Player Profiles
Alex (“Eck”) MacDougall – Goalkeeper – Not big for a keeper, but with amazing agility and reflexes. Broke many an opponent’s heart. After giving up football he moved south to work in England where his son Ted, born in Inverness, played for Manchester United and eventually Scotland. “Eck” and his good lady still regularly visit their home town.
Tommy Hazle – Right Back – Was noted as a “hard” man with his strength of shot, especially from a “dead” ball situation. An ex R A F man who married and settled in Inverness after the War. After leaving Clach played for Forres Mechanics with distinction for a number of seasons.
George MacKay – Left Back – Although not the most mobile of players his uncanny positional sense cut out many a pass intended for speedier wingers. One of the cleanest kickers of a football in the team. Played for Inverness Thistle pre-war. He always said that George Rodgers Snr. signed him for Clach unremembered after an evening of celebration.
Jimmy Baxter – Right Half and Captain – Captain “Courageous” was an inspirational leader for many years with Clach. Born just 100 yards from the ground and first played for the senior side as a sixteen year old. Was transferred to Glasgow Rangers along with Roddy Munro just before the War for £650. The cash was used to purchase Grant Street Park which had previously been on lease from the old Inverness Town Council. A formidable figure striking fear into his opponents with his ferocious shot and forays into their penalty areas resulted in a tally of fifteen goals. After his football career he went south to work in England for a number of years. He now lives in retirement in Ross-shire and still keeps in touch with the news of his beloved “Lilywhites”.
Roddy MacLean – Centre Half and Vice Captain – Arguably the best player to have graced Highland League football since the War. Superb in the air and a tenacious two footed tackler on the ground. Was signed by Tottenham Hotspur as a teenager before the Second World War, which interrupted a more than promising career. Said by experts that, except for the War, would eventually have played for Scotland. After hostilities he returned to Inverness and faithfully served Clach solely for many distinguished seasons until his retirement from the game.
Charlie Kane – Left Half – Another serviceman who put down roots in Inverness after the Second World War. Had played for St Mirren at one time. He was of small physique but what he lacked in stature he made up in vision. His penetrating through passes were a joy to watch and his favouring trick was “selling the dummy”. After his playing days were over he served with distinction for many seasons as a Highland League referee.
Hugh “Hodgins” MacKenzie – Outside Right – Another native born Merkincher, Hugh was an original and one of the personalities of the side. Famous for his “double shuffle”, his speciality was the back heeler. Was an enigma and often caused much frustration among his team mates. A quiet and pleasant man he collapsed and died where he would have liked, having a drink with his friends in the Clach Social Club.
Dave Siegel – Inside Right – A perfect gentleman and serving Salvation Army Officer. A classic player, superb both in the air and on the ground. In one previous season’s Highland League Cup Tie against old rivals Caley, he scored five goals with his head. However, this was to no avail as Clach lost on aggregate over two games. Unfortunately Dave lost the sight of one eye when the lace of a ball came out and struck him on the eyeball. However, he carried on playing for Clach still displaying his usual skill. He eventually finished his playing career with Inverness Thistle.
Jimmy Pines – Centre Forward – Brought up not far from the ground. Signed from Forres Mechanics at the end of the 1946-47 Season where he was their top scorer. Jimmy was of small stature. He was 5ft 7ins tall but was built like a tank. A mix-it striker who was brilliant in the air despite his height. He had neck muscles like a bull and when he headed the ball it didn’t float but bulleted home. Another asset he had was hitting balls on the turn. His workmanship was phenomenal and his tally of 58 goals was not surpassed until season 1973-1974 when Charlie Kennedy netted a spectacular 63 times. Now retired and living in Canada has been back home on a number of occasions.
Ian Bartlett – Inside Left – Another local born Invernessian. King of the dribbling. His mazy runs brought many a goal for Clach. Ian on the run with head down and shoulders hunched was his trademark. At times he tended to loose interest but he still made a big contribution to his team’s success.
Donnie MacAngus – Outside Left – The old fashioned flying winger. His flashing runs and accurate crosses brought lots of panic in opposition defences. Many a goal came from Donnie’s foray into the other team’s half. Lost regular place to Willie Jamieson after the New Year.
Willie Jamieson – Forward – Member of prominent Merkinch footballing family. Could play anywhere in the forward line. Started the season at outside right and member of Highland League Cup winning team. Lost regular spot in the side just after to “hodgins” MacKenzie. However regained his place at outside left in the second half of the season for the North of Scotland Cup victory and League Championship run in. A two footed terrier of a player. His eleven goals were a valuable contribution to Clach’s success. Left Clach three seasons later to join local rivals Caley and star at inside-right in Bobby Bolt’s great team of the fifties.
Alex “Snowball” Wemyss – Veteran forward from Clach’s pre-war Qualifying Cup and League Championship winning teams. Was still a more than useful replacement in the absence of up front regulars.
Patty Jamieson – Wing Half or Forward – Clever player but not a tenacious as his brother Willie. Made a more than capable deputy when required. Patty would never let the side down.
Tommy “Toddy” MacDonald – Wing Half – Reckoned by some to be a better player than Charlie Kane who was preferred to him on a regular basis. Could have walked into any other Highland League side. However, a Merkincher through and through he would never have considered such a move. You don’t get many like “Toddy” these days.
Jim “Peem” MacPherson – Reserve Centre Forward – Young and strong. Proven goal scorer when a member of outstanding Inverness Royal Academy team. On his three appearances scored a couple of goals. Went on to bigger things as one time Chairman of Caley and eventually the Sunday Post Highland League correspondent.
Davie Hay – Reserve Goalkeeper – Due to the outstanding form and a season free from injury by “Eck” MacDougall played only one game. Considered to be one of the best keepers in junior football.
MacGowan – Played one trial game at centre forward against Huntly at Huntly. No information on this player but was reckoned to be a national service soldier from Fort George.
Rankine and Day – Signed from Buckie Thistle at the end of the League Season. This left wing partnership only played in Clach’s Inverness Charity Cup Campaign. Both were servicemen from R N A S Lossiemouth.
Officials
Hon. President: Mr Hugh Johnstone
President: Mr Alex Lyon
Vice Presidents: Mr John G Fraser & Mr George B Rodgers
Secretary: Mr James Matheson
Treasurer: Mr Alistair Levy
Supporters Club President: Mr Robert (“Bob”) Simpson
Team Manager: Mr George B Rodgers
What more can be written about George. “Mr Clach” served the Club faithfully for well over forty years as player coach, manager, President and latterly Life Member. This is not forgetting the numerous number of hours he spent attending his beloved Clach Park.
Trainer: Mr Jimmy Davidson
Jimmy was father-in-law of Roddy MacLean, the Clach centre-half and Vice Captain. It was a tribute to him for the fitness of the Clach players resulting in an unchanged team being fielded on numerous occasions.
Clach played a total of fifty competitive games during the whole season and used only nineteen players, three playing every game and two turning out on just one occasion. The appearances of each player was as follows:
Hazle (50)
MacKay (50)
MacLean (50)
Kane (49)
Pines (49)
Siegel (49)
Baxter (48)
Bartlett (44)
MacKenzie (38)
W Jamieson (31)
MacAngus (20)
Wemyss (8)
Day (3)
MacPherson (3)
Rankine (3)
P Jamieson (2)
MacDonald (2)
Hay (1)
MacGowan (1)
They scored a total of 155 goals, including two own goals, one each from Rothes and Caley. They failed to score in only three games.
The goal scorers were:
Pines (58)
Siegel (27)
Baxter (15)
W Jamieson (11)
MacKenzie (11)
Bartlett (8)
Hazle (7)
MacAngus (5)
Day (3)
MacLean (2)
MacPherson (2)
Wemyss (2)
Kane (1)
MacDonald (1)
It is now fifty years since Clachnacuddin Football Club enjoyed their most successful season in North of Scotland Association Football. They completed a clean sweep of the North competitions in which they entered in Season 1947 – 1948. It is an appropriate time for this magnificent achievement to once again be recognised.
Of interest was the admission charges made during the season:
Highland League – Adults 1/-; Boys 6d; Stand 1/- extra
Scottish Cup – Adults 1/6; Boys 1/-; Stand (reserved) 2/6
All prices included tax.
Aftermath
The Clachnacuddin team and officials were honoured by the Supporters Club at a Dinner at the Caledonian Hotel on Wednesday evening 19th May 1948.
They were also honoured with a Civic Reception by the Inverness Town Council which was agreed to unanimously by the Council on the motion of the Dean of Guild, and future Provost, Mr W J (“Bobo”) MacKay. This was held on Friday evening 4th June 1948 in the Caledonian Hotel, Inverness.
Later in the year the players were honoured by the Club for their record breaking season at a Dinner held in Cummings Hotel, Inverness on Wednesday evening 15th December 1948. Each of the players were presented with a silver cup inscribed with their name and the five competitions which they won. Also presented were the gold Qualifying Cup Badges and Highland League Cup.
Epilogue
The following Season 1948-1949 was a big anti-climax to the golden season. In the Highland League Cup they lost to old rivals Caley in the Second Round on a 6 – 5 aggregate.
The biggest shock was in the Qualifying Cup when they lost 2 – 1 to Huntly at home in the First Round.
However, they managed to retain the North of Scotland Cup for a hat-trick of wins by defeating Elgin City 3 – 0 in the Final at Telford Street Park, Inverness.
In the Highland League Clach finished runners up to Peterhead who were clear winners by eight clear points.
END