Post by QPR Report on Sept 19, 2009 23:54:07 GMT
Sunday Times
From The Sunday Times September 20, 2009
Best & Worst: Don Masson
What was the best moment of your career?
I loved playing for Scotland. My best moment came against Czechoslovakia, the European champions, in a World Cup qualifying game in 1977 when I was the man of the match. We beat them 3-1 at Hampden Park after they had beaten us 2-0 in Prague and I had one of those nights when everything went well. It was the best I played for Scotland.
My other highlights were playing for Scotland in the 1978 World Cup and finishing runners-up with Queens Park Rangers in the First Division in 1976. I joined QPR from Notts County when the Londoners had a fantastic team. We were all internationals apart from David Webb. Everybody agrees we were unlucky not to win the championship that year, Liverpool pipping us in the final game.
What was the best thing about being a footballer in your era?
Unlike now, most of the players would have played for nothing. I came from a little village in Scotland and all I wanted to do was play football. To play for Scotland was beyond my wildest dreams. I would give up all the money I have now and the lifestyle to go back and play football. I didn’t realise I was given a gift to be able to do that; you take if for granted at the time. When you look back you think, ‘Crikey, how lucky was I to do that’.
And the worst thing?
There was a lot of hooligan trouble at the time and the worst thing was going out at night and getting hassled by supporters from other teams, mostly drunken ones. That was part and parcel of the game because we used to go into pubs and mix with the fans. We didn’t think we were anything special because we kicked a silly football about. Nowadays the players are cocooned away from the supporters
Who was the best manager you played under?
Dave Sexton first and Jimmy Sirrel second. I owe everything to Jimmy for giving me a chance at Notts County; Dave for his knowledge and the way he got us to play the game at QPR. We were playing football based on the Dutch team. He would go over to Holland on the Sunday off his own bat to watch matches. He would pay out of his own pocket, absorb all the knowledge and put it into practice on the training pitch.
Who was the best opponent you played against?
The most difficult, believe it or not, was Gerry Gow. He kicked me all over the place. He was at Bristol City, who were in the First Division, and used to man-mark me. I knew when we played them it was going to be a nightmare. He used to ignore the ball. He said, ‘I’ve been told to mark you and I’m going to kick you all day’. I dreaded playing against him. He made my life a misery.
What was the best advice you were given?
When I was 15 or 16 and on the ground staff at Middlesbrough, Raich Carter was the manager. We had a practice match and he had Hush Puppies shoes on at the time. He stopped the game and got the ball. With his left foot, he smacked the ball about 50 yards to the right wing and said, ‘Look, that ball will never get tired. Make it do the work. Only beat people when you need to. Make the ball do the work’.
What was your worst moment?
My penalty miss against Peru in the 1978 World Cup finals. We had such a good team at the time and had I scored I think we might have gone on to qualify for the next round. It was a nice height and the goalkeeper anticipated it, so fair play to him. It took me a long time to recover from it. If I had not done that, people would not have remembered me after all these years. At least I think they have forgiven me now.
What is the best thing about football today?
I admire Arsenal. I love to watch the way they play.
WHERE ARE YOU NOW?
My wife, Brenda, and I run a bed-and-breakfast called The Grange at Elton on the Hill near Nottingham. We have a five-star rating. We came out here to retire but have been here nearly six years. We still meet lots of football people staying over. I love it. I am the gardener and the gofer around here. I just do what I am told to do, no hassle. I recently went to see Notts County play. They invited me along and I met Sven-Göran Eriksson. It is fantastic what is going on down there. I hope all goes well for them and they can get back in the Premier League where they belong. I have never been so happy. I am 63, the sun is shining and I am fit to tell the tale. What more do you want? I play tennis with the over-60s in Nottingham three times a week. I keep myself fit that way.
ON TV TODAY
Scotland invade Wembley, 1977
11pm ESPN Classic, Sky channel 429
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/scotland/article6841160.ece
From The Sunday Times September 20, 2009
Best & Worst: Don Masson
What was the best moment of your career?
I loved playing for Scotland. My best moment came against Czechoslovakia, the European champions, in a World Cup qualifying game in 1977 when I was the man of the match. We beat them 3-1 at Hampden Park after they had beaten us 2-0 in Prague and I had one of those nights when everything went well. It was the best I played for Scotland.
My other highlights were playing for Scotland in the 1978 World Cup and finishing runners-up with Queens Park Rangers in the First Division in 1976. I joined QPR from Notts County when the Londoners had a fantastic team. We were all internationals apart from David Webb. Everybody agrees we were unlucky not to win the championship that year, Liverpool pipping us in the final game.
What was the best thing about being a footballer in your era?
Unlike now, most of the players would have played for nothing. I came from a little village in Scotland and all I wanted to do was play football. To play for Scotland was beyond my wildest dreams. I would give up all the money I have now and the lifestyle to go back and play football. I didn’t realise I was given a gift to be able to do that; you take if for granted at the time. When you look back you think, ‘Crikey, how lucky was I to do that’.
And the worst thing?
There was a lot of hooligan trouble at the time and the worst thing was going out at night and getting hassled by supporters from other teams, mostly drunken ones. That was part and parcel of the game because we used to go into pubs and mix with the fans. We didn’t think we were anything special because we kicked a silly football about. Nowadays the players are cocooned away from the supporters
Who was the best manager you played under?
Dave Sexton first and Jimmy Sirrel second. I owe everything to Jimmy for giving me a chance at Notts County; Dave for his knowledge and the way he got us to play the game at QPR. We were playing football based on the Dutch team. He would go over to Holland on the Sunday off his own bat to watch matches. He would pay out of his own pocket, absorb all the knowledge and put it into practice on the training pitch.
Who was the best opponent you played against?
The most difficult, believe it or not, was Gerry Gow. He kicked me all over the place. He was at Bristol City, who were in the First Division, and used to man-mark me. I knew when we played them it was going to be a nightmare. He used to ignore the ball. He said, ‘I’ve been told to mark you and I’m going to kick you all day’. I dreaded playing against him. He made my life a misery.
What was the best advice you were given?
When I was 15 or 16 and on the ground staff at Middlesbrough, Raich Carter was the manager. We had a practice match and he had Hush Puppies shoes on at the time. He stopped the game and got the ball. With his left foot, he smacked the ball about 50 yards to the right wing and said, ‘Look, that ball will never get tired. Make it do the work. Only beat people when you need to. Make the ball do the work’.
What was your worst moment?
My penalty miss against Peru in the 1978 World Cup finals. We had such a good team at the time and had I scored I think we might have gone on to qualify for the next round. It was a nice height and the goalkeeper anticipated it, so fair play to him. It took me a long time to recover from it. If I had not done that, people would not have remembered me after all these years. At least I think they have forgiven me now.
What is the best thing about football today?
I admire Arsenal. I love to watch the way they play.
WHERE ARE YOU NOW?
My wife, Brenda, and I run a bed-and-breakfast called The Grange at Elton on the Hill near Nottingham. We have a five-star rating. We came out here to retire but have been here nearly six years. We still meet lots of football people staying over. I love it. I am the gardener and the gofer around here. I just do what I am told to do, no hassle. I recently went to see Notts County play. They invited me along and I met Sven-Göran Eriksson. It is fantastic what is going on down there. I hope all goes well for them and they can get back in the Premier League where they belong. I have never been so happy. I am 63, the sun is shining and I am fit to tell the tale. What more do you want? I play tennis with the over-60s in Nottingham three times a week. I keep myself fit that way.
ON TV TODAY
Scotland invade Wembley, 1977
11pm ESPN Classic, Sky channel 429
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/scotland/article6841160.ece
