“I’ll always be eternally grateful to him.
“My first cap was against Northern Ireland in Belfast in 1970, and we won 1-0. George Best got sent off that game for throwing mud at the referee.
“I was at right-back, but while Best was listed as outside left, he played more centrally than right up against me thankfully.
“Bobby was great with me when I came into the squad. I had broken through at Celtic at right-back.
“I remember in the Home Championship we played Wales on the Tuesday and then England a few days later, and he pushed me into midfield. We drew 0-0 before they went off to the World Cup in Mexico.
“Bobby had me in there up against Nobby Styles and the likes, it was great.
“I’ve got fond memories of him, and you always remember people who have given you an opportunity like he did with me."
The relationship between Hay and Brown may not have been quite as cordial as it was had it not been for Jock Stein's intervention before his right-back made his debut in that game in Belfast.
“Celtic played Leeds United at Hampden on the Wednesday in the semi-final of the cup, and after the game I think we had a couple of beers," Hay explained.
“I was lying in bed the next morning and big Jock phoned me and told me I was supposed to be meeting up with Scotland at the North British Hotel on Queen’s Street. Nobody had told me. I knew I had been picked for the squad, but I hadn’t been given any information.
“Big Jock told me to pack a bag and he came and got me. We just made it in time for the meet-up at 11 for the flight to Belfast.
“Because we were at Hampden for the Leeds game, the letter must have been sent to Celtic Park, and nobody had said to me I was supposed to meet up at the North British at 11 on the Thursday. There’s me lying in my scratcher and big Jock having to run me into George Square.
“Bobby was none the wiser I don’t think, because I played on the Saturday!
“He was a gentleman, a total and utter gentleman, that’s the best way to describe him."
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