John Colrain – Remembered 30 years on.
July 14th 1984 started like any other day, however, it would be a day that will be remembered by Glentoran fans young and old alike. That day the East Belfast grapevine worked like wildfire as word broke that our former manager and player, John Colrain had suffered a massive heart attack and had sadly passed away. He was only 47. It was news that had many shaking the heads with disbelief. Big John was gone!
It is amazing to think that it is almost 50 years since John Colrain first walked through the Oval gates to take up the reins from Billy Neill, who had just led Glentoran to the Irish Cup the previous season. Billy had left John with a squad of players that had quality and skill but needed that something extra to take them forward. In John Colrain, Glentoran quickly found a manager that could do just that and more!
Born in 1937 in Bridgeton, Glasgow, John Colrain started his football career with his local heroes, Glasgow Celtic before enjoying spells with Clyde and then Ipswich Town before taking over the managerial role at Glentoran in the summer of 1966. He was only 29 but what he lacked in managerial experience he more than made up in tactical know how and above all charisma. John simply oozed confidence, not just in his ability but in that of his team. Under John Colrain, Glentoran feared no one, it was simply 11 v 11 and the bigger the opposition, the bigger the challenge and the Glentoran team would rise to the occasion.
That first season under Colrain, Glentoran would go until December before experiencing their first defeat domestically and would finish the season with a four trophy haul on the sideboard, winning the Gibson Cup, City Cup, Ulster Cup and Gold Cup. It could have been five trophies but for a disappointing 3-1 loss to Crusaders in the Irish Cup final.
Earlier in the season John led Glentoran into a glamour European tie, when Glentoran faced Glasgow Rangers in the Cup Winners Cup. At the Oval, they bounced back from a goal down to draw 1-1, thanks to a late Billy Sinclair strike. Sadly in the second leg Rangers won 4-0, although it wasn’t as straightforward as the score suggests. Glentoran though were now hot property and in high demand.
That summer of 1967 would be forever etched in Glentoran and indeed Irish League folklore, As Glentoran, under the alias of the Detroit Cougars, would take on teams from the Uk, Europe and South America on a coast to coast trip that would see Colrain lead Glentoran on a 12 game tour, winning three times, drawing six and losing only three times. A phenomenal achievement by a part – time team against some of the world’s elite.
A greater achievement would follow. Whilst still in America the new came through that Glentoran had been drawn against the mighty Benfica of Portugal in the European Cup First round. It was the glamour tie that Big John had wanted and one that would ultimately prove to be his finest hour in his time at the Oval.
In the first leg at the Oval, Glentoran shocked their more illustrious opponents by taking the lead, through a John Colrain penalty. Benfica consisting of household names at the time such as Eusebio, Graca , Torres and Coluna, who had been at the 1966 World Cup just two years before, were rattled and found the tactics put in place by Colrain difficult to overcome and struggled to break down a resilient Glentoran rear guard. With time almost up though, Eusebio struck with a goal out of nothing to earn Benfica a 1-1 draw.
In the dressing room afterwards an elated Colrain was confident that his team could go to Lisbon for the return leg and win. Whether it was bravado or supreme confidence in his side, John was almost proved right as Glentoran would hold Benfica to a 0-0 draw, the first team ever in Europe to stop Benfica scoring at home. To add some more disappointment to the evening, Glentoran would become one of the first teams to be eliminated from Europe on the ‘away goals rule’. For Glentoran fans, the immense pride in that performance is still felt and spoken about today.
Back on the domestic scene that season, as well as collecting the Co. Antrim Shield, John Colrain led Glentoran to another league title, a ‘Back to Back’ title, a marvellous achievement and one that Glentoran have never achieved since. That title win was all the more remarkable as the notoriety enjoyed by the Glentoran side had saw it decimated with talented young players such as Terry Conroy, Arthur Stewart, Billy Sinclair, Tommy Jackson, Johnny Johnston and Eric Ross all earning cross channel transfers during John’s two years at the Oval.
Despite this second Championship success, it wasn’t enough to keep John Colrain in his job, sadly constant run-ins with members of the Glentoran board would finally see a parting of the ways and in May 1968, he and Glentoran Football Club would go their own separate ways. His request for a pay rise and bonus would be unacceptable to members of the board and he was relieved of his duties. Two members of the Board would resign in protest also.
Despite efforts by the Glentoran fans to have the decision reversed, the board stuck to their guns and later that summer, John Colrain took over at St. Patricks Athletic in Dublin. Where he stayed for three years.
In the years that followed John, would return to the Oval on a couple of occasions, however only in a scouting capacity. Despite that wonderful couple of seasons at the Oval, no other managerial or coaching role would come his way. His only role in football in the years prior to his passing was as a scout for Manchester City, working under his old Celtic team mate, Billy McNeill.
On July 14th 1984, John Colrain was in his own house when he suffered a massive heart attack. Sadly it would be a fatal one. Many of his former colleagues from Glentoran and also his good friend, Malcolm Brodie, who had covered the Cougars tour, attended his funeral, along side many from his former side Celtic.
Many of those who saw John Colrain’s Glentoran side, will say that it was the greatest Glentoran side that they ever seen. Surely that alone is the most fitting epitaph for a man that has made perhaps the biggest imprint on Glentoran’s history.
Everyone connected with Glentoran Football Club past and present, would like to send their best wishes to the Colrain family. They like John, are in our thoughts today.
Philip Stevenson