Bertie Auld

{{Short description|Scottish footballer and manager (1938–2021)}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Bertie Auld

| image =

| fullname = Robert Auld{{Hugman|656|access-date=6 March 2017}}

| birth_date = {{birth date|1938|3|23|df=y}}

| birth_place = Glasgow, Scotland

| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|11|14|1938|3|23|df=y}}

| height =

| position = Outside left, midfielder

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Maryhill Harp

| years1 = 1955–1961 | clubs1 = Celtic | caps1 = 74 | goals1 = 17

| years2 = 1956–1957 | clubs2 = → Dumbarton (loan) | caps2 = 15 | goals2 = 8

| years3 = 1961–1965 | clubs3 = Birmingham City | caps3 = 126 | goals3 = 26

| years4 = 1965–1971 | clubs4 = Celtic | caps4 = 102 | goals4 = 36

| years5 = 1971–1973 | clubs5 = Hibernian | caps5 = 11 | goals5 = 3

| totalcaps = 328 | totalgoals = 90

| nationalyears1 = 1958–1965 | nationalteam1 = Scottish League XI | nationalcaps1 = 2 | nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 1959 | nationalteam2 = Scotland | nationalcaps2 = 3 | nationalgoals2 = 0

| manageryears1 = 1974–1980 | managerclubs1 = Partick Thistle

| manageryears2 = 1980–1982 | managerclubs2 = Hibernian

| manageryears3 = 1982–1983 | managerclubs3 = Hamilton Academical

| manageryears4 = 1986 | managerclubs4 = Partick Thistle

| manageryears5 = 1988 | managerclubs5 = Dumbarton

}}

Robert Auld (23 March 1938 – 14 November 2021) was a Scottish football player and manager. He was a member of Celtic's Lisbon Lions, who won the 1967 European Cup Final.

As a player, he made more than 200 appearances in the Scottish League for Celtic, Dumbarton and Hibernian, and more than 100 in the Football League in England with Birmingham City.{{cite web|url=http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player/bertieauld.html|title=Bertie Auld |work= Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database|publisher=Neil Brown|access-date=16 November 2009}} He also earned three caps for Scotland early in his career.

He spent six years as manager at Partick Thistle, and was appointed to the club's hall of fame. He also managed Hibernian, Hamilton Academical and Dumbarton.

Early life and club career

Auld was born in Maryhill, Glasgow,{{cite book|last=Matthews|first=Tony|title=Birmingham City: A Complete Record|year=1995|publisher=Breedon Books|location=Derby|isbn=978-1-85983-010-9|page=69}} the eldest of eight children,{{Cite web|title=Obituary: Bertie Auld, quick-witted Lisbon Lion who helped Celtic conquer Europe|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/people/obituary-bertie-auld-quick-witted-lisbon-lion-who-helped-celtic-conquer-europe-3457853|access-date=2021-11-17|website=www.scotsman.com|date=16 November 2021 |language=en}} and at the age of 15 joined local club Maryhill Harp.{{Cite web|title=Obituary: Bertie Auld, the Lisbon Lion who became an authentic working-class hero|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/19722337.obituary-bertie-auld-lisbon-lion-became-authentic-working-class-hero/|access-date=2021-11-17|website=HeraldScotland|date=17 November 2021 |language=en}} Rejecting offers from Clyde and Partick Thistle, he first joined Celtic in March 1955, making his debut in a League Cup game against Airdrieonians and scoring his first goal for the club in a 6–1 win over East Fife in the same competition four days later. He was converted from a fullback into a winger,{{cite book|first=Douglas|last=Lamming|title=A Scottish Soccer Internationalists Who's Who, 1872–1986|publisher=Hutton Press|year=1987|isbn=0-907033-47-4|page=15}} but his headstrong character and poor discipline impeded his progress and after spending a season on loan to Dumbarton, he was sold to Birmingham City in 1961 for £15,000, making his debut against Internazionale in the semi-final of the 1960–61 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. He appeared in the final of the competition, in which Birmingham were beaten 4–2 on aggregate by A.S. Roma.{{cite book|last=Matthews|first=Tony|title=Birmingham City: A Complete Record|page=242}} With the Midlands club he won a League Cup medal in 1963, as Birmingham beat city rivals Aston Villa 3-1 on aggregate.[https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/fa-league-cups/i-was-on-16318-a-week-id-doubled-my-wage-2225981.html%3famp 'I was on £18 a week. I'd doubled my wage'], The Independent, 26 February 2011 {{Cite web|last=Dick|first=Brian|date=2021-11-15|title=Birmingham City and Celtic pay tribute to legend Bertie Auld|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-celtic-bertie-auld-22168102|access-date=2021-11-17|website=BirminghamLive|language=en}}

In 1965 Auld returned to Celtic in a £12,000 deal, possibly on the initiative of Jock Stein, who had not yet been appointed Celtic manager. No longer considered a winger, Auld formed a midfield partnership with Bobby Murdoch. He became an integral part of the side that won nine League titles, as well as the 1967 European Cup Final. Prior to that match, against Italian club Internazionale, Auld instigated a rendition of "The Celtic Song" in the tunnel, much to the bemusement of the Inter players.{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=1188990.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100406085842/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=1188990.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 April 2010|title=Tunnel visions raise a smile|publisher=FIFA|date=2 April 2010|access-date=9 January 2011}}

Auld left Celtic again in 1971, this time joining Hibernian on a free transfer.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88969505/auld-to-hibs-on-a-free/ |title=Arsenal wait for Storey |newspaper=The Guardian |date=7 May 1971}} While at Easter Road he combined his playing role with one as a trainer, eventually focusing solely on the latter role.{{cite news |url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/bertie-auld-former-hibs-manager-and-player-dies-at-age-of-83-3457509 |title=Bertie Auld, former Hibs manager and player, dies at age of 83 |first=Phil |last=Johnson |newspaper=Edinburgh Evening News |date=14 November 2021 |access-date=15 November 2021}}

International career

Auld made three appearances for Scotland, all in 1959. He made his debut against the Netherlands, a game in which he became the first player ever to be sent off for Scotland, after lashing out in retaliation at an opponent.

Managerial career

Auld started a career as a manager in 1974, when appointed by Partick Thistle, where he stayed for six seasons. After Thistle won the Scottish First Division title in 1975–76.{{ cite news | title = Manager: Bertie Auld |url=http://www.thethistlearchive.net/manager-bertie-auld | website=The Thistle Archive |access-date=22 August 2022}} Thistle also reached the semi-finals of Scottish Cup twice (1978 and 1979), Scottish League Cup (1975), and Anglo-Scottish Cup (1977) under Auld's management.

He returned to Edinburgh as Hibs manager in 1980, in an attempt to revive the club following their relegation in the 1979–80 season. Auld guided Hibs to promotion by winning the 1980–81 Scottish First Division, but was replaced by Pat Stanton in 1982.{{cite news |title=Hibs legend Pat Stanton urges fans to back manager Pat Fenlon |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/16847801 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=15 November 2021}} He then spent a year in charge of Hamilton Academical before returning to manage Thistle for a brief second spell in 1986. His final appointment was with Dumbarton in 1988.

Style of play

A pacey winger with short stature in his first years at Celtic and at Birmingham City, Auld was converted into a midfielder under Celtic manager Jock Stein. In similar vein as his midfield partner Bobby Murdoch, Auld was capable of defence splitting passes.{{cite web|url=https://www.thecelticwiki.com/players/all-time-a-to-z-of-celtic-players/a/auld-bertie/|title=Auld, Bertie}}

Personal life

From 1963 until his death, Auld was married to Liz, with whom he had two children. Following the end of his football career, he ran a pub named The Buccaneer in Hamilton. In the early 21st century Auld was a regular guest on Celtic TV.{{cite news|url=http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/class-of-69-where-are-they-now-1.955201|title=Class of 69...where are they now?|date=11 April 2008|access-date=9 January 2011|work=Evening Times|last=Lindsay|first=Matthew}} During the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, Auld stated his support for the Better Together campaign against Scottish independence.{{cite news |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/independence-referendum-football-legends-unite-4173636 |title=Independence referendum: Football legends unite to back Better Together campaign - Daily Record |first=Torcuil |last=Crichton |newspaper=Daily Record |accessdate=8 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906203231/http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/independence-referendum-football-legends-unite-4173636 |archive-date=6 September 2014 }} Auld died on 14 November 2021, aged 83.

Honours

In November 2009 Auld was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame.{{cite news|url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/sport/Eight-more-Scots-greats-enter.5826279.jp|title=Eight more Scots greats enter Hall of Fame|work=The Scotsman|first=Moray|last=Tait|date=16 November 2009|access-date=7 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017075809/http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/sport/Eight-more-Scots-greats-enter.5826279.jp|archive-date=17 October 2012|url-status=dead}}

= Player =

Celtic[http://www.fitbastats.com/celtic/player.php?playerid=2630 Celtic player Auld Bertie], FitbaStats

European Cup: 1967{{cite web |title=Bertie Auld: Celtic's Lisbon Lions legend dies aged 83 |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11787/12468719/bertie-auld-celtics-lisbon-lions-legend-dies-aged-83 |publisher=Sky Sports |access-date=15 November 2021}}
Runners-up 1970{{cite news |title=Celtic lose European Cup final to Feyenoord remembered |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52520874 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=15 November 2021}}
Intercontinental Cup: runners-up 1967{{cite news|title=Lisbon Lion and Celtic legend Bertie Auld dies at the age of 83|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/lisbon-lion-and-celtic-legend-bertie-auld-dies-at-the-age-of-83-41051422.html|date=14 November 2021|access-date=15 November 2020|newspaper=Irish Independent|location=Dublin}}
Scottish league championship: 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70
Scottish Cup: 1964–65,{{cite web |title=Match Stats |url=https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish-cup-matches/?mid=91533 |publisher=Scottish FA |access-date=15 November 2021}} 1966–67,{{cite web |title=Match stats |url=https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish-cup-matches/?mid=91529 |publisher=Scottish FA |access-date=15 November 2021}} 1968–69{{cite web |title=Match stats |url=https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish-cup-matches/?mid=91527 |publisher=Scottish FA|accessdate=15 November 2021}}
Scottish League Cup: 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70{{cite web |title=Celtic Football Club 1960 to 1969 |url=https://www.celticfc.com/history/history-timeline/1960-to-1969/ |publisher=Celtic FC |access-date=15 November 2021}}
Glasgow Cup: 1964–65, 1966–67[http://www.thecelticwiki.com/page/1965-05-11%3A+Queens+Park+0-5+Celtic%2C+Glasgow+Cup Celtic Retain The Glasgow Cup | Queen's Park Outclassed] 12 May 1965.
[http://www.thecelticwiki.com/page/1966-11-07%3A+Celtic+4-0+Partick+Thistle%2C+Glasgow+Cup Thistle No Match For Celtic In Glasgow Cup Final] 8 November 1966. Glasgow Herald, via The Celtic Wiki

Birmingham City

Inter-Cities Fairs Cup: runners-up 1960–61
Football League Cup: 1962–63{{cite web |title=The 1963 League Cup triumph |url=https://www.bcfc.com/club-and-fans/club/history/the-1963-league-cup-triumph/ |publisher=Birmingham City FC |access-date=15 November 2021}}

Scotland

British Home Championship: 1959–60 (shared){{ cite web | title = Bertie Auld | url = https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/players/?pid=112889&lid=1 | publisher = Scottish Football Association | access-date = 25 May 2022 }}

= Manager =

==Partick Thistle==

Scottish First Division: 1975–76{{cite news |title=Caught in Time: Partick Thistle win the First Division, 1975 76 |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/caught-in-time-partick-thistle-win-the-first-division-1975-76-8q0wjg3q73d |work=The Times |access-date=15 November 2021|last1=Saunders |first1=Steven }}

==Hibernian==

Scottish First Division: 1980–81{{cite web |title=Bertie Auld, 1938-2021 |url=https://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/article/bertie-auld-1938-2021 |publisher=Hibernian FC |access-date=15 November 2021}}
East of Scotland Shield: 1980–81{{cite web |title=Wed 20 Aug 1980, Hearts 2 Hibernian 2 L 4-5p EoSS Final|url=https://londonhearts.com/scores////games/198008201.html |publisher=London Hearts Supporters Club |access-date=15 November 2021}}