MacLeod's enthusiasm endures on the dawn of another derby day Veteran of Old Firm and capital clashes still relishes game

IAN PAUL

27 Aug 1994

IT MAY be true that there is no longer the tingle of anticipation that once prevailed throughout the country when football derby day dawned but, at least as far as the Glasgow and Edinburgh contests are concerned, there has scarcely been a reduction in the ferocity of their confrontations.

Quite a few players have had the doubtful privilege of taking part in both city derbies -- Dave McPherson of Rangers, John Collins and Pat McGinlay of Celtic, John Colquhoun and Mo Johnston of Hearts are some who spring to mind -- but very few have been involved in the management of one and played in both.

Murdo MacLeod, former Celtic star and Hibs assistant manager-cum-player, has had that rare experience and would tell you that, whatever else, playing in them is a lot more fun than watching from the dug-out.

MacLeod will take in a rather less hectic atmosphere in front of a few hundred folk at Boghead this afternoon, when the team he manages and plays for, Dumbarton, are hosts to Morton in the second division.

That, of course, is part of the managerial apprenticeship which is the lot of most who eventually succeed at the highest level in the game in this country and MacLeod readily accepts the realities of his current situation.

''Of course, it is all a bit different from the great European nights at Parkhead or Old Firm derbies, or the comforts of life with Borussia Dortmund,'' he said, ''and in a sense I have come full circle to the place I started. But you have to be your own man some time and I knew this club and felt it would be a good place to learn the trade as a manager.''

He had done a bit of work placement as assistant to Alex Miller at Hibs and, if that gave him a close insight into managerial life in the premier division, the realities of the lower leagues will do him no harm when he returns to the mainstream in due course.

''Obviously, you hope to do well with the club, make a name for yourself, and head for bigger things,'' he admitted.

He made a big enough name for himself as a player, especially after he was bought from Dumbarton for #100,000 by Billy McNeill on November 2, 1978. In a career that spanned some of the last of the good years at Parkhead, then was resurrected in the German Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund and completed at high level with Hibs, MacLeod collected 20 caps along the route.

He enjoyed varying degreees of success everywhere, but in derby games he did not have any more luck in Edinburgh than a whole succession of Hibs players in recent years.

In fact (if any Hibee reader wishes to jump the next couple of sentences it might be less painful), the truth is that Hibs have not beaten Hearts since January 4, 1989. A gap of more than five-and-a-half years without a derby win is really a startling record, one that might just be unique among alleged equals in sport.

MacLeod, despite all his experience and will-to-win, had no joy, either. He played in six capital derbies, drawing four times and losing twice. Even when unable to play and urging his men on from the dug-out, Murdo was no more fortunate. He saw them lose three times and draw twice.

''It is incredible,'' he says. ''I find it hard to say why it has gone on this long, but I think this is more a mental thing than anything else. It's not jinxes, or hoodoos, or whatever you like to call it. They may not even be aware of it, but I think the Hibernian players need to rediscover the belief in themselves that they are going to beat Hearts.

''Some of the players have been at Easter Road through all that time and it is difficult to overcome that when it has gone on that length of time.

''Players can be psyched up in the dressing room to go out and beat the opposition, but sometimes a little thing goes wrong here or there is a mistake there and you sense they feel they just can't win.''

Yet MacLeod surprisingly believes that today's meeting at Tynecastle could be the moment of salvation. Even the opening of the new Tynecastle stand, the restriction of Hibs supporters because of reconstruction, and the determination of Hearts to make sure of three points at home do not deter his suspicion that Hibs will make it this time.

''I think the reduction in fans might in a strange way be a motivation for Hibs . . . a kind of 'we'll show them' response.'' If he is right, the lift for Hibs fans' morale would be immense and MacLeod appreciates how much of a boost it would be to the club as a whole. ''The thing about this run is that, once Hibs win, they will be starting a run of their own. And that is how they have to look at it.''

MacLeod cites the fact that Hearts have had four managers, Alex MacDonald, Joe Jordan, Sandy Clark and now Tommy McLean as further evidence that this peculiar derby record is difficult to explain.

He also finds it hard to understand why the quality of the capital derbies has been so poor over the years. ''Hibs can play good football and so can Hearts, but it seems every time they get together they leave it behind.'' He can remember only one, or maybe two, passable contests in his time at Easter Road, but still recalls how often Hibs seemed to be the better team, yet ended up either drawing or losing.

When his own Dumbarton are finished their business this afternoon, he will seek out the derby results at Ibrox and Tynecastle, but he has no doubts which one is the better to play in. ''There is nothing like an Old Firm game. The atmosphere, with the huge crowd, is fantastic.'' It will be a bit different at Boghead, where Murdo has got used to a lifestyle that is designed to suit the part-time player. ''Some of these lads come in here for training straight from their work. It is hard to push them hard in these circumstances.

''Money is what makes the difference. When I came here last year, some players signed for me for nothing to spend a year showing what they could do. The carrot was staying in the first division and getting money for the next season. But we didn't manage to stay there and so have no money to offer these players.

''Going down a league means the bonus system drops a lot, and for a lad who works during the day and is training three nights a week, it is not easy. If we have a midweek game they come in, take off their shirts and ties, and go out to play.''

Although he set out on the road with Dumbarton himself as a starry-eyed youngster, the club then had eight or nine full-timers and played in the top league.

Macleod, who is close to 36, intends to keep on playing as long as he can. It is the action on field which gives him the most satisfaction still. But if he misses anything about the big-time days it is the morning training when the full squads would turn up.

''The wee five-a-sides, finishing off with matches, the general business of the place.'' Nowadays in the morning he has a player who doubles as a groundsman and a couple of YTS lads with whom he plays head-tennis and generally tries to generate enthusiasm.

MacLeod still retains a powerful motivation to do well, however, and despite the presence of more and more full-timers in opposition sides, even in the second division, is hopeful of taking his team to promotion.

His own ambition is simply to keep on playing. ''Apart from anything else, I hate watching.''

Taken from the Herald