Morris Mooney
Below is a response to a question by Morris's family following his recent passing.
Scottish Junior Football Association Amateur XI 6 (1) Morrison, Bruce, McCance 2, Pate (pen), Campbell Scottish FA Amateur XI 1 (0) Gordon
Date: 18 January 1965
Ground: Brig o'Lea, Neilston
Teams:
Scottish Junior Football Association Amateur XI - John McFedries (Hurlford United); Billy Ritchie (Cumnock) & MORRIS MOONEY (LANARK UNITED); Sandy Pate (Renfrew) (Captain), Frank McAleer (Yoker Athletic) & Robert Harvey (Duntocher Hibernian); Frank Morrison (Rosemount), Dennis Bruce (Sunnybank), Ian Campbell (Ardeer Recreation), Bob McCance (Neilston) & Alexander Arthur (Nairn Thistle)
Scottish FA Amateur XI - W Hill (Glasgow Police); J Brown (Cambridge University) & Derek Stewart (Queen’s Park); W Scott (Glasgow University), J McKay (Aberdeen University) & A McLean (Aberdeen University); Donald Ford (Heart of Midlothian), Jocky Scott (Dundee), A Gordon (The Army), E Hyndland (St Andrews University) & Frank Coulston (Stranraer).
Referee: J H Elliott (Barrhead)
In 1962 the Scottish Football Association realised that in selecting the Scotland Amateur International team they were overlooking Junior players who were playing as amateurs. They introduced an annual trial match where the Scottish Junior Football Association selected an amateur team to face an SFA amateur XI. This was the fourth and last match in that series.
The match attracted many senior clubs including Hal Stewart (Morton), Jimmy Smith (Rangers), Bobby Calder (Aberdeen), Bobby Kerr (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Joe Connor (Celtic) and Willie Omand (Queen’s Park).
The match was played on a treacherous surface and it was reported that the Juniors founded it easier to keep their footing than the heavier Senior players.
Billy Ritchie (Cumnock) went on to win an Amateur Cap on 20 February 1965 against Wales. Ian Campbell (Ardeer Recreation) went on to win 12 Scotland Amateur Caps as a Queen's Park player.
Donald Ford (Heart of Midlothian) won 9 Amateur Caps and 3 Full Caps. Jocky Scott (Dundee) went on to win 2 Full Caps.