ARCHIE Gemmill won three English top-flight titles, a European Cup Winners’ medal and his son Scot is manager of Scotland Under-21s, writes Duncan Hare.
Yet whenever someone spots Gemmill and wants to talk football, there’s only one item on the agenda.
THAT goal.
“It was a special moment for me. I’d like to think it’ll be remembered long after I’m gone,” says Gemmill of that jinking run past three Dutch players before curling the ball oh so beautifully with his left foot into the far corner of the net in the 1978 World Cup Group D encounter.
Of course, this being Scotland and our long-lasting marriage with glorious failure, the sublimeness of the strike couldn’t help us reach the knockout stages despite the 3-2 win. But Gemmill’s effort is still, rightfully, recognised as one of the greatest World Cup goals ever and he is a fitting winner of the Scottish Football Writers’ Association’s first Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Scottish Power.
Perhaps he deserves the award just for the amount of times he’s retold tales of the goal over the past 40 years.
“Whenever a World Cup comes around people want to ask about the goal,” adds Gemmill. “It was fantastic at the time, even if it didn’t help us a great deal in the tournament itself. But over the years, it’s given a few people some joy – and a bit of hope, I suppose for the future.”
Immortalised in Trainspotting it might have been, but Gemmill modestly adds – unlike Ewan McGregor’s character Renton – that he’s not a fan of watching the goal that made his name.
“I’m not the type to watch it,” he says. “I couldn’t tell you the last time I saw the goal.”
The midfielder, just 5ft 5in, won 43 caps for Scotland but regrets not getting to 50 and a place in the Hall of Fame. Gemmill blames being “bombed out” of the Scotland squad by manager Tommy Docherty in 1972. He didn’t play for the national team again until 1975.
“Anyone who played 50 times for their country at that time was a bit special. It would have been a landmark for me,” added the 71-year-old.
Gemmill may be remembered for his exploits in a Scotland shirt, but his club career was made in England. After leaving St Mirren for Preston North End in 1967, Gemmill spent the rest of his career down south, bar a brief interlude in the USA in 1982 with Jacksonville Tea Men.
Read more: St Mirren defend decision to offer two full stands to Old Firm supporters
He won the First Division title with Derby County in 1972 and 1975, and also with Nottingham Forest in 1978. The following year he was a substitute as Forest won the European Cup.
But even now, being based in England doesn’t mean he can escape the inevitable . . .
“Even people down here in Derby still ask me about the goal,” Gemmill says.
“And the odd time I come back up to Scotland, it’s all anyone wants to talk about – nothing else.”
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