Chapter 8: The cycle back home

In his final years, my Granda demonstrated resilience like I’ve never seen before. Even when tomorrow was not always easy to face, he got up, put on his nicest trousers and funky hat and he made us laugh, he made us cry and he showed us that tomorrow is nothing to be scared of when you have today.

There was only one thing that Granda enjoyed more than a tipple and that was a tipple when travelling the world to see Scotland play. But what comes along with slight alcohol consumption when on holiday with the Tartan Army? I’ll tell you. Antics!

I couldn’t pinpoint if my Granda’s sales background started when he was a kitchen salesman, a political canvasser or a buckie picking entrepreneur but I can only imagine at only point in his life life he thought, “Hey, I’m pretty good at this!” and nobody decided to tell him otherwise.

In this chapter we explore how much Granda loved his friends and how much they loved him in equal measure. Except maybe when a certain friend is trying to take a lady back to his room and Granda won’t stop ranting about debauchery.

My Granda quickly established his own travel company, where he organised trips following Scotland for thousands of Tartan Army foot soldiers. With accommodation and tickets to the game provided in his service, what could possibly go wrong? Famous for “headline prices”, losing tickets, and accommodation that was more like Fawlty Towers, there was no man you’d rather book with than Joe McGunnigle. At least his patriotism was infectious!

Joe McGunnigle was one of the most famous tartan army supporters in the world but where did it all begin for him? Let’s strip it all the way back that cycle to Hampden Park in 1958 that sparked a lifelong love affair with the national side.

If you think amateur football is all about playing on green grass and giving up a Saturday then you are mistaken. There are the away days, the buses home, the on-pitch fights or.. negotiations rather, the commiserations, the hardcore celebrations and Granda? He was involved in them all! Acquiring the nickname Mr. Woodside, he also recruited a certain Denis Law to be the honorary president in the process!

This is where it all began for my Granda. His early days living at Ferrier Gardens with his parents and siblings, meeting some of his most cherished friend and of course meeting the love of his life, my Nana.

The Cycle to Hampden sets the stage with an introduction, followed by a heartfelt foreword penned by Neil Drysdale, Chief Feature Writer for the Press and Journal. Neil’s previous writings about my beloved Granda and his profound understanding of him shine through so I couldn’t think of a better person to encapsulate him so wonderfully through words.