A Late Third Sinks the Thirds (1958)

(first published in the match programme for St. Mirren v Livingston, 20^th December 2025)

Third Lanark welcomed St. Mirren to Cathkin Park for a First Division fixture on 20^th December 1958 with both sides placed in the bottom half of the table. However, the state of play was such that only five points separated nine clubs and so a couple of decisive results could make a big difference to the positions.

The programme for the match was typical of Third Lanark issues from the mid-fifties until the end of the 1964/65 season, when the club ceased publication. It consisted of eight pages measuring 14cm by 22cm and was printed scarlet on off white semi-gloss paper throughout.

The front cover featured the Club name and a footballing illustration with the match details, sandwiched between two advertisements. No mention was made of the year or the season and so issues from this time were difficult to properly identify. The year did not appear on the cover until late in 1959.

The main reading matter of the programme was contained within "Editor Talking", which spanned pages three, six and seven. The initial topic of concern to the anonymous scribe was Thirds' inconsistency in finding the net. Despite having scored three goals against both Dunfermline and Kilmarnock in recent weeks (the latter game ultimately having been abandoned), they had drawn a blank in the intervening matches against Dundee and Falkirk. Meanwhile, it was pointed out that the reserve side were the highest scorers in their division!

Talk of goalscoring led the Editor to the fact that Thirds' leading goalscorer Matt Gray had already surpassed his tally for the previous season with 12 goals and that, in the reserves, a successful penalty-kicker had been identified in the shape of Alex Harley.

The focus turned to the visitors from Paisley and included a rather informal review of the Paisley players. It was noted that, like the home side, Saints were finding points hard to pick up and that injuries were not helping matters. The pen pictures stated that Davie Lapsley had once played a whole season at right back and yet had ended up as the Club's top goalscorer, all of his 12 counters coming from penalties or free kicks. The current season was no different, as Davie had thus far totalled seven goals; four spot kicks and three "frees".

Saints' youth policy was highlighted, citing how players such as Jim Thomson, Tommy Flynn, Tommy Bryceland and Bobby Campbell were joining the ranks alongside the more experienced Gerry Baker and Tommy Gemmell.

The sides were set out in the usual 2-3-5 formation and surrounded by adverts on the centre pages. Thirds fielded Dave Hilley and Alex Harley in place of the listed Billy Craig and John Allan, whilst Saints gave debuts to their recent signing from Airdrie, goalkeeper Dave Walker, and Don Kerrigan, who had joined from Drumchapel Amateurs. Tony Gregal also replaced the listed Joe Doonan.

The back page displayed the half-Time scoreboard for that day's matches. The cover price was only threepence but, as with all Third Lanark programmes, a copy in good condition (if you can find one) will set you back a lot more in present times.

St. Mirren were streets ahead of their hosts in the first half, but led only 1-0 at half time. That advantage had been earned in the sixteenth minute when Gerry Baker collected a pass from Tommy Gemmell to send a left foot shot from the corner of the penalty area past Thirds' goalkeeper Jocky Robertson.

Thirds responded after the break and their determination was rewarded by an equaliser from Joe McInnes twelve minutes into the second period. The Cathkin men then took the lead after 76 minutes when Matt Gray rose to a McInnes free kick to bullet a header past Dave Walker.

Saints were behind for only thirty seconds. Straight from the restart, Don Kerrigan collected the ball and eluded Thirds' defender John Brown to lay it off to Tommy Bryceland. Tommy didn't hesitate to power home a shot from 20 yards, giving Robertson no chance.

As well as the four legitimate goals that had already been scored thus far, the ball found the net on four further occasions, with each side having two "goals" ruled out for offside or handling offences.

With less than two minutes remaining, and with many of the 8,000 crowd already drifting off content with a draw, the match was won in dramatic fashion. The ball broke loose in the home penalty area and 'keeper Robertson chased after it. However, Bryceland got to the ball first and played a one-two with Kerrigan. With Robertson now racing back to his goal, Bryceland squared the ball for Baker to score the winner.

The 3-2 win propelled Saints four places up in the League and both sides finished the season comfortably in mid-table.