The True Story of a Footballing Legend.

The crowds thronged the streets from the old church building all the way to the cemetary, many rows deep as people came from all over the country, indeed the world, to pay their final respects to a man for whom the oft over used term Legend was certainly more than fitting. His had been a long life, passing away quietly in his sleep at the grand old age of eighty nine and many of the people lining the street were mere figments of their parents imaginations when this man was at his peak, when he performed the miracles that raised him from humble birth to mighty legend, saviour of his country, if not quite saviour of mankind. As the coffin passed slowly through the streets of Kilmarnock, winding its weary way to the final resting place of this great man, many tears were shed of grief, but also of pride. Pride that this nation, this fierce, independent country of football lovers, haggis eaters, kilt wearers had been dragged from the literal depths of despair to become once more the rightful owners of the tag of greatest nation on the planet – at least in footballing terms. And if it had been now longer than many people lined here could remember since those glory days, they were forever etched in the memories of those who were there, and written into the pages of Scottish folklore.

Yet as the crowds lined the streets to bid a fond farewell to a Scottish legend, a man who dragged Scottish football from the depths of obscurity back to its rightful place at the top of the pile, a man who had been instrumental in the establishing once more this proud and ancient nation to its place of self determination, few who witnessed his birth could ever have believed it would come to this. Indeed, as the body of this great man was slowly lowered into the earth from which it had come, it was a contrast indeed from that of the birth of this now immortal being. A man born, the sixth of six boys, to an impoverished family on the outskirts of Kilmarnock in the mid 1960's had, from those humble, harsh beginings risen to become one of the most famous people the country had ever produced.

Perhaps it was fate, perhaps it was just blind luck that on the 24th April 1965, the very moment that Kilmarnock Football Club had just beaten Heart of Midlothian 2-0 in Edinburgh to claim the Scottish League Championship on goal average, a small, unwanted, fragile baby boy was being born not a million miles from the home of Kilmarnock FC, Rugby Park. There was no weeping crowd to witness this birth, no wise men came bearing gifts and his birth was not the most celebrated even amongst his own family. Duncan MacLeod was supposed to be a girl. After five boys, his parents were so convinced that the girl they longed for so much was on her way, they had stockpiled all the pink, frilly clothes their meagre income could afford. That Duncan MacLeod had been born a boy was a huge dissapointment to his family.

As Duncan made his fretful, tearful way into the world, so his father, drunk as skunk from celebrating the title win of his favourite footballing side, walked in front of a double decker bus. His funeral, unlike that of his son eighty nine years later, was attended by virtually no-one. Alistair MacLeod had been a loudmouthed, loathsome wife beater of a man, and it was probably just as well for the newborn baby that he would never know the father who had spawned him. The father whose regular beatings for his wife – she had to learn her place – almost endangered the very existance of the child who was destined for greatness. A greatness his father could never even imagine to aspire. Fatherless and penniless, Duncan was not a well child and found himself in hospital more times during his early years than out. As he grew, being small for his age and a rather timid child, he was the subject of bullying both at school – and at home. His older brothers had not been so fortunate to miss their fathers abuse and they took from the only male role model they had ever know, all the bad points that man had.

It was little surprise that three of Duncan's brothers ended up 'inside'. One died of a drugs overdose at the age of just seventeen and the other drove his motorcycle over a cliff ages twenty one. It was however, no great loss to the human race. Duncan though was different. At least he found a better way to express his pain in life, and that way came via a round ball. From a very early age Duncan MacLeod took to kicking a ball about, but it was not until he was twelve years old that his footballing talent was spotted and he was snapped up by Kilmarnock Boys Club. His mother had tried to oppose his joining, she claimed she could not afford the costs, she needed Duncan home every night but nothing she could say could stop the hand of fate. Although it was not for the want of trying.

At just twenty seven days short of his 16th birthday, Duncan MacLeod made an uninspiring debut for the Kilmarnock first team in a League Cup match away to Albion Rovers. It would be fourteen months before MacLeod would play for the first team again, but the seeds of a legend had already been sewn, and there was now no stopping his path to legendary fame.

The crowds thronged the streets from the old church building all the way to the cemetary, many rows deep as people came from all over the country, indeed the world, to pay their final respects to a man for whom the oft over used term Legend was certainly more than fitting. His had been a long life, passing away quietly in his sleep at the grand old age of eighty nine and many of the people lining the street were mere figments of their parents imaginations when this man was at his peak, when he performed the miracles that raised him from humble birth to mighty legend, saviour of his country, if not quite saviour of mankind. As the coffin passed slowly through the streets of Kilmarnock, winding its weary way to the final resting place of this great man, many tears were shed of grief, but also of pride. Pride that this nation, this fierce, independent country of football lovers, haggis eaters, kilt wearers had been dragged from the literal depths of despair to become once more the rightful owners of the tag of greatest nation on the planet – at least in footballing terms. And if it had been now longer than many people lined here could remember since those glory days, they were forever etched in the memories of those who were there, and written into the pages of Scottish folklore.

Yet as the crowds lined the streets to bid a fond farewell to a Scottish legend, a man who dragged Scottish football from the depths of obscurity back to its rightful place at the top of the pile, a man who had been instrumental in the establishing once more this proud and ancient nation to its place of self determination, few who witnessed his birth could ever have believed it would come to this. Indeed, as the body of this great man was slowly lowered into the earth from which it had come, it was a contrast indeed from that of the birth of this now immortal being. A man born, the sixth of six boys, to an impoverished family on the outskirts of Kilmarnock in the mid 1960's had, from those humble, harsh beginings risen to become one of the most famous people the country had ever produced.

Perhaps it was fate, perhaps it was just blind luck that on the 24th April 1965, the very moment that Kilmarnock Football Club had just beaten Heart of Midlothian 2-0 in Edinburgh to claim the Scottish League Championship on goal average, a small, unwanted, fragile baby boy was being born not a million miles from the home of Kilmarnock FC, Rugby Park. There was no weeping crowd to witness this birth, no wise men came bearing gifts and his birth was not the most celebrated even amongst his own family. Duncan MacLeod was supposed to be a girl. After five boys, his parents were so convinced that the girl they longed for so much was on her way, they had stockpiled all the pink, frilly clothes their meagre income could afford. That Duncan MacLeod had been born a boy was a huge dissapointment to his family.

As Duncan made his fretful, tearful way into the world, so his father, drunk as skunk from celebrating the title win of his favourite footballing side, walked in front of a double decker bus. His funeral, unlike that of his son eighty nine years later, was attended by virtually no-one. Alistair MacLeod had been a loudmouthed, loathsome wife beater of a man, and it was probably just as well for the newborn baby that he would never know the father who had spawned him. The father whose regular beatings for his wife – she had to learn her place – almost endangered the very existance of the child who was destined for greatness. A greatness his father could never even imagine to aspire. Fatherless and penniless, Duncan was not a well child and found himself in hospital more times during his early years than out. As he grew, being small for his age and a rather timid child, he was the subject of bullying both at school – and at home. His older brothers had not been so fortunate to miss their fathers abuse and they took from the only male role model they had ever know, all the bad points that man had.

It was little surprise that three of Duncan's brothers ended up 'inside'. One died of a drugs overdose at the age of just seventeen and the other drove his motorcycle over a cliff ages twenty one. It was however, no great loss to the human race. Duncan though was different. At least he found a better way to express his pain in life, and that way came via a round ball. From a very early age Duncan MacLeod took to kicking a ball about, but it was not until he was twelve years old that his footballing talent was spotted and he was snapped up by Kilmarnock Boys Club. His mother had tried to oppose his joining, she claimed she could not afford the costs, she needed Duncan home every night but nothing she could say could stop the hand of fate. Although it was not for the want of trying.

At just twenty seven days short of his 16th birthday, Duncan MacLeod made an uninspiring debut for the Kilmarnock first team in a League Cup match away to Albion Rovers. It would be fourteen months before MacLeod would play for the first team again, but the seeds of a legend had already been sewn, and there was now no stopping his path to legendary fame.

Since when were League Cup games played in March?

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by HD:

Since when were League Cup games played in March? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

It had been postponed because of a particularly bad winter?

Or it was probably the Scottish Cup, bad researchers you know

There was one thing at least that came from being bullied – Duncan MacLeod developed into a fast runner. In fact many people in years to come would comment, as he sped down the wing for Kilmarnock, Liverpool or Scotland, that he could have been an Olympic sprinter. And they weren't far wrong. MacLeod had actually been part of a local athletics club as youth, another attempt perhaps to get away from a home life that was far from happy . Football though soon got in the way, and it was football that Duncan MacLeod pursued with vigour – and ultimately with great success.

If there was something else that his constant bullying in his formative years instilled in MacLeod, it was in building his character. There are two ways to react to bullying. It can, like it had done to Duncan's mother, break down all self esteem and leave the person feeling so worthless that they almost feel it is their place in life to be bullied, to be someone else's punchbag. Agnes MacLeod was someone else's punchbag as she listed from one abusive relationship to the next until eventually the inevitable happened and her abused body could take no more. Duncan MacLeod had of all his brothers at least, grown up with a sense of pride and dignity, respectfulness. It would have been so easy to stay in Madrid upon hearing of his mothers untimely demise. He had no reason to come home to bid farewell to a mother who had barely been such and whom he had seen only fleetingly in the years since, as a young man having just passed the landmark age of 21 had left his home town, a place he had few reasons out with football to really care about, and made his way south to a brave new world, and a future paved with gold and glamour.

Yet duty made him do so, and he supposed, love. As he stood in the small, almost deserted room of the crematorium, the only child present of those Agnes MacLeod had given birth to, Duncan felt little grief at the loss of a woman who, if she had had her way, would have prevented this man from achieving anything in life that he had. There was very little good to remember about his times with his mother. She had not been a loving mother, and although it was easy to find excuses in her dreadful life, Duncan did not find it easy to feel sorrow at her parting. He both hated her, and loved her for in the end, despite everything, she was – had been – his mother, and without her he literally would not be here. His mother had been a weak, self-loathing worm of a woman who had let herself be used and abused by a string of men and although in his heart Duncan knew that she deserved pity, he also felt she deserved contempt. These feelings though he tried to put down, this was after all his mother, and he had no right to feel contempt. Or even pity, perhaps.

Agnes MacLeod had given into the bullying in her life, she had accepted it, almost incorporated it into her being. Her youngest son had refused to accept that his role in life was to be that of the bully-ee. As a young lad he was small, but he was also fast and when cornered he would not, like his mother, simply cower down and take the beating, that much he had promised himself even as a very young child when he could barely have understood much of what went on around him. And it was this steely determination not to give in that gave him the character that would make him not only a great footballer, but also as a manager a man who would take no crap from his players. If people had thought Duncan MacLeod, a small, quiet and amicable chap, was a push over they soon found out how wrong that assumption was if they got on his wrong side. Like Henry Smith had done when Duncan was ten. Most times when confronted by the bullies from school, who usually so bravely hung around with a pack, Duncan ran way and his running away had saved his neck on many occasions. This one time though he had not run away. Henry Smith, three years older, had decided that he needed no backing from his pack to teach this young lad a lesson. In the end though, it was the teenager who was to receive a lesson he would never forget. A lesson for which he would exact a potent, and almost lethal revenge.

Brilliant start, PM7. I'll be settling in to enjoy this one!

Thanks Amaroq, I hope it lasts the course!

Like most small boys, Duncan MacLeod loved football. It wasn't so much that he loved a football club in particular, he just loved kicking a ball about and on a very rare occasion he was able to join the boys in the street for a kickabout. Although he was a target for bullies because of his size and apparantly timid nature, Duncan was also good at football and the same boys who might ridicule him at one moment, were more than happy to have him on the 'football field' the next. It was just life, and that was just the way things were in one particular kids life. Yet for all his love of the game, it wasn't until he was nearly nine years old that Duncan saw his first live game of football. Not that he hadn't wanted to go to a match, but his mother never had any money spare, and besides which there was no one to take him.

It was Jonathan Mitchell – Mitch young Duncan called him affectionately – who took a keen interest in the young lad, and whose interest led Duncan to being able to attend a football match. Not that his mother ever knew anything about that. Duncan had learned at a very young age how to keep secrets from his family, and this was one secret he was determined never to share. Those Saturday afternoons in the Spring of 1974 seemed like a dream in later years, the golden years of a childhood that had never really blossomed, and they culminated in the everlasting memory of watching the 1974 World Cup Finals on Jonathan Mitchell's brand spanking new television, bought specially for that occasion. A brand spanking new colour television. The tragedy that had so marred the young Duncan's life would strike once more later that summer, but nothing could diminish the joy of that wonderful, short and glorious period of his life.

Jonathan Mitchell was a leader at the local youth club, which Duncan had been able to attend on and off over the years depending on the mood of his mother, or her particular boyfriend at the time. Mitchell was just nineteen in the Spring of '74, training to be a school teacher and in him Duncan found a kind of pseudo father figure, a role model that he had seriously lacked in his short but painful existance. By the Spring of 1974, Duncan lived in the house he had grown up in with his mother, her current 'lover' Larry Watkins and his seventeen year old brother James, who would die just before Christmas of this year having overdosed on whatever drug it was he was on – 'coke most likely but Duncan never found out and never really cared. James was rarely home, and when he was Duncan had the good sense to stay out of his way. Two of his older brothers were in the 'pokey' for petty crimes and the other had moved 'down south' to find a better life. A life that would tragically end in a couple of years time by driving a motorcycle over a cliff. The other brother, Michael who was 12 in that year, was in a 'special' school, being that he was what his mother scornfully called, 'a *******'. Hehad Downs Syndrome Duncan later found out, and his mother had been unable, or more likely unwilling to cope.

Duncan then was left to his own devices most of the time, his mother was usually drunk or doped up and Larry had made it clear he wanted the kid out of his way as much as possible, and that suited Duncan down to the ground. As the 1973-74 football season drew it's conclusion Kilmarnock, who only nine years earlier were winning the Scottish League, were battling for promotion from Division Two. Mitch, who had grown fond of the young Duncan and knew that he was given a hard time from the other lads, and guessed a lot more about the kids home life than the boy let on, suggested that Duncan might like to come with him to a home match against St Johnstone. The offer did not strictly come out of the blue, they had discussed such things before but Mitch had been unsure how such an offer would be received and was not totally comfortable about not asking the boys parents for permission – Duncan had told him in no uncertain terms that he would not ask his mother if he could go, she would never allow it and the implication had been trouble for the lad.

Duncan though really wanted to go to a game, and so although it went against his better judgement, Mitch came up with a plan. He would have Duncan come over to his place, where he stayed with his parents, to 'help out around the house and garden', and he would pay him two pounds. Duncan's mother was only too happy to have the money, and it was a good enough cover story. She would indeed have been mad had she known that instead of working her son had been to a football match, but the money at the end of the day was all she cared about and two pounds would go a long way in 1974. The Spring which led to the golden summer, started at Rugby Park as Kilmarnock thrashed St Johnstone 3-1, and eventually went on to achieve second place and promotion back to the top flight of Scottish Football. It was a period that Duncan wished would never end, and he was probably the only sad person on the final day of a successful season. What now would he do with his Saturdays, and with summer approaching, how would he fill his days and stay out of his parents way.

The answer came in the form of the 1974 World Cup in West Germany, and it was that tournament as much as anything else that decided in the mind of the young Duncan MacLeod that he would grow up to be a footballer, to play for Scotland in the World Cup Finals. An ambition he most certainly would go on to achieve both as a player, and also in the end as a manager.

The 1974 World Cup was pivotal not only in the life of a nine year old boy who would go on to become one of the greatest footballers his country had ever produced, it was also in many ways the pivotal point for a particular nations love affair with the tournament. Scotland had been at the finals of the World Cup twice before- 1954, when the tournament was held in Switzerland and four years later when the worlds greatest footballing event travelled north to Sweden. Neither time had the Scots equipped themselves with any great glory.

In 1954, Scotland travelled to Switzerland to take on Uruguay and Austria. Czechoslovakia were also in Scotland's group but one of the quirks of that particular tournament meant that certain teams did not play each other and so Scotland did not play Czechoslovakia. Which was probably just as well. Scotland opening match was in Zurich against Austria and the line up contained two players who would themselves go on to manage their country, namely Tommy Docherty and Willie Ormond. The Scots equiped themselves adequately, only going down by a goal to nil, but the second, and final match for the Scots, saw them ripped apart by Uruguay and eventually were humiliated by a 7-0 scoreline. The World Cup was over, and many Scots were hoping they would never have to endure such again.

Four years later, Scotland travelled over the North Sea to Sweden to take part in the 1958 World Cup Finals. This was the tournament that saw the emergence of arguably the greatest player of all time, but that was of little relevance to a Scotland side who just needed to restore some pride after their last woeful effort. This time the Scots were much better prepared, and would face up to Yugoslavia, Paraguay and France. The squad contained some legendary names, amongst them Tommy Docherty once more, Eric Caldow, Eddie Turnbull and Dave MacKay. The opening match with Yugoslavia was drawn 1-1, and it was Jimmy Murray who entered the record books as the first Scot to score at a World Cup Finals. There were high hopes after the opening draw that Scotland could overcome Paraguay and take a step towards the next stage of the tournament. The South Americans though proved to be no mugs, and although Scotland battled hard in the end a 3-2 defeat was all they had to show for their efforts. There was still a chance though and victory in the final match would see Scotland progress. The French though raced to a 2-0 half time lead, and although Stuart Baird countered in the second to make the score respectful, the Scots went down to a second defeat and bowed out of the tournament. At least this time though, they had done so with a little bit of dignity. It would be sixteen more years though, before Scotland once more graced the stage of the greatest show on earth.

And this time, they felt they had has good a chance as anyone.

It wasn't just the fact that Scotland were playing that made the 1974 World Cup so special for Duncan MacLeod. He supposed, looking back years later, that there was also the element of the losing of the person who had become to him something more than a brother, more possibly than a father and at that time of his young life, the best friend he had ever had. The only person who had shown young Duncan any real love and affection had gone out of his life just a few short weeks after that glorious summer, and although he did see Mitch again, there relationship was never the same, could never be after the terrible thing that had happened. Yet in a way, it also placed a border round that sunny period, placing it in a setting that would never be forgotten.

As Duncan made his way to Mitch's place on the 14th of June to watch Scotland's opening match on TV against Zaire, he of course had no idea what fate had in store for the future and perhaps in many ways it is just as well that fate keeps her plans well hidden. Duncan was excited, about as happy in his life as he had ever been and it wasn't just because Scotland were playing, although that was a huge part of it. And it wasn't just that Kilmarnock keeper Jim Stewart was in the Scotland squad – albeit much to Duncan's eternal disappointment Stewart did not make any appearance at those finals. There was so much more beneath the surface, and a lot of it Duncan, being only nine, simply could not explain.

Football was a wonderful game in his eyes, and here before those eyes in full glorious colour, were teams from all sorts of places all over the world. Duncan had no idea where Zaire, Haiti, Chile were. He had little concept of how these people, jet black skinned and athletic, lived, where they lived. It was in many ways a huge cultural shock to a young nine year old boy who lived in Kilmarnock. There were not exactly many black people living around that area in that time, and for a kid like Duncan his only 'experience' of black people had come through comic books, and they were rarely flattering to the blacks. This was not the peak time for the Policitally Correct brigade, who were all probably still in nappies, or yet to be born. There was almost something magical in these nations, something outwith the emotional grasp of a nine year old, but it was their magic – intended or not – that somehow added to the amazement of what was an incredible occasion.

There have long been, and always will be, arguments over what was the best Scotland line up of all time, but the 1974 World Cup side can surely live up there with the best of them and over the few weeks of that tournament Duncan amongst others fell in love with the players who did Scotland so proud. The eleven players who lined up for that opening match against Zaire could well be the greatest Scotland team ever, and would certainly not look out of place in any such competition.

David Harvey, Sandy Jardine, Danny McGrain, Billy Bremner, 'Big' Jim Holton, John Blackley, Kenny Dalglish, Joe Jordan, Davie Hay, Peter Lorimer, Denis Law

And when you think that the likes of Martin Buchan, Gordon McQueen and the magical Jimmy Johnston were on the bench, you kind of see the quality this incredible side possessed.

Scotland of course did not win the 1974 World. In their opening match against the mysterious Africans of Zaire, Peter Lorimer and Joe Jordan provided the goals in a decent enough 2-0 win – Scotland first ever at a World Cup Finals, but the narrowness of such a win was to come back and haunt the side big time. Yugoslavia, who had held the mighty Brazil to a goalless draw, thrashed the hapless central African nation by a whopping nine goals to nil, to put Scotland performance firmly in the shade. Scotland themselves also managed a 0-0 draw against a Brazil side who were far from the best that country had ever produced. If Scotland could beat Yugoslavia they would be through to the 2nd phase, but the Yugoslavs were a good team and led the Scots until two minutes from time when a Joe Jordan goal gave a nation hope. Unfortunately, a controversial third Brazilian goal against Zaire saw the South Americans progress and Scotland went out unbeaten, of a tournament that would eventually see West Germany defeat the Netherlands 2-1 in the Final.

It was a summer Scotland would never forget, and for Duncan MacLeod personally, it was a summer that changed his life. In more ways than one. Six weeks after that World Cup Final, something happened that ensured that Duncan would lose the only person who had ever shown him that he as a person was worth something – and Duncan found himself in a situation that so very nearly could have had tragic consequences. Fate can be cruel, but she can also be extremely providential.

The World Cup was over – for Scotland of course it had been over long before the end – and so was Duncan's mothers relationship with Larry Watkins. That this was something for rejoicing never crossed the young lad's mind, his mothers relationships rarely lasted very long and her lovers were never interested in being father figures to her kids. It was not long before a new man appeared on the scene, almost as if somehow with a man in her life, Agnes MacLeod could not survive. Yet the choice of men she made, it was amazing that she did survive with one. This new man however turned out to be a bit different to the rest. He actually acknowledged Duncan existed.

With the World Cup over, there was no real excuse to head over to Mitch's house every day, and Duncan found that he missed that. Summer was drawing to a close, and school would be starting soon – and the new football season. Although there was no reason now to call on Mitch, there was not much else for the young Duncan to do and so he popped in on the off chance one sunny afternoon. Mitch was home and was delighted to see him.

'Wait there' He said, clearly not doing a good job of hiding some exciting news, ' I've got something for you I think you'll like.'

Duncan could not think what it was his friend had bought him, and when Mitch handed him an envelope his excitement vanished. What on earth was this to give to a small boy?

'Open it then!' Mitch exclaimed.

Duncan did so and inside was what seemed to be a small book.

'It's a season ticket to Rugby Park' Mitch could not hold back, then hesitated in case perhaps his gift had not been as welcome as he might have thought.

Duncan did not know what to say. Eventually he found the words to say thanks, 'It's great Mitch. But I'm not sure. I mean, it must have cost you a lot of money and I don't know what's going on at home at the moment. That new guy is weird.'

'Don't worry about the cost' Mitch tousled his young friends hair, 'And we'll find a way, we always do.'

They spent that day plodding around the garden of Mitch's house and made plans to do something at the weekend.

'Keep that ticket book safe' Mitch called as Duncan left for home.

'I will!' Duncan called back, 'Looking forward to the new season already!'

But he never did get to use any of those season tickets.

Fraser Adams was a good deal older than most of the men Duncan's mother had gotten involved with, and he was also, at first at any rate, the nicest. He didn't send Duncan to his room at meal times, he didn't chuck him out of the house and he even gave the young lad money on occasion to buy things for himself. That in itself was unique experience and at first Duncan was delighted to be finally getting some attention. The attention though was soon to become what no young child might want, and Duncan found himself trying harder than ever to stay out of the way of one of his mothers boyfriends. From this one though, that was much harder than you might think.

And Fraser did not approve of Duncan's time spent with Mitch.

'It's not right' He told Agnes mother one dinner time, 'The boy spends too much time over there, why would someone of that age want to spend time with a nine year old boy.'

Agnes had said nothing, either for or against but it was clear that whatever Fraser Adams said was what Duncan was to do and eventually he was told that he was not to go and see Mitch again. It simply wasn't right. Duncan of course had no idea what Fraser was on about, Mitch had been the best friend he had ever had, how could it be not right. It never crossed his mind that his mother's latest boyfriend might be jealous of her sons relationship with another man, but it wasn't because he wanted to be the father figure in Duncan's life and felt threatened over that. Fraser Adams had something much more sinister in mind.

Notes:

I suspect by now a few people are wondering where the hell this is going, where is the football!

Well, the football will be here eventually, but this is one story that will have a lot of depth to it and if it's just results you want to see you'll have to wait a while.

The football is coming, but I want to get a depth of character I haven't explored before on FMS and for that you'll just have to be patient, sit back and enjoy the show. Or not as the case may be

In his autobiography, On and Off The Park, Duncan MacLeod skimmed over the events that unravelled in the weeks after the 1974 World Cup, even though in many ways that period had a profound affect on his life. It was perhaps understandable, and a later biography by well known journalist Alex Steel, To the Moon and Back described a bit more the details of that time and the events that so tortured a young mind. Although there had been two other unofficial biographies on his life by that point, MacLeod was decidely unhappy over the publication by Steel and at one point even threatened legal action over the contents of the book.

Fraser Adams had indeed been jealous of his lovers son's relationship with youth club leader Jonathan Mitchell. A fact he made very clear to the young man, and with a promising career in teaching, Adams attempts to scare off the lad were successful. Even though Adams had warned Duncan not to go round to Mitch's house, the young boy could not stay away but one afternoon when he called in his friend was not at home and his mother told Duncan that he had gone away. It would be almost two years before Duncan saw Mitch again, and by that point it was clear their relationship could never be the same again, even although Fraser Adams was out of the picture.

In fact Fraser Adams was dead, and it was as much the circumstances surrounding his death that so scarred that young MacLeod as the fact of losing his best friend. Adams had been found, naked, in Duncan's bedroom by the police who had rushed after a frantic call for help from a young boy in a telephone box. Adams had died of a heart attack, but the police could get little sense out of the boy and he never did fully reveal what happened on that awful night, but it was circumstantially obvious what had, or what possibly was going to have had occurred. And it was not wonder Duncan tried to blank such from his memory.

By the time of the 1978 World Cup, the past had gone and Duncan was now a typical moody, thirteen year old but he nevertheless retained his love for football. And of course in 1978, Scotland were going to Argentina to win the World Cup on the March with a certain Ally's army. That of the legendary Ally MacLeod.

Ally MacLeod was not, as far as anyone could ascertain, related to Duncan, but the boy was inspired by his namesake as indeed were much of the country at that time. The 1978 World Cup turned out to be a disaster for Scotland, but whilst the nation wept young Duncan, spotty faced teenage geek that he might well have been, was celebrating having signed schoolboy forms with his beloved Kilmarnock and although no-one knew it at the time, the road to legend had taken it's first, tiny steps.

Although by the age of thirteen Duncan had committed himself to a footballing career, he still kept an interest in athletics. The interest though was more romantic than actually the liking for run round and round a track, although at the time that is not exactly how the teenager would have described it at the time. Even if the focus of his budding admiration would go on to become his wife and bear him three children.. Alyson James was just over a year younger than Duncan and entered first year of secondary school when Duncan was in second year. Alyson was a slim, good looking brunette – and totally different in appearance than when the two had first met three years earlier, when Duncan had stepped in to save her as bully boy Henry Smith, much older than the then nine year old girl, had bravely threatened to beat her up if she didn't give him her pocket money.

Duncan was no hero. He was not in the habit of stepping in to help people, he usually had enough trouble of his own to deal with. Somehow though, the sight of this thirteen year old lad picking on a plump, bespectacled little girl nearly half his size stirred something inside and although he was a good deal younger and a good deal smaller, he was faster and more agile and on this occasion at least it was Duncan MacLeod who handed out the beating. As a course of revenge, when with a group of his mates, Smith used his penknife to scare Duncan for life just a few weeks later, and may well have gone further if his mates hadn't suddenly realized the enormity of the situation and backed off. It was a well considered fact that Henry Smith may actually have been insane, and Duncan tried his very best to never cross his path again. He was not a stupid boy.

Three years later, Alyson James, raw first year student at Kilmarnock Academy, joined the schools athletic team and Duncan MacLeod fell in love for the first time. As the months passed, his commitments to football became greater and he found that he really should give up athletics, but his crush on the young girl kept him going longer than he would have otherwise. It would be two more years before Duncan actually asked Alyson out, and another five years after that before they would get married, by which time Duncan was on the verge of a full Scotland cap – and a move to Liverpool.

There was a lot of water to pass under the bridge before that though, and an injury crises at Rugby Park saw the still fifteen year old MacLeod given a seat on the bench for a Scottish Cup tie away to Albion Rovers. When another injury struck one of the strikers with twenty two minutes left, Duncan was given a surprise chance, and he was determined to show what he could do. The answer was, not a lot. There was little sign of the talent that would one day make Duncan MacLeod the all time top scorer and most capped player for his country as he missed two 'sitters' and Kilmarnock were sent out of the Cup by a goal to nil. It was hardly Roy of the Rovers stuff, and just a few weeks later Duncan was sent off on a short term loan to Ayr United. It was the lowest point of his career. Then again, to have the lowest point of your career when you are only sixteen is possibly not a bad thing.

Although it didn't seem so at the time, Kilmarnock's relegation from the Premier League that season turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Duncan MacLeod as, being in a lower division, he was given a lot more playing time and by the time his side returned to top flight football Duncan MacLeod was fully established in the team, top scorer at the club and beginning to attract a little bit of attention from the bigger clubs. Kilmarnock of course were not going to be overly successful, they simply didn't have the resources and most of Duncan's time with the club was spent avoiding relegation, usually by the merest of margins. The club had once again avoided relegation from the Premier League in the 1985/86 season(*) and Duncan MacLeod had been one of the leading scorers for in the League, despite that fact that Kilmarnock were far from challengers.

That season though has seen Kilmarnock overcome the odds to win the Scottish Cup against Aberdeen at Hampden Park. A Duncan MacLeod hattrick had seen off a downward spirling Aberdeen side by 3-2, and perhaps it was that performance as much as anything that saw MacLeod make a summer move to Liverpool for a fee reported to be around one million pounds. That, and of course MacLeod's heroics at the 1986 World Cup Finals.

* note: Whilst I have, and will, occasionally use historical fact, I have taken the liberty of changing history to suit the purposes of this story. Kilmarnock in fact went back down to the First Division and eventually the Second in reality and they did not in reality win the Scottish Cup. In this reality however, they did

We really need editing back

At least he got to play for Ayr. And at a time when he would be playing alongside the likes of Steve Nicol and Alan McInally in the First Division, not a bad football education.

This is excellent PM7

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by HD:

At least he got to play for Ayr. And at a time when he would be playing alongside the likes of Steve Nicol and Alan McInally in the First Division, not a bad football education. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

And of course two players with whom he would possibly play alongside on the international stage, nice info.

Thanks Wag, unfortunately that last post was riddled with mistakes, perhaps I shouldn't write at 1.22am!

Also, Nicol would be at Liverpool around the same time as MacLeod, I'd guess.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by HD:

Also, Nicol would be at Liverpool around the same time as MacLeod, I'd guess. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hehe yeah, I realised that when I checked the 1986 World Cup Squad.

If the summer of '74, when Duncan had been a starry eyed nine year old boy with his whole life before him had been the golden year of his childhood, then perhaps 1986 could be considered the golden year of his adulthood. Children have more concept of imagination than adults, to them everything looks bigger and more awesome. As adults we tend to lose the ability for awe, and combined with the actual fact that our 'innocence' has long gone, things are never quite as magical as they were when we were kids. That, I think, is the whole point in Steven's Kings 'It'.

Yet perhaps at just approaching twenty one, Duncan still retained just a hint of that childhood awe and innocence before it was swept completely away as the often harsh, more times mundane and boring realities of adulthood finally settled in. Whatever the psychological concepts, 1986 was one of those pivotal years in the life of Duncan MacLeod. It started with discovering his long time girlfriend, lover, fiancee was pregnant, and it ended with the birth of their first child, Mhairi, named after Alyson's paternal grandmother who died just two weeks before the birth of what would have been her thirteenth great grandchild.

Duncan and Alyson had no plans to get married as 1986 approached. They were happy, as Alyson's granny called it, living in sin. They planned that perhaps one day they would make their commitment a more legal one – or a more religious one, but Duncan MacLeod did not believe in God. If he did exist, he must have one hell of a wicked sense of humour. It was Duncan's belief that, if God did exist, he was surely far more evil than he could ever have been good. Yet in March of 1986, when Alyson told him she was expecting their first child, pressure from her side of the family dictated they should get married. As Granny Mhairi, after whom this child would unknowingly be named, put it,

'We don't want another little bastard in the family.'

The problem with a wedding was twofold. When to have it, and the fact that Duncan would feel obliged to invite his mother. When to have it – because footballing commitments at that time of the year made it very tough to find a date and as the year went on so the summer was ruled out, when Duncan was named in the Scotland Squad for the 1986 World Finals in Mexico. The World Cup started on May 31st, so there was little time after the season to fit in a wedding. May 10th was finally agreed on – until Kilmarnock reached the Final of the Scottish Cup. The wedding was hastily rearranged for a week later, and the honeymoon would take place in Mexico. It would, of course, be a working honeymoon and would be paid for in reality by the Scottish Football Association, which was very kind of them. In the end, Duncan's mother did not come to the wedding. He never found out the reason why, and he never spoke to her again apart from the couple of occasions she phoned him in Liverpool begging him for money. He didn't send her any.

During the World Cup qualifying campaign, Duncan had made three starts and three substitute appearances for his country, bagging three goals as Scotland pipped Spain to top the group, and so missing out on having to go all the way to Australia for a play off match. It was no surprise then that he had been named in the squad for the Finals themselves, even though he was one of the players rumoured to have been dropped from the squad when it was reduced to its twenty two man state. In fact it was an injury to Dundee United striker Paul Sturrock that probably opened a place for Duncan to be the youngest player in that squad, but he wasn't about to complain about that. These things happen in football and sometimes you have to take advantage of pure blind luck, because you never know when fate will rise up and kick you squarely and firmly in the balls.

And so, newly married, expectant father Duncan MacLeod headed off into the sunset of Mexico, where his life was about to take another dramatic, and not too unkind change of direction. Duncan MacLeod was about to become the hottest young talent in British football.

Possibly.

Coincidences can be strange things, and as coincidence would have it Duncan MacLeod would room at the 1986 World Cup with Rangers' Davie Cooper and Liverpool's Stevie Nicol. Transfer speculation was rife concerning the young Scot, but it was Rangers and Liverpool who emerged as the frontrunners in the race to sign Scotland's hottest property of the summer. Of course Duncan had known Nicol from the short time he had spent at Ayr United and he knew both players well enough by now from his involvement in the Scotland squad.

Scotland boss Alex Ferguson had taken over after the untimely death of another Scottish legend. Jock Stein had died at the pivotal point of the 1986 World Cup qualifying campaign when a 1-1 draw in Wales had secured Scotland the group win, having earlier beaten Wales 2-1 at Hampden thanks to a brace from MacLeod. Ferguson did his best to try and deflect any such transfer dealing during the campaign in Mexico but it was not easy. MacLeod had his future to consider and there would not be much time after the tournament to sort these things out and so inevitably the negotiations would take place when they were least wanted, from an international point of view.

Duncan was in a dilemma. Moving to Rangers would mean less upheaval, Alyson would be near her family. Moving to Liverpool though meant a move away from Kilmarnock completely and Duncan felt a sense of intense relief that he would be able to put some distance between himself and the mother who never had been in reality, a mother. Liverpool also offered the opportunity to play on a bigger stage – and more money. Money was not the main motivation for Duncan, but it certainly was something to be considered now that he had a child on the way. The transfer speculation was played out in the back ground of a quite glorious World Cup Campaign for Scotland, and by the time the tournament was over two more clubs, Arsenal and Barcelona, were allegedly interested in signing the young Scot. By that time though, he had already made his mind up.

The draw for the 1986 World Cup had placed Scotland in the so called 'group of death', with West Germany, Uruguay and Denmark. It was quite possibly the hardest Finals group Scotland had ever faced and there was little confidence at home. The debacle of 1978 had still not been fully erased and the pain of Alan Hansen's blunder to cost Scotland their place in the second stage in 1982 was still very raw. The Tartan Army were in full voice as usual, but underneath there was now a hint of trepidation and scepticism. Scotland would no doubt once more do just enough to fail gloriously and bring heartbreak again to the undying spirit of their magnificent support. An opening match 1-1 draw between West Germany and Uruguay provided little to suggest either of these sides were unbeatable and by the time Scotland's opening match with Denmark kicked off, the Tartan Army were as optimistic as ever.

Duncan was on the bench, but after a dull first half Denmark took the lead on 57 minutes and Alex Ferguson decided to introduce his talented young striker to the foray of World Cup Finals football. It was a decision that Ferguson was later lauded for as MacLeod fired in an 88th minute equalizer and Scotland had at least retained parity with the rest of the group. Denmark's next match against Uruguay would show just what a great team they were at that time, and how significant the Scotland result was, as they ripped the South Americans to shreds in a 6-1 triumph, and they would then go on to defeat West Germany 2-0 to deservedly top the group and set themselves up as one of the dark horses to life the trophy itself. Scotland though were about to make headlines of their own with their best World Cup Finals performance - until even that was eclipsed years later, under the managership of the man who would turn out to be one of the stars of this tournament.

West Germany were not really that good a team. Many people believed that this was the worst West German team in many a long year, and their opening game draw with Uruguay, if not underlining the point, certainly went some way to showing it. Mind you, the Germans often started big tournaments slowly, and they certainly could not be written off. Duncan MacLeod found himself again on the bench as Gordon Strachan – a future managerial adversary – sent Scotland into a stunning lead on eighteen minutes. The Germans though were level by half time, and took the lead shortly into the second half, totally undeserved. With 27 minutes left to play, MacLeod was stripped for action and entered the field of play. Less than 180 seconds later, Scotland were level and MacLeod was the hero again.

The 2-2 draw with West Germany was certainly a decent achievement, although many pundits declared that Scotland should have won. The media was clamouring for Ferguson to give MacLeod a starting place for the vital match with Uruguay where a win would surely guarantee Scotland a place in the last sixteen, even if just as one of the best third placed sides, and a lot would depend on the outcome of the other match. Yet Ferguson did not bow to media pressure, and once more the youngest player in the Scotland squad – and their leading goalscorer in the competition of course – was left sitting on the bench as the match with Uruguay got underway.

Less than a minute had gone when Uruguay's Jose Batista was red carded, and the Scots now would surely never have a better chance of getting out of the group stages. Come half time though, as the Uruguayans played a game of kick the player rather than the ball, the match was all square still. In the other match, Denmark were leading the West Germans by a goal to nil thanks to a 43rd minute penalty, and if things stayed as they were Scotland were through. The second half was as tough a battle as the first, as the Uruguayans seemed intent on putting the boot in whenever possible in a shocking display of bad sportsmanship and hacking, and it was a wonder they actually didn't finish the match with even less men. Scotland were not to be intimidated though, but Ferguson refused to send his young striker into such a pit of hatred and in the end a no score draw, coupled with Germanys 2-0 capitulation, was enough to see them through in second place. The Germans scraped through as the fourth best 3rd placed team. You just couldn't ever count them out, although a 1-0 loss to Argentina in the last sixteen did indeed do just that.

Scotland's task in the last sixteen was overcome Morocco, with group winners Denmark taking on Spain. Many commentated that perhaps, given the Scots record, the Spanish tie would have been much better for them but as the Spanish ripped a pretty good Denmark side apart by an amazing five goals to one, perhaps that was just being silly. Morocco had proved no slouches though, coming through as group winners after goalless draws with Poland and England, before a devastating 3-1 triumph over Portugal. It was a match Scotland were expected to win – but they had been there many times before – and failed. MacLeod was given his first ever start at a World Cup Finals, and just three minutes into the match he volleyed home a Davie Cooper cross and the Scots were in dreamland. Six minutes from half time though, Morocco were level and it was a pretty disappointed group of Scottish players who went into the dressing room, knowing that they should have had this match all sewn up by now.

Scotland though had been the better team, and it was no surprise when MacLeod jinked through the Moroccan defence twelve minutes after the restart to send Scotland on their way to a match with the hosts, Mexico. Three minutes later, MacLeod was upended in the box and he himself slotted home the resultant penalty to seal the triumph. The youngster was taken off with 20 minutes left to play, and Scotland wouldn't be Scotland if they didn't do things the hard way, giving a sloppy goal to the Africans and making the last five minutes a nerve racking time for the Tartan Army. Yet if that was nerve racking, the Quarter Final match with Mexico was heart attack inducing stuff. Twice the Mexicans took the lead, twice Duncan MacLeod pulled the match level, and finally Davie Cooper fired a superb free kick with three minutes left to send the Tartan Army into raptures. Time was running out, with the ninety minutes come and gone when the Mexicans won a corner, a mix up in the Scotland defence and the match was into an extra 30 minutes. With no further scoring, the match went to a penalty shoot out, which descended into farce.

The first six players all missed their spot-kicks. The seventh was MacLeod whose effort skidded off the post and just made it over the line. Mexico also scored with their next effort, Davie Cooper made it 2-1 leaving the Mexicans needing to score to stay in the tournament they were hosting. Real Madrid's Hugo Sanchez faced up to the intimidating sight of Aberdeen's Jim Leighton. Sanchez sent the ball to his left, Leighton dived to his left, the ball bounced of the post and Scotland were into the Semi Finals of the World Cup. This though was to prove a bridge too far for a gallant Scotland side, who eventually went down 3-0 to a talented French side, but it had been a magnificent achievement against all the odds, and Duncan MacLeod, with seven goals, pipped England golden boy Gary Linekar to be the tournaments top scorer. It would be a long, long time before Scotland ever achieved such a run in the World Cup again, and by that time MacLeod would be the man in charge.

On the 26th of November 1986, at 7.30 in the evening, Mhairi Moira MacLeod was born into the world. Duncan had fretted over the birth, not wanting his child to be born in Liverpool in case he grew up to play for England which would simply never do. The fact he might have a girl had never even crossed his mind. Alyson went to stay with her parents, but mainly for the reason that it would be better for her to have family around. The 26th of November was a Wednesday, but Liverpool had no game that night and so Duncan travelled up to Kilmarnock on the Sunday afternoon. Mhairi's birth though was not as straightforward as it might have been, the labour was long and difficult and doctors were concerned about a lack of oxygen reaching the baby. For three weeks, little Mhairi was kept in the hospital for tests, but it would be three years before she was finally diagnosed as having a mild form of Cerebral Palsy, which would affect her balance and co-ordination as she grew.

Of course once the baby was home and, at that time, as healthy as she could be, the proud parents doted on her and their life seemed complete. Until around six months later when Alyson announced she was expecting for a second time. There was no time to get to Kilmarnock for this birth as Bethany Marie was born two weeks early, on 6th March 1988. She was a bouncing, healthy baby girl and everything apart from the location of her birth went as well as any birth can. By the time their third, and last, child was born in July of 1992, the MacLeod's were living in Spain as Duncan was now playing for Real Madrid. Duncan really wanted a boy, but his wish was not to come true as Isabella Alyson MacLeod made her way into the world and the MacLeod family was complete. In his autobiography, Duncan said that although he had really wanted a boy he would not have given up his three girls for anything and perhaps, when all was said and done, there would have been so much pressure for a boy to follow in his fathers footsteps that it was probably just as well there wasn't one.

By the time of the 1990 World Cup, Duncan had helped Liverpool to two League titles – a third would follow in 1991, before a move to Madrid – and two FA Cups. Duncan never got to play for Liverpool in Europe because of 'the ban', which was something he would have liked of course but it wasn't as if there much the player could do about it. The 1990 World Cup began against Costa Rica, but Duncan MacLeod was struggling with a knee problem and did not play for Scotland until the last fifteen minutes of the game against Brazil – by which time the sorry Scots had been eliminated. If 1978 had been bad, 1990 didn't even have the saving grace of a glorious last game failure. Scotland had not been glorious, they had simply been abysmal. The memory of four years ago was fading and there were fears that Scotland was slipping into the footballing wilderness.

Ironically, as MacLeod inspired Liverpool to a final day league title, pipping Arsenal at the post, English clubs were once more able to take part in European competition. Duncan though would not figure in the Liverpool assault, as after five years on Merseyside, he was off to one of the giants of world football, and a taste of a very different kind off football.

In his autobiography, Duncan MacLeod re-iterated his love for the Spanish game and claimed that the three years he spent in Madrid were the most enjoyable of his career. Indeed, he went on to say that moving to Milan had been a huge mistake, and he had wished he had spent another couple of years with Madrid, or probably another Spanish club, before returning to the UK. Such was the MacLeod's love of the country that when their third child was born during their stay there, they named her Isabella, which just happened to be the name of Madrid President's wife. The time in Spain though ended when the club changed President's and the new boss decided that MacLeod could be sold for a nice amount of money.

During Duncan's time in Spain, Barcelona had the ascendency, but Madrid did manage to wrest the 1993 title from their grasp, and followed that up the next season – Duncan's last there – with a Champions League triumph. Nineteen ninety four also marked World Cup Finals year, but for the first time in twenty years, Scotland had failed to reach the finals and after the debacle of 1990, questions were starting to be asked about the standards of Scottish football and the apparent lack of world class talent – Duncan MacLeod being the only Scot at that time who could be considered to be of such calibre. Something would have to be done, but as usual the SFA were slow and cumbersome and as the side made their way through the next qualifying campaign successfully, so papering over the cracks, and things seemed to be returning to some sort of normal equilibrium.

Milan was not a happy a time for the MacLeod's though. It wasn't really the clubs fault, as Duncan explained in his autobiography. Indeed a Scudetto was won in 1996, and twice in his three years Duncan was top scorer in Serie A, which is no mean feat in a country renowned for it's defensive playing style. The family though never felt as happy in Milan as they had in Madrid, and it didn't help matters that Mhairi had started to become ill halfway through the spell there and needed a lot of time in hospital for tests and treatment, much of which were carried out in the UK. That of course meant a lot of travelling for Alysson, and it put a huge strain on their marriage at the time. Duncan needed to return to the UK and at the end of the 1997 season, finally won a move back to Liverpool, where he remained for a year. With Mhairi's condition only worsening though, the family decided they would be best off back in Scotland to be near Alysson's parents and so at the age of 33, international Scottish legend Duncan MacLeod signed on a free transfer for Motherwell. This would be his last club as a player, as his career on the park entered it's twilight years.

By the summer of 1998, Mhairi, who had entered her teenage years, was seeming to have progressed and spent most of her time at home now. The World Cup Finals took place in France and the whole family, including Alysson's parents, travelled to see the action. It would be the last time they would ever take a holiday together, although they did not of course know that at the time. With matches against Brazil, Norway and Morocco, Scotland's progress to the 2nd round was not guaranteed but there was a feeling that whilst 1986 could almost certainly not be repeated, the Scots would surely get out of this group. This though, being Scotland, was not something they would do with any great ease.

Good stuff, as ever!

Thanks Iain!

Scotland, being Scotland, intended to make things as tough as possible for themselves, and went behind to Brazil after just four minutes of their opening match of the 1998 World Cup Finals. A John Collins penalty saw Scotland level before half time and when Duncan MacLeod sent the Scots into a sensational lead on the hour, it seemed that a first ever win against the worlds greatest footballing nation was finally in order. Tom Boyd though put paid to that as he put the ball into his own net, and Scotland had to settle for a draw. Against Norway though, Scotland put in performance that was beyond belief from a side who at times struggled to know how to play the game. Duncan MacLeod's first half hattrick took him to eleven World Cup Finals goals, Craig Burley added 4th in the second half and although Norway pulled a goal back, they were never going to salvage this match.

Yet if Scotland had been brilliant against Norway, there were painfully woeful against Morocco. MacLeod it was true did bag his 12th Finals goal, but the Africans were surprising strong and Scotland had no answer they went down by 3-1. In the other match, Norway stunned Brazil with a 2-1 victory but for both them and Morocco the wins had come too late and it was Scotland who proceeded to the last sixteen along with Brazil. Italy were Scotland's opponents at this stage, and at no time did the Scots ever look like winning as Italy strolled to an all too easy 3-0 triumph and Scotland's impossible dream was over once more. There were rumours in the press that this would be Duncan MacLeod's last World Cup. By the time of the next tournament – and even supposing Scotland could get there – the great man would be 36 years old. The media though were to be proven quite wrong about that.

Three weeks after Scotland had been sent packing from the World Cup Finals of 1998, double tragedy hit the family. Mhairi took a turn for the worse, was rushed to hospital where she lapsed into a coma. For three days the family surrounded her bedside, but Mhairi never regained consciousness and four months short of her 13th birthday she died. Just over a week later, Alysson's father suffered a massive heart attack, from which he never recovered. It was a time of great pain and suffering in the MacLeod household. Duncan had never known his father, and although a lot of his time during his marriage had been spent abroad, he had developed a close relationship with both Alysson's parents. The loss of one of their precious daughters, compounded by her grandfathers own death, nearly tore the family apart and it was only their incredible love for each other that kept them going in those dark days.

The start of the 1998-1999 football season was upon them, but Duncan did not have the heart to do any training and was seriously contemplating giving up the game entirely. It was not guaranteed that Ted's death had been related to the inevitable stress brought on by his granddaughters illness, but of course that had surely played it's part. Duncan was in turmoil, because he could not help but wonder if he had stayed in the UK Mhairi might have still been alive. This, of course, was not true but as he explained in his autobiography it was something he just could not get out of his mind, and it took him a long time to come to terms with his eldest daughters demise and even in his later life, long after his other two children had grown up with children of their own, and Alysson had passed over to the other side, he would still look back and wonder if things would have been different. Grief is a very hard emotion to understand.

Eventually though, the family gained some kind of recovery and it would four more years before Duncan MacLeod would finally hang up his footballing boots, and rather fittingly, would do so at the 2002 World Cup Finals.....

The final three years of Duncan MacLeod's footballing career would see no further medals come his way, and when the curtain came down on the 2001-2002 football season, MacLeod announced he was retiring from football. In his career he had won only one European medal, the Champions League with Real, but that fact was blurred by the five years he spent in Liverpool where Europe had not been an option. A haul of five domestic league titles and five domestic cups does not seem overly magnificent, but few players – and certainly no Scots – can have won a domestic title in all three of Europe's top leagues. Of course if MacLeod had chosen Rangers in 1986 instead of Liverpool, then things would have be different, a lot more medals would be hanging on walls of his study. But then, as he explained in a remarkable swipe at the domestic game, the medals he had won in England, Spain and Italy were worth many such in a poor league like Scotland. Which, needless to say, did not go down well with the media or fans. It was nevertheless, the harsh truth of the matter.

The qualifying campaign for the 2002 World Cup Finals, to be held in Japan and South Korea, was a tight affair for Scotland as they battled it out with Croatia and Belgium. It could have gone either way, but in the end Scotland did enough to edge out Belgium for second place and a play off against the Czech Republic. After a goalless draw in Prague, the return in Glasgow – which was Duncan MacLeod's 100th match for his country – saw the veteran striker grab the only goal of the match and Scotland were on their way to the Orient. There they would face up to the potential hazard of joint hosts Japan, as well as Russia and Tunisia. If all went well for MacLeod, the final group match with Russia would see him surpass Kenny Dalglish and become the most capped Scot of all time.

As well as helping Scotland to get as far as possible in the tournament of course, there was one more record the 36 year had to chase. Sitting on 12 all time World Cup Finals goals, he just needed two more to equal the record held by Germany's Gerdh Muller, although to be fair the German had achieved his total over just two tournaments. MacLeod did not deny that to achieve such a record would be up there with his best achievements, but if Scotland won the tournament and Duncan MacLeod did not score a single goal he would be much happier. Scotland though had little chance of winning this event, unless some incredible disaster befell all the favourites.

Japan were the first opponents and with a vociferous home support they battled hard to try and win their opening match and set themselves up for a successful tournament. In the end, they had to settle for a two all draw as Scotland twice came from behind thanks to goals from Don Hutchison and Duncan MacLeod. Whether this was a good or bad result the Scottish press could not decide but in the end they would agree it was probably the best that could be hoped for in such a match. Especially after Tunisia were seen off by three goals to nil, Hutchinson, MacLeod and Billy Dodds grabbing the goals that virtually secured a place in the last sixteen. Russia though stood in the way, as they had done in 1982, and with three minutes left they led 1-0 and Scotland were in danger once more of blowing it big time. It would of course be so typical, but cometh the hour cometh the man, and from a corner Scotland legend Duncan MacLeod rose majestically to head the ball home for the goal that not only sent Scotland to a match with Brazil, but sent the striker into the World Cup record books.

As it would turn out, the match with Brazil, Duncan MacLeod's 104th cap for his country, would be his last competitive football match. He would in later years appear in occasional charity matches, but they of course do not count for anything. Brazil would go on to win the 2002 World Cup, but not before Scotland gave them the fright of their lives. At 2-0 up after just 20 minutes, the slick Brazilians were well on their way to their date with destiny, but they had not banked on the fighting spirit which the Scots had just about hung on to. Billy Dodds scored three minutes from half time, and from a corner six minutes into the second half, Colin Henry headed home the equilizer. For long periods of the second half, Scotland were in control and this did not look like a Brazil side who were going to meet with success. Nine minutes from time, Billy Dodds was brought down inside the area and as the Italian referee pointed to the spot, there was only one man who was going to take this kick – and he did not miss.

It was all to be in vain though. Brazil suddenly realized what the score was, sent the ball past Scotland keeper Sullivan twice in the last three minutes and in typical Scottish fashion the adventure was over. The adventure for Duncan MacLeod was over too as he swapped shirts at the end with the man who would just narrowly fail to match his World Cup goals record. Scotland were out of a tournament that few people had even expected them to reach, and the career of one of the countries true legends had drawn to a close. But as one door closes so another slams shut, but the doors for Duncan MacLeod were all well and truly opened and he would one day be back at the World Cup Finals.

Before that though, there was a whole lot of water to flow under the bridge....

Class story Pm7. Again... KUTGW

Thanks Danny

In the summer of 2006, Kilmarnock were looking for a new boss. Many names were thrown into the hat, some of them – such as Alex McLeish – were just plain stupid, whilst the mention of Ally McCoist on the basis that he was a former Killie player was probably just something the press made up to sell a few more copies of their disgusting rags they flaunted as newspapers. No-one though seemed to have given much though to record-holding Scotland international Duncan MacLeod.

MacLeod, who had become more and more involved in the coaching side of things at the end of his playing time at Motherwell, was at this point the man in charge of the Motherwell youth side. He had been on quite a few UEFA coaching courses over the years, and it was there he met the man who would turn out to be his assistant at Kilmarnock, a player who was a worthy adversary during Duncan's spell in Madrid, Julen Guerrero. That the press did not pick up on MacLeod's being in the running for this job was rather surprising, given that MacLeod still lived in Kilmarnock and having such connections with the club would surely be ideal for the job. It seemed though, that as this was not the Old Firm, there was no real point in trying to go too deeply into this story, that wasn't really a story anyway. After all, it was only Kilmarnock.

Coaching the youth side at Motherwell had been an enjoyable experience, a chance to develop players who might one day go on and play for their country – although in reality few, if in fact none, of that crop of Motherwell players were really all that good. Yet when Kilmarnock chairman Michael Johnson phoned Duncan to ask if he would be interested in the managers job – MacLeod had not applied, it was not something he had really given much thought to – it had not taken the former Kilmarnock striker too long before accepting, and suddenly the press seemed to remember that the countries most successful player was still alive and well – although probably baffled that he was not managing either of the Old Firm.

In Kilmarnock, they had not forgotten about Duncan MacLeod, even though it was a hell of a long time since that 21 year old lad had left to seek his fortunes elsewhere. Nevertheless there were mixed reactions to the appointment of a man who, in managerial terms at least, was still very much a rookie. There is a huge difference managing a youth side, and a side who expect some sort of domestic success – even if that success is only in the form of not being relegated. The announcement though, whilst trimmed with trepidation, could not help but inspire wonder in the majority of the support, and with former Spanish international midfielder Julen Guerrero announced as Assistant it was a certainly a managerial team that, on the park at least, had had plenty of talent and an abundance of coaching potential.

If the Kilmarnock fans were doubtful about the managerial credentials of their new bosses, they were flabergasted when virtually the first thing they did was flog Steven Naismith to Rangers. The fee though, reported to be around three and half million pounds, more than made up for the loss of the clubs current best player. When other established players were also moved on – David Lilley, Alan Combe, Gary Wales, Danny Invincible and a whole host of others – the support didn't know whether to laugh at the man's audacity, or cry at what might seem a total loss of wits. Coming in the way were Old Firm Charlies, Grant and Adam, whilst striker Peter MacDonald came in from St Johnstone. Motherwell's Graeme Smith signed up to be the first choice keeper, St Mirren duo David van Zanten and Stewart Kean came in, and a few other players – none of whom were considered particularly outstanding. One player who did bring a bit of excitement to the Kilmarnock support though was Nacho Novo, unwanted at Ibrox and more than happy to join the Killie revolution.

MacLeod's first match as Kilmarnock boss took place in the unlikely surroundings of Andorra La Vella, in front of just over 1200 people. This was hardly the most glamorous match he would ever have as a manager, but it would if nothing else ease in the new players and build a bit of confidence. Six minutes into the match, the Kilmarnock support must have been thinking their new manager had lost his marbles. Opponents Santa Coloma were two nil up, and in danger of running riot. It might only be a friendly, but to lose badly to a side from Andorra was not exactly part of the script. Second half goals from Kean and MacDonald though saw Killie salvage a draw, but this was hardy a match to inspire the Kilmarnock fans to embrace the new regime with open arms.

Kean would never sign for Killie

He would if they gave him enough money

True.

The fears of the Kilmarnock support though were soon to be put to rest as the side started the season with a nineteen match unbeaten run, which saw them into the Semi Finals of the CIS League Cup and challenging at the top of the SPL table. The highlight of the run had been two victories over Celtic, which merely underlined that MacLeod had his team on the right track. At Celtic Park, Nacho Novo sent Peter MacDonald clear on goal with only seconds left on the clock, and at Rugby Park it was MacDonald who set Novo up for the winner in injury time, both matches being won by two goals to one. The other half of the Old Firm proved a slighty tougher affair, although only one meeting had taken place with Rangers. A no score draw at Rugby Park was not a disaster, but many pundits felt MacLeod's side should have won.

Although the length of such an unbeaten run was reaching epic proportions, especially for a team outwith the Glasgow Two, the mere number did not tell the whole story. There were some moments of absolute genious from the fledgling Kilmarnock side. In the League Cup, Raith Rovers had been blown away by an incredible eleven goals to nil, Peter MacDonald banging in an incredible SEVEN of those goals. Falkirk also found themselves on the end of MacDonald whupping as he sent the ball past their hapless keeper four times in a 7-0 league win at Rugby Park. Perhaps the best performance of that spell though was a four one ripping apart of a Hearts side who would go on to challenge for the title almost to the bitter death of the season. Ironically, it was that very same Hearts side who ended MacLeod's unbeaten managerial record with a 1-0 win at Tynecastle on the 12th of December.

Yet it was not all plain sailing. Three one up away to St Mirren, the side conspired to gain a draw, and at Inverness the home side proved stubborn and refused to give up in another three all draw. Indeed, by the end of the league season Kilmarnock would have drawn twelve matches, more than any other side in the SPL that season. MacLeod though had been diplomatic about the capitulation that occurred in some matches.

'We have a new side' he told the media after they presumed that he must surely be disappointed at surrendering a two goal lead to a pretty ordinary side like St Mirren, 'It takes time for new players to settle and we will not always see the best. Mistakes happen.'

Although positive to the media, in the dressing room it was often a different matter. Peter MacDonald went on to become one of the longest serving players under MacLeod.

'He was a perfectionist' MacDonald insisted, 'Absolutely no time for anyone who did not give of his best. The gaffer did not expect us to win every single match we played, but he did expect us to give of our best whether the opposition be East Fife or AC Milan. More than once he exploded in the dressing room, even when we had won. He had a reputation at times as a tyrant - particularly some of the foreign players who could not understand the physical aspect of the Scots game were highly scathing once they had left. But underneath he was a man you knew you could trust, a man with a great tactical mind.'

MacDonald had every reason to be pleased with MacLeod, a few other players perhaps had less reason. The former Rangers youth had been plugging along at First Division St Johnstone when MacLeod snapped him up. He was seen by both media and fans alike as a stop gap, someone who would only play when no-one else was available or who would be replaced when others of higher quality arrived. The truth was, Peter MacDonald was not a great football player by any stretch of the imagination. But he did the one thing his 'gaffer' asked him to – he scored goals and MacDonald was still around Rugby Park after far bigger names had been shown the door.

The 2006-2007 SPL title race was developing into one of the most intense and exciting of all time. That was hardly an exaggeration, as Hearts & Kilmarnock battled it out toe to toe with the Old Firm. At Ibrox, Rangers and Kilmarnock served up one of the most remarkable games ever seen in topflight football in Scotland as the home side eventually ran out winners by six goals to five. Rangers were the side trailing in fourth place come the start of 2007, but the gap was only a few points and it was anyone's title at this stage. Incredibly though, despite clearly having a chance at the title, midway through January Rangers departed company with legendary manager Walter Smith. It was a decision that was greeted with much derision both in the media and amongst the Rangers support. Just a couple of days later, MacLeod's former international striking partner, one Alistair McCoist was announced as the new manager at Ibrox.

Despite that defeat at Ibrox and a subsequent 2-0 reversal at Celtic Park, Kilmarnock were very much right in the pack as the new year progressed, and they were also in with a chance of some silverware as Aberdeen were pushed aside by a Peter MacDonald goal to reach the Final of the CIS League Cup against Celtic. That match would not be till March, and Kilmarnock went into the final on the back of an unbeaten nine match run in League and Cup. Indeed, the last defeat had been that League match at Celtic Park. You had to go back to 1997 for Kilmarnock's last trophy success, and going into their second successive League Cup Final, they were given every chance to win against their fellow title challengers.

Kilmarnock had also been given a boost, not just by their two league wins, but also in they fact that they had drawn Celtic in the Scottish Cup 4th round just a few weeks before this Final – and gubbed them 3-0. The players then knew, this was a match they most certainly could win.

The sides lined up at Hampden, with two league matches to go before the 'split' and the in many ways this Final was simply an irrelevance in the face of what was ahead. For MacLeod and his Kilmarnock side in particular though, the relevance was quite simply to find some silverware and boost confidence for the title run in. The press were expecting a Celtic win – the Old Firm rarely lose Finals – but it was not about to happen. Stewart Kean opened the scoring after just eleven minutes, before Peter MacDonald added a second half brace and although Celtic did get a late consolation there was nothing they could do to stop Duncan MacLeod winning his first trophy as a manager. It would not be his last, by a long way.

Talk of a Celtic treble, which had been swept away with that Scottish Cup win, was unexpectedly changed to talk of a Kilmarnock treble, after Rangers were overcome 3-2 in a Scottish Cup Semi Final replay, after a goalless draw. At the 'split', Celtic were top of the SPL with 71 points, Hearts lay second on 69 and Rangers were tied on 68 points with Kilmarnock. The other two sides in the top six, namely Hibs and Aberdeen were so far back it didn't matter, but they would still hope to have some say on the destination of the title. Although in the end, they actually didn't.

MacLeod was livid when the fixture list for the post split matches was revealed, and Kilmarnock had been given their final three matches all away from home. The balance though was that they did have two out of the three challengers at Rugby Park, but MacLeod was not at all happy nevertheless, feeling that there was no need to play three successive away games at such a crucial stage. Indeed, of the four challenging sides, only Celtic had the balance of fixtures in their home favour, but in such an odd system that sort of thing is bound to happen. And whatever criticism can be levelled at such a seemingly ludicrous way of doing things, for this particular season at least the last five matches were to unleash an unbearably tense but highly exciting finale to the Scottish football season.

The first head to head of the final five saw Hearts come to Rugby Park, whilst Celtic travelled in the opposite direction to take on Hibs and Rangers hosted Aberdeen. On an afternoon where tension was running high, something would have to give but both halves of the Old Firm managed to hold theirs and record vital wins. They, of course, had been here before but at Rugby Park the two sides battling it out were general strangers in recent times to title run-ins. Peter MacDonald, who would rather surprisingly end up as top scorer in the SPL, sent Kilmarnock on their way after just four minutes but any thoughts that Hearts were about to blow up were swept away when the Tynecastle side levelled just eight minutes later. Peter MacDonald was on hand though to restore the lead just a few minutes later, and on the half hour Charlie Adam secured all three points for Killie and it was Hearts who were the losers this week.

Celtic had moved three points clear at the top thanks to that Hearts defeat, and the Jam Tarts themselves had dropped five points off the lead with four matches left to play. In midweek, Kilmarnock hosted Rangers at Rugby Park in a match that had been brought forward a week and a half. This was Killie's last home match of the season, and the support were hoping for a glorious send off. Peter MacDonald was becoming an iconic figure in the team and after twenty one minutes it was he who sent MacLeod's side into the lead. Nine minutes later though Rangers were level, and it was, ironically enough, Steven Naismith who had gotten that oh so vital goal. A draw would probably suit Celtic more, but twelve minutes from time MacDonald struck again, Rangers were now playing catch up and Killie moved joint top of the SPL and the tension increased to almost breaking point.

A huge weekend of SPL football ensued. Rangers would travel to Tynecastle and virtually kill off Hearts title challenge with a 2-1 win, whilst at Celtic Park the hosts could surely put one hand at least on the title with a win. Only two minutes had passed when Celtic took the lead and their fans sat back to join the party. On 38 minutes the Dutch guy with the long name made it 2-0 and Celtic were cruising. As the Celtic Park choir burst into renditions of 'You'll Never Walk Alone', so minute Spaniard Nacho Novo broke free of the Celtic defence from the restart and Kilmarnock had a life line. The match was ebbing and flowing, but there was a sense that the boys in blue still believed, and seventeen minutes from time Charlie Adam was the hero again and in the end the points were shared. Celtic remained top of the SPL by three goals, and of course a game in hand. Rangers were a point back of the leading two, but had a slightly better goal difference. There was still everything to win, and everything to lose.

As Kilmarnock headed north to Aberdeen for a Scottish Cup Final dress rehearsal, so Celtic were off to Edinburgh once again, this time to face a Hearts side whose title hopes were now virtually gone - but still had that enticing prospect of a 2nd place, and Champions League football. Hibs went the opposite way down the M8 to lose 1-0 at Ibrox, whilst a Callum Elliot goal eight minutes from time sent Celtic home to think again and made a severe dent in that clubs own title aspirations. Pittodrie would not be an easy place to go, even if Aberdeen were playing for not a whole lot, they had to keep things ticking over for that date at Hampden. Paul Di Giacomo sent Killie into a precious lead six minutes from half time, and with seventeen minutes left Aberdeen were reduced to 10 men. Five minutes later though northern lights were shining as the men in red levelled the match. With time running out, it looked like a point would be the order of the say for Killie – and the fans didn't know whether to laugh or cry. With mere seconds on the clock though, Novo sent MacDonald through on goalm, the ball soared past Jamie Langfield to send Kilmarnock a point clear of Rangers at the top of the SPL. It would be a wonder if anyone's nerves held out in the last two weeks of a quite incredible season.

Kilmarnock and Rangers were on the sidelines for the penultimate round of SPL matches, and there was nothing they could do but watch and pray. Hearts had a tough Edinburgh derby at Easter Road, although it was highly unlikely they could now snatch 2nd place anyway, and Celtic were at home to Cup Finalists Aberdeen. A Lewis Stevenson own goal gave Hearts all three points, but any chance they had of second place was extinguished as Celtic won 1-0 at the Pittodrie to move two goals clear of Kilmarnock at the top of the SPL. Hearts had done well, and contributed a lot to an exciting title run in, but in the end they had just missed out and would end up without even a place in Europe as consolation, having turned down the chance to play in the InterToto Cup.

And so we came to the Finale of the Scottish Premier League season, and all eyes were on Celtic Park as the Old Firm squared up for a title showdown. Kilmarnock travelled over to Edinburgh, and things hung pretty much in the balance. Even if they lost at Easter Road, Killie could still claim the title if Rangers triumphed at the home of their greatest foe's, yet victory would be pointless if Celtic also won – unless of course the Kilmarnock triumph was by three goals more. The media spent days contemplating the various arithmetical outcomes but once the players took to the parks, the speculation ended and it was down to whose nerve would hold on the day. Kilmarnock, upon whom there was probably the least pressure, started brightly at Easter Road and after eighteen minutes Paul Di Giacomo gave them that vital lead, which they would take into the interval. Over at Celtic Park, the teams headed in goalless after forty five minutes, and if things stood as they were it would Kilmarnock who were Champions, and all the exposure given to the 'most important Old Firm clash of all time' would be but meaningless drivel – which is basically what it was anyway.

On 62 minutes Kilmarnock won a penalty at Easter Road, which Nacho Novo slotted home and barring disaster MacLeod's side had done their bit at least. It all seemed to be in vain though, three minutes earlier Kenny Miller had sent Celtic ahead against his former club and the Championship party started in earnest amongst the hoops support. Only five minutes later though, those celebrations were a little muted as Milovan Mirosevic brought Rangers level, and twelve minutes from time the much maligned Filip Sebo sent Rangers into a stunning lead. A win though could not now claim the title for the Ibrox club, as Kilmarnock coasted in the end to their two nil win, but it would settle them in second place – and that vital Champions League possibility. As the match ended at Easter Road, so at Celtic Park they played four minutes into injury time. The Kilmarnock support dared not hope yet, and with the referee's whistle to his lips, Jiri Jarosik rekindled Celtic hopes. It was in the end, too little too late, and as the referee brought the match in Glasgow to an end, so over in Edinburgh Kilmarnock had ended a forty one year wait for the title. Duncan MacLeod had come to Rugby Park, and achieved the impossible.

Scottish football was stunned. You had to go back twenty two years to discover the last time a side out of the big Glasgow duo had won the league. Things like this were not supposed to happen. Six days after securing one of the most nail-biting, amazing titles ever, Kilmarnock showed up at the home of Scottish Football, only needing to beat a relatively poor Aberdeen side to claim the domestic treble and put Duncan MacLeod's name even more firmly into the record books. In truth though, this was to turn into a poor match and as Aberdeen took the lead on 25 minutes, so it looked like a game too far for MacLeod's heroes. It was hard to be annoyed with a side that had achieved so much, so soon, as MacLeod explained,

'It was a tough dressing room at half time. The players had given their all to lift a remarkable title, but that day they looked spent. I couldn't really accuse any of them, and simply told them to go back out and give it one last effort'

The words of the manager seemed to have an affect, as Peter MacDonald snatched a 64th minute equalizer, but Aberdeen held firm and the match went into extra time. On another day, MacLeod's side would have easily beaten such a poor team, but this was a match in which their legs just ran out and as extra time came and went without a goal so the 2007 Scottish FA Challenge Cup Final would be decided by the dreaded penalty shoot out. As Kilmarnock scored their first three penalties, so Aberdeen missed two of theirs. Nacho Novo stepped up to the plate, if he scored the Cup was Killie's – but he blasted the ball over the bar. Derek Young finally scored for Aberdeen and it fell to January signing Simon Lynch, who had replaced Di Giacomo after an hour, to score the winner – dramatically the former Celtic player also missed and the show went on. Aberdeen's Michael Hart had to score to keep his side in the Cup, but his effort thudded off the bar and Duncan MacLeod had become the first manager outside the Old Firm to lead his side to the domestic treble.

It had been an incredible season. No-one in their right mind had expected either Hearts or Kilmarnock to push the Old Firm as they had done, and no-one certainly expected Kilmarnock to scoop all three prizes. Duncan MacLeod had achieved the impossible, and even if he had won nothing else in his managerial career, he would have still gone down in history. The future though would hold much more triumph – and heartbreak – for the man with midas touch.

Drifted into the realms of fantasy now, I'm afraid. There'll be hobbits next.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by HD:

Drifted into the realms of fantasy now, I'm afraid. There'll be hobbits next. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Ah, that made me laugh...

...still really enjoying the yarn though, it's one of the best about at the moment in my mind. I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next

Thanks Wag

Yeah I know Iain, I didn't plan it that way. If I'd known in advance we would sneak the title, would probably have thrown the League Cup but these things happen. It's not all win win win though, but I'm afraid you might have to read a bit more Killie success before things change, sorry

The summer break had arrived, as short as it was, and the MacLeod family would be off to Madrid for a two week holiday. There was a lot of work to be done between the end of May and the start of July for Duncan, especially with a European campaign to look forward to, but he was adamant that whatever happened in the game, his family came first. The girls were now teenagers – Isabella would turn 15 in July, and Bethany was nineteen, engaged to be married to a young lad named Paul McGrath. Paul, a 21 year old bricklayer, had nothing to do with football apart from being a season ticket holder at Rugby Park. Bethany had never been much into football, and only appeared at the most important matches to support her dad, she never cared much for whatever team we had been playing for/managing at the time. Isabella on the other hand, was deeply devoted to football and had a keen Interest in Real Madrid, being that she had been born during Duncan's spell there and she was fiercely proud of being 'Spanish'.

Duncan loved both his kids deeply. They were good kids, as these things go. The MacLeod's had tried to instil a sense of decency and discipline into their childrens lives as well as a huge covering of love and it seemed to work. Duncan though never pretended to love all his kids 'equally'. He thought that was a rather stupid notion – each of his girls were different, they had different personalities, fears and hopes and he loved each of them for those things. He did though admit that he had had a special place in his heart for Mhairi. Perhaps it was because she was their first born, perhaps it was because she had spent most of her life battling one illness or another – but that was not the whole story.

Sure, the other two girls had their own strengths and there was no doubt of the love Duncan had for them – he would willingly give up his own life for any of his children. But Mhairi had had a strenght of character, a deep seated and strong courageous spirit that had seen her overcome many obstacles in her short life. Duncan recalled how Mhairi had tackled learning to ride a bike. To most kids, riding a bike comes about easily enough, after perhaps a few falls, a few cuts and bruises and some tears, their sense of balance kicks in and off they go. Mhairi did not have a proper sense of balance. It had been hard enough for her learning to walk at times, but by the age of eight – her six year old sister having already learned to ride her bike – Mhairi was determined that she would not miss out. Of course she fell off, cut her self, bruised her legs and knees and arms but she did not give in. Duncan and Alyson had been quite concerned that she might seriously hurt herself, or worse wander into the path of a car or something.

Yet their attempts to persuade their eldest child that perhaps riding a bike was not that important, fell on deaf ears. They offered to have stabilisers put on, but that was met with a flood of tears, and the assertion that people would laugh and that just would not do. Mhairi would never go riding with her family – at least not on her own – along the country paths, but she did, eventually, manage to get to the end of her street without falling off. That in itself was a quite remarkable achievement.

In his years as a manager, Mhairi's courage and bravery in the face of seemingly impossible odds, always helped him when things seemed bleak. It also made him angry when, from time to time, certain players would come to him to whine about this, that or the other. There were a few occasions when highly rated, highly paid players had burst into his office to demand that they get a place in the starting line up, to demand more wages, to complain that their boots were the wrong colour. All of these players were given a dressing down, being a footballer was a privilege and they should think themselves damned lucky to be getting paid anything at all for kicking a ball about a park. Most of such players would quickly be shown the door, MacLeod had not time for Prima Donna's.

The two weeks in Spain flew by as usual, and all too soon it was back to the office for Duncan. Liverpool were coming to town on the 10th of July, which also happened to be Isabella's 15th birthday. She would have preferred Real Madrid, but a match between Kilmarnock and Liverpool certainly appeared to be appetizing enough. Before then though there were players to be bought and sold, a Champions League season was ahead and the squad needed to be improved for that. Strikers Stewart Kean and Simon Lynch were shown the door, neither having done enough to hold down a first team place or proven they were ready for a higher level of football. Charlie Adam was subject of a £3M bid from Reading and that was more than even MacLeod felt he was worth and he was allowed to go, along with a few other minor players. There was still a fair amount of money from last seasons sales – and the sale in January of James Fowler – so this season's sales simply added to that and the chairman also knew the club would make a killing in the Champions League. MacLeod made three major signings in the Summer of 2007 – Rangers out of favour former Hibee Steven Whitaker for £1.2M and Udinese talented winger Gaetano D'Agostino for £2.7M. The real bargain of the summer though would be Milan's Salvatore Ferraro who cost MacLeod just £180,000 but would go on to become a permanent fixture in the central defence.

MacLeod expected this season to much harder – and the excitement of Champions League football could not be denied. Kilmarnock had expected to appear in the third qualifying round, but for some inexplicable reason had gone straight into the group stages and a guaranteed pot of money starting from £3M and rising. When the group stages were eventually drawn, MacLeod's side found themselves in with German's Leverkusen, French side Marseille and the mouthwatering prospect of English giant Manchester United. Nobody gave them a snowballs chance in hell of getting even a goal, but the experience would surely be invaluable nevertheless.

SPL Final Table 2006-2007

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">

| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts |

| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 1st | C | Kilmarnock | | 38 | 23 | 12 | 3 | 74 | 37 | +37 | 81 |

| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 2nd | | Celtic | | 38 | 24 | 7 | 7 | 71 | 34 | +37 | 79 |

| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 3rd | | Rangers | | 38 | 23 | 9 | 6 | 81 | 37 | +44 | 78 |

| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 4th | | Hearts | | 38 | 24 | 3 | 11 | 46 | 30 | +16 | 75 |

| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 5th | | Hibernian | | 38 | 16 | 6 | 16 | 46 | 47 | -1 | 54 |

| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 6th | | Aberdeen | | 38 | 15 | 5 | 18 | 56 | 56 | 0 | 50 |

| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 7th | | Dundee Utd | | 38 | 14 | 9 | 15 | 49 | 48 | +1 | 51 |

| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 8th | | Motherwell | | 38 | 14 | 6 | 18 | 51 | 57 | -6 | 48 |

| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 9th | | Gretna | | 38 | 9 | 8 | 21 | 41 | 69 | -28 | 35 |

| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 10th | | St. Mirren | | 38 | 8 | 8 | 22 | 44 | 72 | -28 | 32 |

| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 11th | | Inverness CT | | 38 | 8 | 7 | 23 | 40 | 77 | -37 | 31 |

| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 12th | R | Falkirk | | 38 | 5 | 10 | 23 | 30 | 65 | -35 | 25 |

| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| | | | | | | | | | | | |

| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

</pre>

Erm yeah whatever.

Ugh. That table is horrible. And your coding is wrong too.

Of the players who were promoted to the Under 19 side for the 2007/08 season, two at least would go on to make a decent enough impression in the future. Both sixteen year olds, goalkeeper Rae Marr was a highly promising young lad, it would just remain to be seen whether he had the partience to stick around the club long enough to secure a first team place, and striker Derek Meechan. Meechan in particular caught the attentions of Duncan MacLeod – he started 'dating' Isabella.

Isabella, now fifteen, had only shown as much interest in 'boys' as to how good they could play football and she was usually pretty scathing of that. She was herself a pretty decent player, and perhaps if football had been less sexist she could have made a reasonable career for herself out of the game. When his little Spanish Princess had announced that she thought youth player Meechan was 'cute', Duncan was amused and a little alarmed. Meechan though was probably more scared of upsetting the boss and when he finally appeared at the house to 'meet the parents' – even though he already knew at least one of them, the poor lad was a bundle of nerves and ended up pouring the gravy all over himself. Nevertheless, he eventually went on to marry Isabella, so he must have done something right.

The big match of the pre-season build up for the Kilmarnock support was, of course, against one of MacLeod's former clubs, Liverpool, who had finished 3rd in the English Premiership the previous season. It turned out to be an exciting match, even more so for the home support as a Peter MacDonald hattrick saw Killie to an excellent 3-2 triumph and the signs were looking good for the new season. The opening day, at home to St Mirren, was a party occasion as the League Flag was unfurled and not for the first time Isabella MacLeod was happy to have been born into her family, as it was she who helped do the honours. The parade of the League trophy and the two domestic cups followed and it seemed to inspire the side as an early goal from MacDonald was followed by a late strike from Ferraro as Kilmarnock went in two up at the break. Perhaps though the players had been celebrating just a bit too much as St Mirren came storming back in the second half to snatch a draw. Duncan MacLeod was not amused.

Wins over Motherwell, newly promoted St Johnstone, and Hearts though meant the opening day blip was forgotten as Kilmarnock headed off to Germany for their first ever match in the UEFA Champions League. Kilmarnock had once previously been in Europe's premier club competition, back in 1966 when it had been called simply the Champions Cup. A second round drubbing (7-3 on aggregate) to Real Madrid had ended that run, although the following year Kilmarnock had gained their best ever run in Europe as they reached the Semi-Finals of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup - which was later to become the UEFA Cup. That though had been over forty years ago and most people who had witnessed it were either now dead or senile. With Celtic having surprisingly lost 2-1 in Norway the previous (Tuesday) night, it was up to MacLeod's side to restore a bit of Scottish Pride. On the night though, despite a decent performance, Leverkusen proved just too strong and ran out two nil winners.

Three more matches took place before Marseille came to Rugby Park. Sandwiched in between league wins over Inverness and Gretna was a stunning nine nil League Cup triumph over a hapless Dundee side. The French side had opened their group campaign with a 3-2 win over Manchester United, so they were obviously no mugs. After just five minutes at Rugby Park, Marseille were ahead and the home support feared the worst. Perhaps though that goal, coupled with their win over the English giants, had made Marseille believe victory was inevitable and they were in for a huge surprise. Peter MacDonald levelled the match after a quarter of an hour, and Nacho Novo sent Killie ahead before the break. Just two minutes after that break, Marseille were in deep merde as Steven Whittaker fired in a third and as the French crumpled as they had done in 1940, so MacDonald and D'Agostino added late goals to secure a win that was up there with Dundee United's drubbing of Barcelona all those years ago.

As fate would have it, the very next match for Kilmarnock was at Tannadice, and if the players had any thoughts that they were now so good this season was going to be a stroll in the park they were about to get a lesson in complacency as United raced to a 3-1 triumph and Duncan MacLeod was far from amused that his highly paid players had capitulated in such a manner to a side they should be easily beating. The players seemed to heed MacLeod's words, as they recovered to hammer Celtic 4-2 at home, before Manchester United came to town expecting a goal fest. That they didn't get it was partly due to some terrible finishing on their part and partly due to some excellent goalkeeping in the part of Graeme Smith – the one from Motherwell, not the one who had gone to Rangers. A 23rd minute goal from Peter MacDonald, a journeyman player who would probably be lucky to get a game for United's reserve side, gave Killie a fantasic one goal to nil win over the biggest club in the UK.

Defeat though followed at Ibrox by 3-1 and then a single goal loss at home to Hibs as the European exertions seemed to take a lot out of the players and was seriously damaging their hopes of retaining the SPL title. A hard fought 4-3 triumph at Pittodrie though secured the leaks, but Manchester United were to gain more than adequate revenge at Old Trafford as they ran out winners by three one, and it could have been a whole lot more. Despite that defeat though, Kilmarnock were doing themselves proud and at least this time they came back from Europe to record a league win, 2-0 over Motherwell. Hearts were not challengers this season for whatever reason, but as both Old Firm sides looked a lot stronger than before, so Kilmarnock were keeping close to them, but they could not afford any more silly slip ups. That though, was probably asking a bit too much.

Wins over Motherwell in the League, and then Hibs in the CIS League Cup Quarter-Final set MacLeod's side up for a crucial Champions League qualifier at home to Leverkusen. This was, as expected, another tough outing for Duncan's side but four minutes from time, the referee awarded Kilmarnock a penalty which D'Agostino slotted home and Killie held out to record a superb triumph. Exactly how superb was highlighted three weeks later when MacLeod's side travelled to Marseille for the final qualifying match. This was to prove a torrid match for Kilmarnock and in the end they succumbed by three goals to nil as the French wreaked revenge for that earlier thrashing at Rugby Park. In the other match, Leverkusen had beaten Manchester United by a goal to nil, but it was all to prove irrelevant. United, who had won three and lost three of their matches, topped the group from Kilmarnock who had the same record. Marseille and Leverkusen both ended on eight points, but it was the French side who progressed to the UEFA Cup, and although it might not have been the most convincing of campaigns, Kilmarnock had made it to the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League – where they would face up to the mighty Internazionale of Milan. It promised to be a fantastic occasion.

Before that, there was still a lot of work to be done to ensure that Kilmarnock would be back in Champions League contention next season. Results though continued to be mixed, a 1-0 win over Gretna was a relatively poor performance, but the very next match Dundee United were walloped 7-1, and the match after that Celtic hammered Duncan's lads at Celtic Park by 3-0. It was all getting a bit frustrating, but the side nevertheless remained in contention for the title. When the January 2008 transfer window opened, MacLeod was hastily active. He had not been happy with the way his side had blown hot and cold and wanted to add a few more experienced players to the squad. Warren Cummings and Mike McGlinchey were the main names out, McGlinchey clinching a £1M move to SPL rivals Motherwell, but MacLeod was not concerned.

'If he (McGlinchey) had been that good, we would have kept him' Duncan told the press, 'But the fact is we can and will find better players and good luck to the lad at his new club'

With money to burn, MacLeod moved to bring in Celtic keeper Mark Brown as back up to Smith – and also because rumours were circulating that Smith was getting itchy feet and wanted to go to a bigger club. The other half of the old firm was also raided as out of favour Rangers utility man Kirk Broadfoot was brought to Rugby Park. A few more players signed, but few of them would make a big impact. The two who would make an impact were 25 year old Italian left back, Pietro Accardi, signed from Serie A side Sampdoria for a fee of just under £1M. That transfer though was to be eclipsed by the audacious acquisition from Aston Villa of former Celtic idol – Shaun Maloney. The capture of such a high profile player – albeit that Maloney was not a regular at Villa Park at that time – set the press alight and things were looking good for MacLeod's side which was starting to look formidable, at least in domestic terms.

2008 started well for Kilmarnock with four successive league wins, as well as a Scottish Cup 3rd round triumph over last seasons beaten finalists, Aberdeen, by a goal to nil. The defence of the treble though was abruptly ended at the Semi Final stage of the CIS Cup, as Rangers ran out winners by 2-1. This was the last match in this tournament where MacLeod would play a full strength side as in future years he caused immense controversy by fielding teams of youths in the competition he regarded as totally pointless. Yet although Kilmarnock were putting together a good run of form in the League – out of the remaining thirteen matches before the split, Kilmarnock won eleven and drew one – they were still some way behind a rampant Rangers as the last five matches came round, and a 2-0 defeat at Rugby Park in the first of the five, from Rangers, virtually ended Kilmarnock's reign as SPL Champions. A draw to Motherwell did not help, and on the final day of the season, MacLeod led his side to Celtic Park needing a win to clinch 2nd place. On the day though Celtic proved just about good enough to gain a draw, and Kilmarnock would end in third place, behind the Old Firm pair and order had been restored. For now.

SPL Final Table 2007-2008

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| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts |

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| 1st | C | Rangers | | 38 | 30 | 2 | 6 | 74 | 28 | +46 | 92 |

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| 2nd | | Celtic | | 38 | 24 | 10 | 4 | 73 | 31 | +42 | 82 |

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| 3rd | | Kilmarnock | | 38 | 25 | 6 | 7 | 83 | 37 | +46 | 81 |

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| 4th | | Dundee Utd | | 38 | 12 | 17 | 9 | 54 | 55 | -1 | 53 |

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| 5th | | Hibernian | | 38 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 39 | 47 | -8 | 50 |

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| 6th | | Motherwell | | 38 | 12 | 7 | 19 | 46 | 62 | -16 | 43 |

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| 7th | | Hearts | | 38 | 13 | 9 | 16 | 49 | 53 | -4 | 48 |

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| 8th | | Gretna | | 38 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 47 | 70 | -23 | 39 |

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| 9th | | St. Mirren | | 38 | 8 | 14 | 16 | 41 | 53 | -12 | 38 |

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| 10th | | Aberdeen | | 38 | 8 | 12 | 18 | 53 | 67 | -14 | 36 |

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| 11th | | Inverness CT | | 38 | 7 | 10 | 21 | 37 | 60 | -23 | 31 |

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| 12th | R | St. Johnstone | | 38 | 6 | 12 | 20 | 47 | 80 | -33 | 30 |

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