When: Friday 23rd November 2018
Where: Loks Bar and Kitchen
What:?Bill Copeland will once again be our Chair (who else could do such a great job) and we are bringing two of the biggest names on the circuit to Newlandsfield.
John Gahagan was born in Glasgow and freely admits that life never really began until he signed for Motherwell Football Club in 1979 following short spells at Clydebank F.C. and Shettleston Juniors. John spent eleven years with Motherwell FC – the club he had supported as a boy. He played under such famous men as Ally McLeod, Davie Hay, Jock Wallace and Tommy McLean, winningtwo first division championship medals in 1981 and 1985. After a glorious testimonial season in 1990, John moved to Greenock Morton where he spent four years under his favourite manager, Allan McGraw, before retiring in 1994.
John’s tales of woe about life in and out of football have whipped up a comical storm at every conceivable venue. An audience of 1000 diners at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London saw John win another speaker of the year award. John’s record to date is now: Five times invited to Speaker of the Year Awards. Five times winner!
Whether flirting with triumph or disaster John’s philosophy has always been the same…you’ve got to laugh!
Frank McAvennie, the flamboyant Scottish striker who became an Upton Park idol in his first season at the Club. After signing for ?340,000 from St. Mirren in the summer of 1985, Frank’s 28 goals helped the Hammers to reach their highest ever league placing.?Renowned for his consistent goal-scoring ability, especially his superb headers, ‘Maca’ soon returned to form at Parkhead after a subdued debut year and scored 34 goals in 66 games for the side. The highlight of his Celtic career was scoring twice in the 1988 Scottish Cup Final against Dundee United to give Celtic the double in their centenary year.
Infamous for his champagne lifestyle, McAvennie was no stranger to controversy on the pitch. During a mid-October Old Firm clash in 1988, he was involved in a scuffle on the pitch which resulted in Rangers goalkeeper Woods, centre-back Butcher and McAvennie being sent off. Unusually, they were then ordered to appear in court on breach of the peace charges along with another Rangers player Graham Roberts. However, this one incident failed to blemish the popularity of the player who thrilled fans with the devastation caused by his deadly partnership with Andy Walker. They were highly disappointed by his decision to return to West Ham in March 1989 for ?1.25million.
Frank will probably be best remembered for his final appearance in a claret and blue shirt, when he came on as a half-time substitute against Nottingham Forest on the last day of the 1991-92 season and scored a hat-trick.
Tickets: ?35 per person. Full tables also available for purchase. Email info@pollokfc.com or drop us a message on Facebook or Twitter to buy a ticket.