Transfers are such meticulous operations in trendy soccer that Premier League golf equipment have info all the way down to the very minute particulars on a signing, however in 1974 issues have been barely extra haphazard.
Rangers midfielder Alfie Conn spent the primary years of his profession at Ibrox, profitable the European Cup Winners’ Cup and Scottish Cup throughout that interval.
He had fallen out with Rangers supervisor Jock Wallace in 1974, although, with a transfer to England presenting itself to the 22-year-old. However whereas he thought he can be signing for Manchester United , sure particulars have been saved from Conn – such because the precise membership he can be becoming a member of.
Conn believed he was signing for Manchester United, however ended up at Tottenham
Conn in motion for Rangers in opposition to Celtic (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
“I’d spoken to Tommy Docherty the week earlier than and it was agreed that I’d be part of Manchester United,” Conn reveals solely to FourFourTwo . “However then I used to be informed to fulfill on the airport for a flight south, and I assumed I used to be going to fulfill him once more down in London. So, think about my shock once I heard the Cockney voice of Eddie Baily, Invoice Nicholson’s assistant, saying to me, ‘Welcome to Tottenham ’.
“As quickly as I met Invoice and he informed me what was on supply there, I stated, ‘The place do I signal?’ He was a prime supervisor; one of many few who had a particular aura which commanded respect, like Jock Stein, Invoice Shankly and Don Revie.”
Alfie Conn signed for Tottenham in 1974 (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
Throughout his three years at Tottenham, Conn turned a fan favorite, incomes the moniker ‘King of White Hart Lane’, regardless of solely making 35 apperances throughout that interval and scoring six objectives. Three of these got here as a part of a hat-trick on his debut in opposition to Newcastle , rapidly endearing himself to supporters.
He quickly fell out of favour at Tottenham, nevertheless, with a return to Glasgow on the playing cards in 1977. It was Celtic , slightly than Rangers, who wished him.
“I used to be taking part in in Spurs’ reserves and acquired a name to say somebody wished to see me,” he explains. “It was Jock Stein. It’s truthful to say that nobody else may have tempted me away, however he was totally different. I wanted no persuasion, despite the fact that it meant going to Celtic, which I knew can be tough.”
In transferring to Celtic, Conn turned the primary post-World Struggle II participant to play for each Outdated Agency rivals Rangers and Celtic. Stein had only one situation for the midfielder.
Jock Stein satisfied Conn to affix
“He informed me the entire finest gamers wore their hair brief and have been clean-shaven, so would I thoughts a haircut?” Conn says. “It wasn’t an issue. He stated, ‘Good – I’ve acquired you booked in on the barber’s tomorrow!”
The newly clean-cut Conn went on to expertise success at Celtic, profitable two titles and the Scottish Cup, however as the primary participant to cross the Outdated Agency divide because the Second World Struggle, his transfer was not with out hassle.
“An outdated buddy – the very best man at my wedding ceremony – was a diehard Rangers fan and by no means spoke to me once more,” he admits. “Individuals would come as much as me down the pub and at social events, and provides me grief. On uncommon events, they nonetheless do.”
