This has been my favourite episode to date of BBC Scotland's Icons of Football series. If, like me, you are a Scotland fan of a certain vintage, big Joe was an almost literally larger-than-life character, who had the happy knack of scoring important goals, especially for his country. The point is made that he's one of only a handful of players to score goals at three separate World Cup Finals and remember Joe had fewer games in which to do so as Scotland have never progressed past the three group qualifying games of any major tournament in which they've played (and probably never will!).
You can also gauge the big man's quality from the level of teams he represented, which included the great Don Revie- led Leeds team of the mid-70's, Manchester United and then AC Milan, although he's never forgotten his roots as he speaks warmly of his start at lowly Greenock Morton where it took only six games for him to be spotted by Leeds.
To his opponents he must have seemed an imposing, if not downright fearsome figure to behold with his height, strong physique and of course lacking his two front teeth (after an early footballing accident which brought him nicknames like Jaws or just the Shark when he played in Italy for Milan). Even post-retirement, as assistant manager to Harry Redknapp's Tottenham Hotspur side, he famously went toe-to toe on the sidelines with Milan firebrand player Rene Gattuso..The programme also didn't shy away from the major controversy in his international playing career over the "Hand of Joe" incident which won Scotland a vital penalty in a world Cup qualifier against Wales.
As usual, there are several notables from his football past who came forward to speak up on his behalf, most notably Fabio Capelli and Johnny Giles, but the most touching tribute came from the daughter of his Leeds, Man U and Scotland teammate, centre-half Gordon McQueen who recently passed away from dementia, possibly acquired from years of heading a ball during his career. Joe was also a great header of a ball too and candidly shared his own fears of one day falling victim to this awful disease.
But for now he's hail and hearty and long may that continue. Although I've enjoyed all the episodes of the two series I've watched so far, not every subject in my eyes quite deserved the accolade of icon. Joe unquestionably does and if I was picking a team for my life, he'd be the centre forward for sure.
