Jimmy Boag reminisces on recent Cappielow return
Former Morton striker Jimmy Boag recently made a pilgrimage back to Cappielow and told how it was a dream come true to represent his local club and also shared his experiences playing against last Sunday’s opponents Rangers back in the 1980s.
Boag, who also worked as a postman during his time with the Ton, was the club’s top scorer in our last season in the top flight, netting eight Premier League goals over the course of the 1987/88 campaign.
After 20 years living in Australia, he returned to the UK and now lives in Warrington, and on a recent visit to relatives in Inverkip he couldn’t resist taking a tour around his old stomping ground and reminiscing about his time here.
Speaking to gmfc.net in front of the Cowshed, Boag said: “I was just passing through Greenock and I thought I would drop in and show my stepson where I used to play a few years back.
“I have great memories of my time here, obviously coming from Greenock as well – a local boy – I used to watch Morton from when I was seven and it was always something you dream about when you’re standing on the terraces.
“I fulfilled that dream, but it took a bit of time to get there because I was 29 before I signed, and [Allan] McGraw nearly fell off the chair when he heard my age. But I’d already put pen to paper so it was too late.
“It was four great years for me, ’86 to ’90. I played in our last season in the Premier Division, and right at the beginning of the season I came off the bench and equalised against Hibs in a 3-3 draw here.
“We played St Mirren after it and I scored and went to get three goals in five games before we went to Ibrox. The boss called me aside and said: ‘Look, I’m not going to play you today.’ I was like: ‘What! I’m the top goalscorer. How can you not play me?’
“He just didn’t think I was ready for that situation and it was his decision at the end of the day and I had to accept that. It was disappointing at the time, but hey, that’s football.
“There was one game I did play against Rangers and I got taken off injured. Graham Roberts came right through me and basically halved my shinguard in two.
“The only thing I can remember about it is when I was lying, rolling about holding my shin was [Ally] McCoist coming over, leaning over and slapping my face telling me I was going to be alright. I was like: ‘Okay, Coisty. No bother mate.'”
Boag made the trip to Hampden for the Betfred Cup semi-final against Aberdeen back in October, and he has been impressed by what he has seen from the current team, both in that showpiece occasion and the other matches screened on television this term.
He added: “I mean, Jim Duffy has got them playing really good. From the games I’ve seen on TV, they are well organised. They’re just maybe lacking a wee bit in attack at the moment with all the injuries.
“I’m always supporting them, I’m always looking for the scores, how the team are playing, looking at the stats. I’m a local boy and I’m Morton through and through at the end of the day. I always wanted to play here and I did.”
The 59-year-old’s affection was obvious and he wanted to mark that by supporting the club in some way, and he did so by sponsoring Ross Forbes’ away shirt through his stepson Adam Murphy’s Express Business Group UK firm.
He explained: “I was in Australia in 20 years and circumstances have brought me back here. I’ve got an opportunity with an Australian company and have been down living in Warrington for the last year and a bit, getting the company off the ground.
“We’re up for a couple of meetings with some prospects up here, and I’m actually watching my grandkids too. My boy lives in Inverkip, so I’m really looking forward to spending some time with them.”
Image: Jonathan Mitchell
