FOR Ian Hutcheson and his friends, growing up in Glasgow in the 1960s was like “watching a sports variety show.”

“Grounds like Hampden, Ibrox and Parkhead have always shown their versatility by adapting to other events apart from football, and as a group of teenagers looking for excitement and experiences, we took advantage of what was on offer,” explains Ian, who is a regular contributor to Times Past.

“Boxing had a high profile, and we were well aware of the exploits of champions like Peter Keenan and Jackie Paterson, and of course, Benny Lynch, whose epic world title win in front of 40,000 fans took place on the terraces at the Shawfield home of Clyde FC.”

It was not at Shawfield, however that Ian and his pals began their “sporting safari”, he explains.

“Our first stop was Partick Thistle’s home at Firhill where Chic Calderwood was scheduled to fight for the Commonwealth title,” he says.

“What drew us in was, in what seemed like a break from the tradition of Scottish fighters achieving fame at fly-weight or bantam-weight, Chic was a light-heavyweight.

“Our adventures got off to a great start as we watched our man fight his opponent to a standstill, winning by a technical KO in the twelfth round to secure the title.”

The gang headed to Shawfield next, not for football or boxing, but for greyhound racing.

(Image: Newsquest)

“At this stadium we were to enjoy the atmosphere but also to learn a life lesson,” says Ian, with a laugh.

“One of my friends had some information to pass on – ‘reverse forecast’, he said, and explained that we should put a bet on two dogs in the first race to come in first and second, in either order.

“We watched the dogs race round the track, initially more out of curiosity than expectation, then in total surprise as our selections duly came in as we had predicted.”

Ian pauses. “How easy was this, we thought,” he adds, wryly. “Now we had some capital to invest in the following races.

“Then reality asserted itself, and as the evening wore on, race by race, our fund drained away. As I say, a salutary lesson…..”

After watching dogs race round a track, the team moved on to tigers – specifically, the speedway team Glasgow Tigers, based at The White City stadium in Ibrox. 

(Image: Newsquest Media Group)

“Perhaps it was just one of those nights, but with apologies to Speedway fans, after the roaring chorus of the engines at the start, and the adrenalin rush round the first corner, it became more of a procession than a race,” says Ian.

“Glasgow’s facilities for hosting sporting occasions stretched beyond the grounds of the professional clubs to the rugby pitches at Old Anniesland, venue for the Intercity Matches between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

“As the teams included players from Scotland’s international team, it was a chance for us to see them in action up close, rather than more distantly from the slopes at Murrayfield.”

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Ian adds: “Anniesland also played its part in Glasgow’s sporting variety show when it was happy to welcome supporters from shinty’s heartlands for the showcase event of the season, the final of the Camanachd Cup.

“On one of these occasions, I had the pleasure of meeting a group of Highlanders leaving the ground after the final whistle, disoriented and in need of directions into town.

“I pointed out the bus stop and the railway station. My new friends were very grateful and, as a tangible token of their gratitude, thrust a fistful of whisky miniatures into my hand.”

He grins: “Well, I thought, slainte mhath, Glasgow needs more shinty…”

Glasgow’s tradition of versatile venues has a long history, points out Ian.

“It begins at the ground of the West of Scotland Cricket Club at Hamilton Crescent in Partick,” he explains.

“Until the game became professionalised, the pitch was host to touring teams from New Zealand, Australia, India and Pakistan when, taking a break from their County and Test matches in England, they played a Scottish XI.

“And of course, as recently commemorated, 1872 was the birthplace of international football, when Scotland played England. From Partick to the world….”

What are your memories of watching sport in Glasgow over the decades? Get in touch with Times Past to share your stories and photos. Email ann.fotheringham@glasgowtimes.co.uk or write to Ann Fotheringham, Glasgow Times, 125 Fullarton Drive, Glasgow G32 8FG.