Joe Wark

Died: October 1, 2015

Joe Wark, who has died at the age of 67, was a footballer whose entire professional career was devoted to the service of just one club – Motherwell.

Born in Tradeston, Glasgow in October 1947 and educated at Ibrox Primary School, then Bellahouston Academy, the teenage Joseph Wark played junior football with Irvine Victoria before turning senior in 1968 when he signed for Motherwell manager Bobby Howitt at the age of 20.

He was soon making his debut in the claret and amber, in a pre-season friendly against Tranmere Rovers. It was a remarkable introduction – the new boy would play 87 minutes in goal after goalkeeper Keith McCrae suffered an early injury and even more remarkably the outfield player kept a clean sheet.

Motherwell were in the old second division for season 1968-69, which undoubtedly helped Wark establish himself at Fir Park. Indeed he would play in every game as 'Well romped to the title and promotion, scoring eight league goals from midfield, including a hat-trick against Montrose.

He would move to left-back the following season, and over the next 15 years would make the position very much his own, playing under nine different managers.

The introduction in seaon 1970-71 of a British Cup competition (Texaco Cup) brought packed houses and huge crowds to the Lanarkshire town in a competition incorporating teams from both sides of the border as well as from Northern Ireland and the Republic. Stoke City – Gordon Banks and all – were eliminated in a penalty shoot-out in the 'Potteries - 23,000 saw Tottenham Hotspur humbled with goals from Tom Donnelly, Brian Heron and Bobby Watson – but the Steelmen were ironically eliminated in the semi-finals by another Scottish club, Hearts, courtesy of a late Donald Ford winner before a 25,500 audience.

Motherwell had fallen at the penultimate stage, but in many ways it was the capacity crowds and vibrant atmosphere in ties at Fir Park that had made the inaugural tournament such an outstanding success.

Remarkably in January 1972 Wark had another spell in goal – and again kept a clean sheet – in a home league game against St Johnstone, replacing Billy Ritchie at half-time after the keeper had suffered a broken leg.

Consistency, reliability, athleticism, and an exemplary disciplinary record were amongst the player's finest attributes. He was seldom absent from the starting 11, being an ever present three seasons out of six in the mid-70s and would go on to captain the Fir Park club.

Ian St John was appointed Motherwell manager in 1973 – and the following seasons saw a fine attacking side coming together in Lanarkshire with Bobby Graham and Willie Pettigrew in attack.

The 1975 Scottish Cup brought heartbreak for Wark and Motherwell, now under the managership of Willie McLean. Wark had already suffered disappointment at the penultimate stage of the league cup in season 1969-70, losing 0-2 to St Johnstone – but five years later many regarded them as favourites to secure the national trophy for the first time since 1952. A semi-final with local rivals Airdrieonians at Hampden saw Motherwell lead 1-0 through a Pettigrew counter only tragically for a late Stewart McLaren own goal to force a replay, won by Airdrie.

One year later (the first season of the elite ten-club premier division) Motherwell again fell at the penultimate stage of the Scottish Cup when, in a pulsating tie under the Hampden floodlights, Jock Wallace's Rangers came from 0-2 down in the closing 20 minutes to win 3-2.

Texaco had by now withdrawn from sponsorship of the British Cup (now renamed the Anglo-Scottish Cup) and following the elimination of Blackburn Rovers a star-studded Fulham side that included George Best, Bobby Moore, Rodney Marsh and Alan Mullery emerged victorious at Fir Park by the odd goal in five.

There were many who believed that the full-back was worthy of International recognition, but it fell to Willie Ormond to select him for the Scottish league against the football league at Hampden in 1976, a game won 1-0 by the visitors.

Ten years of service in claret and amber were rewarded with a testimonial match in 1978 against West Bromwich Albion, but the 1978-79 season would end in bitter disappointment with relegation. It would take Motherwell three years to return to the top division with the experienced Wark playing a key role.

Only the legendary partnership of Bobby Ferrier and George Stevenson bettered the 539 appearances (including 469 league games – a post-war record) for the club – and at the end of season 1983-84 a distinguished playing career drew to a close.

It was a mark of Joe Wark's standing within the game that he received the rare distinction of a second testimonial in January 1985 with the opposition a Rangers/Celtic select.

A true gentleman on and off the field play, following retirement he ran a licensed grocers and worked as a sales representative but it was perhaps surprising that no club utilised his experience in a coaching capacity although he continued to work behind the scenes at Fir Park and was active in the former players' association which raised funds for charitable causes.

Sadly in later years, Wark suffered from dementia, but participated in the Remember Well project, run by North Lanarkshire Council, NHS Lanarkshire, Alzheimer's Scotland and the club itself, producing a memory book featuring photographs and highlights of his playing career.

Joe Wark is survived by his wife Maureen and sons Steven and Kenneth.

ROBERT MCELROY