Blether: Sy spent Christmas Day playing in goal for Alloa Athletic

Regular contributor Sandy ‘Sy’ Thomson remembers playing in goal for Alloa Athletic in a Christmas Day fixture.

He offered: “An interesting match that Alloa played was on Christmas Day, 1976, against Cowdenbeath at Recreation Park in a Second Division game.

“It had an 11.30am kick off and was the only senior fixture in Britain.

“Alloa won 2-1 in front of just 731 spectators.”

Sy provided the line-ups and scorers, and the Alloa team was – Sandy Thomson; Hugh McCann, Billy Wilkinson; Brian McGarry, Frank Liddell, Euan Stewart; Rab Russell, Gordon Forrest, Donny Wilson, Davie Miller, Billy Morrison. Subs – Andy Campbell, John Muir.

Cowdenbeath – McFeat; Jones, Breen; Simpson, Moore, Reid; Morrison, Harley, Campbell, Hunter, McPaul. Subs – Fair, Rae.

Alloa scorer was Gordon Forrest – one direct from a corner and the other from a direct free-kick.

Hunter scored for Cowdenbeath from a penalty.