| Season | Division | All | League | Cups | Friendlies | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
||||||
| 1979-80 | First Division | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | - | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1978-79 | First Division | 45 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 37 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 1977-78 | Premier Division | 32 (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 (1) | 0 | 7 (1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 32 (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1976-77 | First Division | 56 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 39 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 56 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 1975-76 | Second Division | 47 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 23 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 47 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1974-75 | Division Two | 48 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 48 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1973-74 | Division Two | 36 (5) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 (3) | 0 | 6 (2) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 36 (5) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1972-73 | Division Two | 33 (4) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 (4) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 33 (4) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals: | 309 (11) | 3 | 9 | 0 | 228 (8) | 0 | 81 (3) | 3 | 15 | 0 | 309 (11) | 3 | 9 | 0 | |
| Apps = first-team starts with substitute appearances in brackets. |
| Gls = goals. |
| All = competitive appearances only. Friendlies are shown separately and do not form part of the competitive totals. |
| Yel = yellow cards/cautions. Red = red cards/dismissals. |
| Recent First Team Starts |
|---|
| Dec 15th, 1979 | 15/12/79 | League | Division 1 | vs. Berwick Rangers (H) | 0 - 0 |
| Sep 19th, 1979 | 19/09/79 | League | Division 1 | vs. Arbroath (A) | 2 - 3 |
| Sep 15th, 1979 | 15/09/79 | League | Division 1 | vs. Ayr Utd (H) | 1 - 0 |
| Sep 11th, 1979 | 11/09/79 | League | Division 1 | vs. Airdrie (H) | 2 - 2 |
| Sep 8th, 1979 | 08/09/79 | League | Division 1 | vs. Hearts (A) | 1 - 2 |
| Recent First Team Goals |
|---|
| Jan 8th, 1977 | 08/01/77 | Scottish Cup | 2nd round | vs. Selkirk (H) | 2 - 0 |
| Sep 24th, 1975 | 24/09/75 | League Cup | Quarter Final 2nd Leg | vs. Partick Th (H) | 1 - 0 |
| Jan 4th, 1975 | 04/01/75 | Scottish Cup | 2nd Round | vs. Cowdenbeath (A) | 2 - 0 |
| List of Goals Scored (click to expand) | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| List of Games Played (click to expand) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Competition | ![]() |
![]() |
G2G | ![]() |
![]() |
Win % | Draw % | Loss % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| League | 228 (8) | 0 | - | 6 | 0 | 45.8% | 19.9% | 34.3% |
| Scottish Cup | 15 (2) | 2 | 0.12 | 0 | 0 | 47.1% | 17.6% | 35.3% |
| League Cup | 42 | 1 | 0.02 | 3 | 0 | 40.5% | 19.0% | 40.5% |
| Stirlingshire Cup | 7 (1) | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 50.0% | 12.5% | 37.5% |
| Anglo-Scottish Cup | 4 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 50.0% | 50.0% |
| Drybrough Cup | 1 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| Spring Cup | 12 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 58.3% | 0.0% | 41.7% |
| Totals: | 309 (11) | 3 | 9 | 0 | 45.0% | 19.1% | 35.9% |
Competition figures include competitive matches only. Starts are shown first, with substitute appearances in brackets. Gls = goals. G2G = goals to games ratio.
| Opponent | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
W | D | L | Win % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Aberdeen | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.0% |
![]() | Airdrie | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 41.7% |
![]() | Albion Rovers | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 36.4% |
![]() | Alloa Athletic | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 50.0% |
![]() | Arbroath | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 62.5% |
![]() | Ayr Utd | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 30.0% |
![]() | Berwick Rangers | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 40.0% |
![]() | Brechin City | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 62.5% |
![]() | Celtic | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 14.3% |
![]() | Clyde | 7 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 50.0% |
![]() | Cowdenbeath | 11 (1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 75.0% |
![]() | Dumbarton | 11 (1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 66.7% |
![]() | Dundee | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 66.7% |
![]() | Dundee Utd | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 25.0% |
![]() | Dunfermline | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 50.0% |
![]() | East Fife | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 62.5% |
![]() | East Stirlingshire | 10 (2) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 41.7% |
![]() | Falkirk | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 83.3% |
![]() | Forfar Ath | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 83.3% |
![]() | Hamilton Accies | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 53.3% |
![]() | Hearts | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.0% |
![]() | Hibernian | 4 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 20.0% |
![]() | Inverness Clach | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50.0% |
![]() | Kilmarnock | 4 (1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 20.0% |
![]() | Meadowbank Th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 33.3% |
![]() | Montrose | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 50.0% |
![]() | Morton | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0.0% |
![]() | Motherwell | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 66.7% |
![]() | Partick Th | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 14.3% |
![]() | Queen of the South | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 68.8% |
![]() | Queen's Park | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 40.0% |
![]() | Raith Rovers | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 33.3% |
![]() | Rangers | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0.0% |
![]() | Selkirk | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
![]() | St Johnstone | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 83.3% |
![]() | St Mirren | 13 (2) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 6.7% |
![]() | Stenhousemuir | 9 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 50.0% |
![]() | Stirling Albion | 14 (1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 40.0% |
![]() | Stranraer | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 57.1% |
| Totals: | 309 (11) | 3 | 9 | 0 | 144 | 61 | 115 | 45.0% |
Opposition figures include competitive matches only. Starts are shown first, with substitute appearances in brackets. Gls = goals. Yellow and red card totals are shown on desktop screens.
Gregor Abel was an athletic left back, who was an integral part of the greatest ever Clydebank side who were promoted to the Premier League in successive seasons in the 1970s.
A PE teacher to trade in his native Falkirk he barely missed a game in his eight years at Kilbowie Park making 320 appearance for the Bankies. He is one of just eleven players to have played over 300 times for the club and is seventh in the all-time table at the time of writing.
By the time he signed from Falkirk in the summer of 1972, Gregor was already a seasoned professional although just 23 years of age. He had made his debut at Brockville at the age of 17, and had played almost 100 games for the Bairns and had won the Second Division title in 1970.
Falkirk had farmed him out Bo’ness United in his early years, and he had appeared for Scotland schoolboys displaying his pedigree.
Gregor’s experience was required in his debut as it was against the might of Rangers at Ibrox who had just won the Cup Winners Cup in Barcelona just a few months earlier.
He was one of four debutants that day, and he was also one of just four players over the age of 22 as the Bankies continued with their youth policy. A 2-0 defeat on the day was quite respectable.
In his first season at the club he was in and out of the side, but finished the year strongly playing regularly though on the unfamiliar right side as the left back position was firmly held by Davie Mitchell. Clydebank were not a great side at this point in time and finished third bottom of the second Division.
Gregor was able to take over the left back position as his own the following season, with just some competition from a young Billy Fanning, and as a result the club finished in a more respectable mid table position.
It was in 1974-75 that the great Bankies side were really starting to shape up. Although some of the players had now been at the club for a year or so the line up that finished the season of Gallacher, Hall, Abel, Fallon, Fanning, McColl, Cooper, Henderson, Larnach, McCallan and Caskie was almost complete.
The Bankies missed out on promotion to the new First Division having been pipped by St Mirren following league construction. Gregor had played in every single game in this fast improving Clydebank side. A first and rare goal was also scored as he notched the second in a 2-0 win against Cowdenbeath. It had only taken 109 games for him to break his duck.
The Bankies were installed as favourites for the inaugural Second Division Championship in 1975-76 and an usher of never before seen success was embarked upon.
It is often the formidable attack of Cooper, Larnach and McCallan that is commented on during this period, but the defence were magnificent. They kept 21 clean sheet in all that season including a run of eleven in twelve games at the start of the season.
The Bankies duly won the league title giving Gregor a second medal of his career. He would quickly add another, albeit a runners-up gong in the short-lived Spring Cup.
A highlight for Gregor was his winning goal in the League Cup Quarter Final against Partick Thistle. The Jags were the only unbeaten side in Britain at the time, and Gregor beat Alan Rough all ends up with a shot just inside the Thistle half. A screamer in anyone's language. Unfortunately the Bankies went out on aggregate.
The memories piled up for Gregor the following season as the Bankies battled it out with St Mirren for the First Division title. The Saints pipped the Bankies in the end, but the unthinkable promotion to the Premier League was achieved
Gregor missed just one game all season playing in 56 of 57 games. Showing his worth to the side. He did score his third and last goal for the club netting in a 2-0 win over Selkirk in the Scottish Cup.
Other than being promoted, the obvious highlight would be the four match saga against Rangers in the Quarter Final of the league Cup. It was these games that really introduced Davie Cooper to the country’s consciousness, but these games bolstered the belief in the rest of the side.
After going out of the cup the Bankies went on a run of games that saw them lose just once in 21 games. It was a truly amazing time to be a supporter of the club watching Gregor and his team mates take on all-comers.
Inevitably, the success brought suitors for the star players and Cooper left for Rangers before the Premier League season started, and Larnach to Newcastle and McCallan to Falkirk followed shortly afterwards.
With such a huge loss to the club, it was no surprise that the Bankies struggled and ended up bottom of the league. Gregor played in most of the games but did occasionally lose his place in the team as Bill Munro looked to chance a losing formula.
The Bankies went back to being part time on their return to the First Division. Once again, Gregor was an almost ever present in the side missing just two games all season.
The first game he missed was the second last game of the season. With promotion in the balance, the Bankies could only draw at Arbroath with John McCormack missing a penalty effectively meaning a quick return to the Premier League was impossible.
Sentiment can be in short supply in football, and Gregor’s eighth season was to be his last in 1979-80 Gregor had started the first 11 games in the season, but the Bankies were performing poorly for the first time in years and it was clear the club were in a transition after failing to get back in the Premier League.
By Mid-September Gregor was out of favour with Gerry Colgan now the regular left-back. In December he was about to be transferred to Alloa Athletic, and prior to his departure he was given one more appearance at Kilbowie to say farewell to the supporters. It was unfortunately a dour 0-0 draw against Berwick Rangers ending a great Bankies career in a rather inauspicious manner.
As an aside Gregor fancied himself as a goalkeeper, going between the sticks on at least three separate occasions when Jim Galacher was carried off injured. He even played in goals for a full reserve match when the Bankies didn’t have a registered second keeper.
Gregor was one of the great Bankies who gets less attention than some of the others, but his contribution at the time was immeasurable and he was rightly inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.

August 12th, 1972
Rangers 2 - 0 Clydebank
League Cup (Group 3)
Gregor was born on this date in Falkirk.
Clydebank 1 - 0 Rochdale
Friendly
Clydebank PressThe Killer instinct of Jimmy Caskie won this pre-season challenge game at Kilbowie in the 20th minute. It acted as a shake-down performance for the new-look Bank
Rangers 2 - 0 Clydebank
League Cup (Group 3)
Clydebank PressThere was a pang of pity in my heart on Saturday afternoon about 2.50 pm. Down below my seat in the Press box the Rangers players were being presented with their
Clydebank 0 - 3 Stirling Albion
League (Division 2)
Match Report to Follow...
Clydebank 1 - 1 Hamilton Accies
League (Division 2)
Match Report to Follow...
Clydebank 3 - 0 Montrose
League (Division 2)
Match Report to Follow...
Clydebank 0 - 3 East Stirlingshire
League (Division 2)
Match Report to Follow...
Cowdenbeath 0 - 2 Clydebank
Scottish Cup (2nd Round)
Match Report to Follow...
Clydebank 2 - 0 Falkirk
League (Division 2)
Match Report to Follow...
Arbroath 0 - 2 Clydebank
League (1st Division)
Match Report to Follow...
Clydebank 2 - 0 Selkirk
Scottish Cup (2nd round)
Match Report to Follow...
Clydebank 1 - 4 Clyde
League (Division 1)
Report coming soon....
Clydebank 4 - 1 Airdrie
League (Division 1)
Report coming soon....
Clydebank 0 - 0 Berwick Rangers
League (Division 1)
Report coming soon....
Gregor was transferred to Alloa Athletic