The Scotland Epistles Football Magazine

(Posted on Facebook on March 27th, 2016)

Ronnie will turn 65 today. If there’s a time to make your debut for Scotland, maybe it’s best it’s not the Managers last game in charge; just ask Bobby Watson, Joe Craig and similarly Steven Hammell, Murray Davidson, Liam Kelly and Andrew Shinnie; although in the case of the last few, it was the Manager’s first and last game in charge (Tommy Burns and Billy Stark).
This fate was also visited upon Ronnie Glavin. Ronnie was the last of five players from Partick Thistle’s 1971 League Cup winning side to be capped but would do so as a Celtic player.
It would be Willie Ormond who picked Ronnie for his one and only cap in April, 1977.
Scotland took on Sweden in a friendly at Hampden and Ronnie played the first 50 minutes before being replaced by Sandy Jardine. Scotland would win 3-1 with goals from Asa Hartford, Kenny Dalglish and scoring with his first touch and in his last game for Scotland; Joe Craig of Celtic. There was good news for one debutant that night as David Narey would win 35 caps although none would be won under Ally MacLeod, the incoming manager.
So that was it for Ronnie who would soon move to Barnsley and earn legendary status at Oakwell. Only one cap but a legend for two teams, Thistle and Barnsley, so not too shabby at all as not too many players get their own T-shirt.

Happy Birthday Ronnie Glavin