No matter how much preparation you have done, no matter how many facts and figures you’ve written out before you, Dalglish consistently has a glint in his eye, secure in the knowledge he’s holding the winning hands. Whatever information he’s well prepared to divulge will be hard-earned.
So here we go. A clash between Scotland and England is ripe for stories from years gone by and who better to discuss it with than Dalglish, who played 10 of these encounters during their pomp in the 1970s when they were yearly events which attracted both nations to a standstill.
His first adventure was at Hampden Park on Valentine’s night 1973.
‘I do not remember it,’ he says, deadpan.
This isn’t promising. Immediately, however, he starts to grin. He’s warming up.
‘It had been in Hampden, we got beat 5-0,’ says Dalglish. ‘It was Willie Ormond’s first match as Scotland manager. And, by the way, it was absolutely frozen. I cannae remember who shopped for them. I know I don’t have to remember who scored for us! It’s been washed out of the memory !’
Dalglish was in his pomp for Celtic and that afternoon at Hampden proved to be his first win against England. It was a remarkable contest, settled by two own goals. Certainly there must be tales here?
‘Aye,’ he states .’
Really?
