Graeme Brockett Player Profile

Biography

Graeme Brockett joined Clydebank from the talented Drumchapel Amateurs, a breeding ground for numerous Scottish footballers. He would have been part of the famous Bankies Babes at that time, being only 18 years old. The big Australian Malcolm Henderson was holding down his position at right back and Graeme would have been his understudy. An injury to Malcolm Henderson would see Graeme make an early appearance in the Clydebank first team. His debut was on 31 August 1968 in a League Cup tie against a vastly experienced Queen of the South team at Kilbowie Park. Clydebank lost Jim Fallon to injury and he did not come out for the second half, over fifty years later it is hard to believe how revolutionary Clydebank were. Previously, there had been the Ancell Babes at Motherwell brought through by Bobby Ancell the Motherwell manager who became a very dynamic club as a result of this influx of young blood, however it was not on the scale that Clydebank were attempting.

The defence against Queen of the South had Graeme Brockett (18yrs old), Jim Fallon (18yrs old), injured and replaced by baby faced Danny Gray (17yrs old), Dennis Ruddy (18yrs old) and Dougie Hay (18 yrs old). The attack contained John McGunnigle ( 18yrs old), Gerry O’Brien ( 18yrs old), Alan Munro ( 18 yrs old) and Jimmy Caskie ( 18yrs old). All these young boys were playing against hardened experienced pros. Clydebank took the lead but Queen’s came back with an equaliser. Graeme had a very good debut with a very tidy performance.

Graeme retained his place as Clydebank went on a decent run of results with the defence looking a lot more solid until a blip when a 3-0 lead away at Cowdenbeath was thrown away in ten crazy minutes around the hour mark at Central Park on 11 September 1969. A 4-2 victory over Queen’s Park and just 7 days after playing Cowdenbeath at Central Park, Clydebank were hosting the Fifers at Kilbowie on 18 September 1969. It looked like Clydebank were moving to a 1-0 victory, Graeme Brockett had to come off injured five minutes from time and was replaced by Jackie Woods. Cowdenbeath snatched a point with a last minute equaliser. This was to become a recurring theme, ‘the Babes’ we’re playing good stuff, but couldn’t close out games and were continually losing goals in the last 5 minutes. They also appeared to be more nervous at home where the crowds were usually bigger.

Clydebank’s next two games saw the same result as with Cowdenbeath, a 1-1 draw at home to Berwick again losing a goal five minutes from time, and a 1-1 draw away to Queen of the South. Next up was Alloa who came to Kilbowie and 2 goals from their blonde striker, one Mr Joe McCallan saw them leave with the two points. Their second goal scored 5 minutes from time. The Bankies then went to Hamilton and took the points with a 2-1 victory; Hamilton’s goal was 6 minutes from time.

Graeme enjoyed a good run in the team but had to hand over the full back spot to Malcolm Henderson when the big Aussie returned from injury, nevertheless Graeme got another three game run at the end of the season. He could be well pleased with his contribution in his first season. Season 1969/70 was to turn sour for Graeme Brockett he only started 5 games, two of which resulted in horrendous losses, 7-0 to Falkirk at Kilbowie and a 5-1 debacle at Boghead against Dumbarton. There were mitigating factors in both games; Jim Fallon was injured in a car crash on the way to Kilbowie for the Falkirk game. Dougie Hay failed to recover from a midweek injury so Paul McMillan was thrown in at the last minute and Tommy McGhee was moved from centre forward to half back. In the Dumbarton game someone thought it a good idea to play three trialists in such a match!

Graeme Brockett’s last match was in a 1-1 draw at Ochilview against Stenhousemuir on 4 October 1969. A story went the rounds that Graeme was at training and was told that Mr Steedman wanted to see him in the office. Graeme thought he was being called in to get a rise or a new contract offer. He was actually told he was being given a free transfer, poor Graeme came out shell-shocked. He was only a young lad; he was a neat and tidy defender and deserved much better treatment than he ultimately received.

Sadly Graeme Brockett passed away in 2006. R.I.P.