The following post was kindly submitted to us by Gordon McCreath, who is a keen Ayrshire junior football historian.
Johnny McIntyre, who passed away on Saturday, 24th January 2015, was one of the most successful players ever to pull a Medda jersey over his head. He featured in three of Irvine Meadow’s Scottish Junior Cup finals; two as a player, the third as trainer. As well as being a winner in the premier competition on two of these occasions, he amassed a haul of winners medals in league championships and various cup competitions in his long, though interrupted, association with the club.
Johnny first signed for Meadow from Port Glasgow in 1948, just a few months after the club’s Scottish Cup final defeat against Bo’ness United. Johnny’s first season was a successful one as he was a member of the team which won the North section of the league and played at inside left when Meadow beat Annbank United 5-1 in the Western League Championship decider.
Season 1950/51 saw Meadow go all the way to the Scottish Cup final again, only to lose 0-1 against Petershill. The programme notes for the Hampden final said of Johnny, “Port Glasgow graduate of juvenile Rovers. Came to Meadow two years ago, and has been doing his service in the forces in the interval. A lot is expected of this lad, a surprise selection at this time. Stands 5ft. 5 ins. and weighs 11 stones.” Nevertheless, the season was a success with Johnny in the Meadow elevens which won the West of Scotland Cup, the Irvine & District Cup, and the Western League, beating Craigmark 3-0 in a replayed decider. In appreciation of their efforts the entire team, including Johnny, of course, were made Freemen of the Royal Burgh.
At the end of the season, Johnny left Meadow for the first but by no means the last, time when he sampled Senior football with Raith Rovers. He played there for four seasons (1951/52, 1952/53, 1953/54 & 1954/55) making 39 league appearances and scoring 8 goals. In addition, he made 14 league cup appearances (0 goals) and 4 Scottish Cup matches (1 goal). He was released by Raith Rovers on 30 April 1955 and in 1955/56 he was back in Meadow blue and performing so successfully that he was capped for Junior Scotland against Ireland and Wales. He was also chosen to play against Eire but had to withdraw because of injury. That season he picked up another winners medal in the West of Scotland Cup, playing at outside right, with his brother Ally at inside right, as Meadow beat Clydebank 4-1 in the final.
In 1956, he left Meadow again, this time in the direction of Kirkintilloch Rob Roy, causing him to miss the 1959 Scottish Cup final victory against Shettleston. But he signed for the cup holders for the third time in 1959 and started a spell at the club, which would eventually see him raise the Scottish Cup at Hampden bedecked in blue and white ribbons.
It’s fair to say that Johnny is best known for his performances in season 1962/63 when he captained the club to its second Scottish Junior Cup triumph. Stonehaven, Blantyre Victoria, Fauldhouse, Camelon, Dalkeith and Bellshill were all swept aside as Meadow powered their way to the semi-final at Rugby Park. A Willie Garvie hattrick beat Craigmark in that semi-final and attention turned to the final at Hampden Park.
When Johnny led out his team for the Scottish Junior Cup final he was on the verge of becoming a cup hero. Glenafton Athletic outplayed Meadow for most of the 90 minutes but, crucially, they missed a penalty in the first half. As Johnny later said in an interview, “We didnae deserve tae win it. We should have got beaten in that game.” But thanks largely to Johnny, Meadow didn’t lose. With two minutes to play and Johnny limping because of a wrenched knee and minus two teeth following an accidental clash with a Glens player’s elbow, the Meadow captain smashed in the winning goal. “Bingham again did a fine bit of ball-juggling and again was brought down by McLean. Murray came across to take the foul-kick and his shot struck the line of defenders, rebounded to McIntyre, and Johnny sent a raging shot into the net from 18 yards.” (The Irvine Herald)
And what did he say about the missing teeth? “The teeth were so loose I just pulled them out and threw them away” (Scottish Sunday Express). That evening on the balcony of the Townhouse when showing off the cup, he even tried to talk clearly into the microphone to a jubilant crowd, who could barely understand a word he said but they cheered in appreciation anyway.
The following season Meadow reached the semi-final again, with Johnny described in the programme notes as “a five-star full back,” but Cambuslang Rangers were too strong and ran out 2-0 winners.
Johnny left Meadow yet again, this time moving just across the river to Irvine Victoria. He later joined Kilwinning Rangers where he played at inside left and scored as Buffs beat Ardeer Thistle 10-3 in Stevenson. Eventually, he drew the curtain on his playing career, but that didn’t stop him re-joining Meadow yet again. This time, however, he took on the role of trainer.
One thing Johnny always had in abundance was a burning will to win and it rubbed off on the players as he coached them to the club’s third Scottish Cup triumph in 1973, beating Cambuslang Rangers after a fiercely contested three-match final. As he said in an interview about Junior football, quoted in Lesley Hunter’s book, The Legend of Vics & Meadow, “It wisnae fun. Ye played tae win.”
One thing is for sure: Johnny McIntyre was a winner.