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A
Tribute To Ally McLeod
from
the Tartan Army |
 Although
the story is now a quarter of a century old, few have forgotten the March
of Ally's Army to Argentina and the Scots ill-fated World Cup adventure.
Briefly, Ally
McLeod's star was in the global ascendancy and he caught the imagination
of Scots football and nurtured, effortlessly it seemed, the early steps of
the Tartan Army, the boisterous - good-natured even in drink - antidote to
the often miserable thuggery of English football fans on tour.
But Ally's star
fell to earth with his team's shameful collapse, and for a time, he became
a scornful figure, and for some the object of remorseless ridicule. The
Scots, who can be fine company when in their ascendancy, can easily become the
worst of enemies, even to their own, when the sky darkens. Ally found
that on his 'welcome' back home.
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However,
part of Ally's remarkable legacy was to be the Tartan Army itself, which
probably would not have grown in such ridiculous stature, had it not been
for the ignominy of Argentina and the realisation that 'its only a game',
but everything remains 'to be played for'.
Twenty
five years on, life continues to present challenges for the once-great
player and champion
of Scottish football. Now, stricken by Alzheimer's disease, Ally struggles
to maintain his once-jolly composure but, as with many suffers from this
cruel disease, the past is fading. Perhaps, at last, the painful memories
of his South American adventure are being consigned to the Ally McLeod
history book.
In
July 2003, some members of the Tartan Army - who were still children in
1978 - paid homage to Ally McLeod and his contribution to Scottish
football with a special tribute ceremony at the Scots' National Stadium -
Hampden Park. Pictured (below left) below is Marc
Carapiet, making the presentation to Ally, along with other
members of the Tartan Army at the ceremony at Hampden.
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Ally
McLeod died on the 11th February 2004, aged
72 |
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Marc Carapiet died
on 31st October 2004, aged 39 |
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To
contact the Alzheimer's Society, click
here. |
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