Part/Time Supporter
09-05-2012, 07:11 PM
Furious Love St Legends blast Clark claims
SAINTS legend Frank McGarvey last night blasted former Hearts striker Sandy Clark over accusations in a new book which claims the Buddies deliberately handed the 1986 league title to Celtic.
Clark has opened 26-year-old wounds by accusing St Mirren players of taking it easy against the Hoops in their final league match of that nail-biting campaign. Back on May 3, 1986, the Jambos only needed a draw against Dundee at Dens Park to clinch their first league title in more than 25 years. However, Albert Kidd’s double saw Hearts collapse to a 2-0 defeat and Celtic then claimed the crown, thanks to a thumping 5-0 win over Saints at Love Street.
Now Clark has published an autobiography in which he claims a member of the St Mirren squad agreed that some of his team-mates were “not exactly good professionals” when they ran out against the Hoops. The former Jambo added: “They were happy to see Celtic win the league.”
However, that has sparked a furious reaction from McGarvey, who played for Saints in that title-decider. And he revealed that, just days after the match, a disgruntled Hearts fan sent him a package containing EXCREMENT as the row rumbled on. McGarvey told Express Sports: “Sandy Clark ought to be ashamed of himself. “I was desperate to do well in that game. “We were on a big bonus to win, so there was a lot at stake for us too. We went out that day and played the best we could. “The Tuesday after the game, I was sent a letter from a Hearts fan with something unpleasant inside the envelope.” He added: “Hearts had it in their own hands that day. They bottled it – plain and simple.”
http://www.paisleydailyexpress.co.uk/renfrewshire-sport/renfrewshire-football/renfrewshire-football-st-mirren/2012/05/09/furious-love-st-legends-blast-clark-claims-87085-30926433/
McGarvey wants clarity on Clark comments
Frank McGarvey has called on Sandy Clark to name the St Mirren source who claimed that some Buddies players had "not exactly been good professionals" when they lost 5-0 at home to Celtic to allow the Hoops to pip Hearts to the Premier Division title in 1986.
Going into their final game of the season against Dundee at Dens Park, the Tynecastle side were two points clear of Celtic with a four-goal advantage and it looked like the championship was heading to Gorgie.
However, in an unforgettable day of high drama, Hearts crashed to a 2-0 defeat as Celtic romped to victory in Paisley against a Saints side who had ex-Celtic striker McGarvey leading the line.
Former Gorgie hit-man Clark, in an extract from his book currently being serialised in a national newspaper, said: "I have spoken to one of St Mirren's players from that day. I know he gave it his all but he confirmed to me there were some of his team-mates who had not exactly been good professionals that day.
"They were happy to see Celtic win the league. I'm not saying anyone went out to throw the game but when the news filtered through Dundee were winning I think there was less and less resistance in certain areas of the pitch."
McGarvey is well aware that Clark's comments will point people in his direction and indeed he has spent the last 26 years intermittently fending off criticism from still-angry Jambos fans.
He told Press Association Sport: "If Sandy can't name his source then his comments have no credibility. They have no credibility anyway. It is a load of nonsense. It is just making excuses. I have had stick for years from Hearts fans and I always say the same thing - why blame St Mirren?
"If Hearts had won or even drawn against a mid-table Dundee side then it didn't matter what happened in our game, Hearts would have won the league. Maybe Sandy should look at his own performance that day.
"Celtic were a much better team than St Mirren and there was no surprise that they beat us and has been shown over the years, when the Old Firm have had to score goals to win league titles they have scored goals.
"But, I say again, it was all in Hearts' hands that day. The question that should be asked is, did their players bottle it? I think football fans know the answer."
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/07052012/63/mcgarvey-wants-clarity-clark-comments.html
:greengrin
Still hurting.
SAINTS legend Frank McGarvey last night blasted former Hearts striker Sandy Clark over accusations in a new book which claims the Buddies deliberately handed the 1986 league title to Celtic.
Clark has opened 26-year-old wounds by accusing St Mirren players of taking it easy against the Hoops in their final league match of that nail-biting campaign. Back on May 3, 1986, the Jambos only needed a draw against Dundee at Dens Park to clinch their first league title in more than 25 years. However, Albert Kidd’s double saw Hearts collapse to a 2-0 defeat and Celtic then claimed the crown, thanks to a thumping 5-0 win over Saints at Love Street.
Now Clark has published an autobiography in which he claims a member of the St Mirren squad agreed that some of his team-mates were “not exactly good professionals” when they ran out against the Hoops. The former Jambo added: “They were happy to see Celtic win the league.”
However, that has sparked a furious reaction from McGarvey, who played for Saints in that title-decider. And he revealed that, just days after the match, a disgruntled Hearts fan sent him a package containing EXCREMENT as the row rumbled on. McGarvey told Express Sports: “Sandy Clark ought to be ashamed of himself. “I was desperate to do well in that game. “We were on a big bonus to win, so there was a lot at stake for us too. We went out that day and played the best we could. “The Tuesday after the game, I was sent a letter from a Hearts fan with something unpleasant inside the envelope.” He added: “Hearts had it in their own hands that day. They bottled it – plain and simple.”
http://www.paisleydailyexpress.co.uk/renfrewshire-sport/renfrewshire-football/renfrewshire-football-st-mirren/2012/05/09/furious-love-st-legends-blast-clark-claims-87085-30926433/
McGarvey wants clarity on Clark comments
Frank McGarvey has called on Sandy Clark to name the St Mirren source who claimed that some Buddies players had "not exactly been good professionals" when they lost 5-0 at home to Celtic to allow the Hoops to pip Hearts to the Premier Division title in 1986.
Going into their final game of the season against Dundee at Dens Park, the Tynecastle side were two points clear of Celtic with a four-goal advantage and it looked like the championship was heading to Gorgie.
However, in an unforgettable day of high drama, Hearts crashed to a 2-0 defeat as Celtic romped to victory in Paisley against a Saints side who had ex-Celtic striker McGarvey leading the line.
Former Gorgie hit-man Clark, in an extract from his book currently being serialised in a national newspaper, said: "I have spoken to one of St Mirren's players from that day. I know he gave it his all but he confirmed to me there were some of his team-mates who had not exactly been good professionals that day.
"They were happy to see Celtic win the league. I'm not saying anyone went out to throw the game but when the news filtered through Dundee were winning I think there was less and less resistance in certain areas of the pitch."
McGarvey is well aware that Clark's comments will point people in his direction and indeed he has spent the last 26 years intermittently fending off criticism from still-angry Jambos fans.
He told Press Association Sport: "If Sandy can't name his source then his comments have no credibility. They have no credibility anyway. It is a load of nonsense. It is just making excuses. I have had stick for years from Hearts fans and I always say the same thing - why blame St Mirren?
"If Hearts had won or even drawn against a mid-table Dundee side then it didn't matter what happened in our game, Hearts would have won the league. Maybe Sandy should look at his own performance that day.
"Celtic were a much better team than St Mirren and there was no surprise that they beat us and has been shown over the years, when the Old Firm have had to score goals to win league titles they have scored goals.
"But, I say again, it was all in Hearts' hands that day. The question that should be asked is, did their players bottle it? I think football fans know the answer."
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/07052012/63/mcgarvey-wants-clarity-clark-comments.html
:greengrin
Still hurting.