Got it Yet?

What are the ingredients involved in the making of a sporting legend? Think about it. I mean, what is it that elevates the best - to one of the very best. 

Let’s try and keep this simple. More often than not our choices are based on romance - a love of a football club and it’s barnstorming No.9 perhaps? 

As I grew up I wanted to be George Hudson. Don’t laugh! Hudson led the line at Coventry in the early days of Jimmy Hill’s revolution. I’m certain there aren’t many Coventry fans left that remember Hudson - but he’s a ‘legend’ in my book. 

If we stay with my club Coventry - George Curtis is revered. What a boy by the way! Our Cup Winners of ‘87 are all legends. I’ve got to be honest - I’m struggling to think of anymore! Oh, John Sillett of course. And the late, great Jimmy Hill. Now that really is it. 

All the guys I’ve mentioned take a special place in Coventry’s Hall of Fame. Their deeds elevated them into special company. They’re rightly recognised for what they did by the club. And they’re loved by supporters. 

But let’s move on from romance and stay with ‘achievements’ as the route into a Hall of Fame. 

How about this? Should this qualify the individual who’s impressive cv reads as follows? 

In 1973 this guy signed for Dundee United. He was voted Player of the Year in the two seasons that he was there. Before he signed for Villa there was a Scottish Cup Final appearance. Got it yet? Well done if you have!  

In 1976 he won the League Cup with Villa, was Player of the Year at Villa Park and was the top divisions leading goal scorer. That same year he became the first player to win the PFA Player and Young Player of the Year awards in the same season. It’s worth pointing out that only two others have gone onto to do the same thing - Ronaldo and Gareth Bale. Got it yet? Let me give you another clue - he’s one of only three Scots to win the PFA Player of the Year award. 

In 1979 he broke the British transfer record when he joined Wolves from Villa. 

A year later he was repaying the fee scoring the winning goal in the League Cup Final against Brian Clough’s Forest. Got it yet? 

In 1983 he signed for Everton where he went onto score in the FA Cup Final against Watford, win the League title and score in the Cup Winners’ Cup Final. Got it yet? You must have. Stay with me - there’s a very good purpose to all this. 

In 1988 he joined Rangers, where he won the League title and picked up a Cup Final runners-up medal. 

Not a bad career is it? It’s also worth mentioning that he represented Scotland at schoolboy, juvenile, U21, U23, and more than 20 times at senior level. I’ve added that because it’s important when it comes to the point I’m about to make. 

Of course, you worked out some time ago that I was describing the playing career of my mate Andy Gray.  It’s also worth remembering the job he did for televised football after retiring. Something his country should be proud of. He quite simply re-wrote the rule book when it comes to analysis, blazing a trail for the modern day pundit. 

His PFA trophies take pride of place in the Scottish Football Museum, but there’s no mention of his other achievements and apparently he doesn’t qualify for Scotland’s Hall of Fame. Why not? 

It’s a question we at beINSPORTS put to the museum. The answer went something like this ‘it was a busy year when Andy was nominated and there was some strong competition’. What a load of nonsense. Even if that were true I can think of many other years in which Andy could’ve been nominated. How about this one? 

Forget my first notion of what elevates a sportsperson to greatness - bromance! My argument on this occasion is based purely on facts. In my view it’s to Scottish football’s eternal shame that Andy isn’t in their Hall of Fame. If it requires nominations for that to be the case, take this as mine. And if enough of you feel the same way, please let Scotland’s National Museum know how you feel. We need to correct this oversight.