Denis Law and John Fitzpatrick come home

At the Dundee United game on Saturday we welcome home two local heroes. Aberdeen born Denis Law and John Fitzpatrick will be at Pittodrie as special guests of AFC. RedWeb looks back at the career of both men, starting with the career of arguably Scotland’s greatest ever player.

ABERDEEN’S FAVOURITE SON | Denis Law

Sadly Denis Law never wore the red of Aberdeen at any stage of his memorable career. Without doubt, Denis remains the greatest football player ever to emerge from the Aberdeen area, and it is a great pity that one of Scotland’s most famous players never played club football in his home country, and for Aberdeen; the team he supported as a boy.

Born on the 24th February 1940 at No 6 Printfield Terrace in Aberdeen’s Woodside area, Denis Law found himself being brought up in a council tenement block, which housed around 30 families. His father spent the majority of his working life on the Aberdeen trawlers, broken by service in two World wars. It was from that deprived childhood that steeled Law for a successful career in football. In his early days his whole life revolved around football. In the days of no TV, people lived by their radios; Football was played in the streets, an upbringing that has honed many a fine player.

The long hours playing in that environment may be long gone, but so has the Scottish players of true world class ability. Denis Law’s first experience of organised football came when he was nine years old when he was selected for the Hilton Primary U-11s team. It was when Denis was preparing for secondary school that a problem emerged. After passing various exams with flying colours, a place in the Grammar School beckoned. As rugby and cricket were the predominant sports in the Grammar, football was frowned upon in some of the more formal education establishments. Following a lengthy battle with the educational authorities, young Denis was accepted in to Powis Secondary, where several football teams were thriving. At 13 years of age. Law joined Aberdeen Lads Club, and helped raise funds for the club so that Lads club colts could be formed. It was during that period that law was selected to play for Aberdeen Schoolboys and played along side John Ogston, who went on to play in goal for the Dons, and Alex Dawson, who he was to meet up with at Manchester United later in his career.

Despite being selected for Scotland schools as a reserve, he never played for his country at that level, and in Easter 1955, as Aberdeen were on the threshold of claiming their first Scottish Championship, an unexpected visitor to the Law home was to change the course of his life. Archie Beattie was the brother of former Scotland International Andy, who was at that time manager of Huddersfield Town. Archie had been scouting for the Yorkshire club and offered Law the chance of a trial with the First Division club. Although Law was convinced that his trial would be a brief one, it was not his ability to make the grade that was in question, but he was soon to become homesick. It was when Bill Shankly arrived at Huddersfield to take over that was to prove a turning point.

It was at Christmas 1956 that Denis Law was to make his first team debut, two months short of his 17th birthday. Andy Beattie retired two months later as Shankly took over, and it was under his influence that Law was to flourish. Two years later, a first Scotland cap was gained against Wales at St Ninian Park. At 18 years of age, law became the youngest player to be capped for Scotland since Bob McColl in 1899. By the end of 1959, Shankly had been enticed away to Liverpool, and Law was convinced he would have to move on to further his career. As an established international, there was no lack of interest, and both Arsenal and Manchester City were keen to secure his signature. In March 1960, Denis Law signed for Manchester City for a then British record fee of £55,000.

It soon became clear that City was a struggling side, and his spell at Maine road was to be an unhappy one. Following a traumatic year with City, the lure of Italian football was to be one, which could not be resisted. The Italian League was booming and the financial rewards were way above what could be earned on these shores. Initially, Law had agreed to sign for Inter Milan, but as it turned out the deal was never finalised and Law eventually moved to Torino in June 1961 for another British record transfer of £110,000.

The Italian league was no place for the faint of heart, and along with fellow Scot Joe Baker; Law set about making his mark with Torino. Despite the obvious difficulties that playing abroad can throw up, both Law and Baker were convinced they could be successful. It soon became clear that their stay in Italy was beset with problems, and other top British players were encountering similar difficulties. A troublesome 12 months in Italy culminated in a serious car crash that nearly cost both Scots their lives.

Denis could not get out of the country quick enough after it emerged that Torino had decided to sell him on to arch rivals Juventus, and he returned to England to meet up with Matt Busby of Manchester United. In July 1962, Manchester United paid the Italian club £115,000 for his services. In what had been a nomadic career to date, Law convinced himself that he was at Old Trafford to stay. In 1963, United was certainly far removed from the household name they are today, but were certainly a club with a great tradition. Indeed, United was almost relegated in Law’s first season at Old Trafford, but the FA Cup was won and bright days lay ahead. Later that year, Law was honoured beyond his expectations when he was selected to play for the Rest of the World side that played England at Wembley in a showpiece occasion.

Of course, Denis Law remains the only Aberdonian to receive such an accolade. Of that side, only the legendary Pele was missing through injury. Include was Santos, the Brazilian captain. Alferdo Di Stefano of Real Madrid fame and Ferenc Puskas. Law may have been in exhaled company, but he was there on merit, a far cry from the streets of Woodside. Further personal honours were to follow when he was voted European Player of the Year, the first Scot to receive that award. Indeed, only Stan Matthews had previously been voted for such an honour.

Under the guidance of Matt Busby, Manchester United went on to win the English League title on two occasions, and in 1968, the club that had so tragically been decimated after the Munich air crash of 1958, won the European Cup. The Old Trafford dream had been fulfilled. By a cruel twist of fate, Denis Law was to miss out on European Cup glory as a knee injury meant that he was to miss out in the return leg of their semi final against Real Madrid in the Spanish capital. An exploratory operation was needed, and even after the surgery, law suspected that he would be further troubled by the injury. Matt Busby was to stand down from the united hot seat after the European Cup triumph, and it was when Wilf McGuiness took over that Law did not take too kindly to a new approach to the game. The Scot had been fiercely critical of the England side that won the World Cup in 1966, citing the lack of wingers in the set up as a negative outlook. Freedom of expression on the football field this was not.

United’s fortunes were to take a down turn in the 70’s as Law was joined at Old Trafford by fellow Aberdonian Martin Buchan in 1972. Frank O’Farrell had taken over, and was often found wanting as United fell from grace. Tommy Docherty was in charge in April 1973 when Law was shattered with the news that United was giving him a free transfer. It was agreed that news of his release would not be made until after his testimonial against Ajax, when Law decided he would announce his retirement from the game. However, Docherty, under media pressure released the news of his release, and it was while Denis was in an Aberdeen pub with some friends that the announcement was made on TV. Law decided that he still had something to offer, and was seething at Docherty for going back on his word. A final season with Manchester City was to prove eventful.

Denis Law’s swan song in football offered him the opportunity to fulfil another ambition; to play for Scotland in the World Cup finals. Scotland had been drawn against Denmark and Czechoslovakia in their qualifying group and a home win over the fancied Czechs would secure the Scots trip to the Finals in Germany. A 100,000 crowd at Hampden roared the Scots through and Germany beckoned. Meanwhile, United were now in desperate trouble at the foot of the league. In what was to be Denis Law’s last game in league football, the Manchester derby at Old Trafford ended in gloom for United.

With only minutes left, an instinctive back heel from law gave City a win that condemned United to the Second Division. After 19 years of giving his all to score goals, Law had finally scored a goal that he wished he hadn’t. The truth emerged some time later that Denis never really wanted to play in the game, but his professional responsibility won the day. Denis Law’s last game in senior football fulfilled a lifetime’s ambition when he played for Scotland against Zaire in the World Cup. Later that year in August 1974, Denis Law announced his retirement from football.

Scotland

55 International appearances, 30 goals scored, record broken by Kenny Dalglish

First cap v Wales at Cardiff 18.10.1958

Last Cap v Zaire at Dortmund 14.6.1974

Honours

English League championship 1965, 1967

FA Cup Winner 1963

League Cup Finalist 1974

Playing career

Huddersfield Town – Amateur 1955, Professional Feb 1957

Manchester City – March 1960 £55,000

Torino – June 1961 £110,000

Manchester Utd – July 1962 £115,000

Manchester City – July 1973

Retired – August 1974 John Fitzpatrick

We will also welcome another ex Man Utd player from Aberdeen to Pittodrie on Saturday. By the time Law was forging a memorable career for himself, another Aberdonian almost blew his dreams of joining United. John Fitzpatrick was with Aberdeen Lads Club when he was asked to sign for Manchester Utd. After requesting that he played one last game for the Lads Club, he broke his leg in that game and his move was in doubt. Fortunately after making a full recovery United came back in for him and he signed up at Old Trafford in July 1962. His career at Manchester was a memorable one as he played alongside some of the finest players of that era. At the age of 26, Fitzpatrick had to give up playing after a succession of knee injuries in 1973. He had played nearly 150 games during a generally successful era for the Old Trafford club. Fitzpatrick won a European Cup medal as reserve in the 1968 team.