Cumbernauld Utd
Central League Champions
Prior to the start of season 1977/78, United played a number of friendly matches including a home match against Queen's Park and beat them 2-0, but in the annual early season Red Hackle Sectional League Cup, the same old story emerged with United failing to qualify and worst was yet to come when they were dumped 3-0 by Duntocher Hibs in the West of Scotland Cup.
United's first league fixture of the new season was in September when they beat Yoker and the remainder of 1977 proved a most favourable time for the club and hopes were high, especially with only one defeat, against Johnstone Burgh and wins over Cambuslang, Shotts, Wishaw, St Roch's, East Kiibride and Carluke. In the Scottish Cup, wins over Dundee North End, Hurlford and the Irvine Vics in the 4th Round brought thoughts that this just might be their year, but then they lost 3-1 to Petershill after a 1-1 draw. In the Dryborough Cup, they beat Perthshire 5-2.
On 22 October, it was announced that United had signed a player who was to become a long and a most loyal servant when Danny Smith joined the club. Then in November, David Davies resigned as President of the Football Club and in his place, Davie Brodie took over with Neil Cameron as Vice President.
Early in 1978, United drew with league leaders, Greenock, to go second top but because of heavy snow, no league games were played until the middle of March when they hammered Blantyre Vics 4-0.
The Club Committee arranged an Easter Weekend goodwill trip to Cardiff to the St.Athans Boys Village, the Headquarters of the Welsh Association of Boys Clubs, in response to the visit to Guy's Meadow by representatives of the Association the year before. The United party left on the Friday and numbered 40 including 14 wives and girlfriends. The highlight of the trip was a football match in which United beat a highly rated local side, Corinthians, 4-2 in a friendly on 25th March
Corinthians had not been beaten all season and the quality of their football would stand against any Scottish Junior side. To add to the festivities, George Speirs, well past his sell-by-date, was in the line up and it was George who made the first goal when Rennie ran through, slipped the ball to George who chipped it back for Rennie to shoot home. Aitchinson scored the other three goals to add sparkle to the entire enjoyment of the United party's Holiday Weekend.
April saw United beat Wishaw, Carluke, Johnstone Burgh and Coltness to stay second top, but lose out to Renfrew in a tight game at Western Park in the Dryborough Cup. Then in the visit to Carluke, United won 3-0 in spite of the fact that the former Glasgow Rangers and Scotland Captain, George Young, was helping out by coaching the Lanarkshire side. The assistant manager of Celtic, Davie McParland, brought a Celtic Select to Guy's Meadow on 16 April to play United in a Frank Meechan Memorial Charity Match. In the Celtic team that night were such greats as JimmyJohnstone, Ronniie Giavin, Pat Stanton, Paul Wilson and Roy Baines and a crowd in excess of 2,000 saw United win 3-2.
In a ceremony in the centre of the field before the match, Jim Moore presented Frank's widow with a bouquet of flowers and introduced her to every member of both the Celtic and United teams.
In the game, United mounted non-stop pressure and were rewarded with a goal after 22 minutes by Jim Traynor, but eight minutes later, "Jinky" Jimmy Johnstone made his way down the flank, sent the ball across goal and Godzik slotted it home for the Celtic equaliser. United immediately hit back and a minute later from a Sloan cross Traynor cheekily chipped Roy Baines in the Celtic goal, to restore United's lead. The lead did not last long however and Johnstone scored the equaliser from the penalty spot after Paul Wilson had been brought down in the box.
In the second half, Danny Smith was fouled as he headed for goal and Jim Moore took the spot kick. He missed but the referee insisted the kick be retaken. Big Jim walked away not wanting the responsibility and Traynor was happy to complete his hat-trick against the "mighty Glasgow giants r and end the scoring for the evening,
On Monday 24TH April 1978, Yoker failed to turn up at Guy's Meadow for a league match and were reported to the League. Match Secretary Jim Tominey stated "This is disgraceful. They have slighted the Central League, Cumbemamd United Football Club but more importantly, they have insulted the fans who turned up at Guy's Meadow to see this important match. The kick-off was scheduled for 6.50pm and at 7.10pm when there was no sign of the other team the referee had no option but to call the game off. I had been told at the weekend that they were not coming but when I spoke to the League's Match Secretary, John Gray, he said the game was definitely on." United claimed the two points and asked for compensation from Yoker Football Club, but the matter was postponed for a decision by the Management Committee of the Central League. Later in a newspaper report of the incident, Yoker claimed they could not make the trip to Guy's Meadow as they were unable to arrange transport in time. In fact, Jim Tominey subsequently discovered that the Yoker players were attending a Scottish Cup Semi-Final at Paisley and did not want to play their league match that night.
In the meantime, United won 3-0 away to Blantyre to go top of the league but they slipped up by losing 2-1 away to an inferior Cambuslang side, however they managed to get back to form with 2-2 draw with fellow championship contenders East Kiibride, which was enough to keep them top of the league.
Suspicions were rife that there was bias and not a little nepotism in the decision by the Management Committee of the Central League that Yoker be fined a salutary £1 and the two clubs were ordered to play their game, United receiving no compensation for Yokers failure to meet their original fixture commitment. The United Match Secretary was a member of the Management Committee and after the meeting Jim Tominey, showing a great deal of tact and discretion, refused to elaborate or comment on the Committee's decision, stating that his persona! feelings were not for publication. It was later revealed that Yoker had failed to answer several letters from the Management Committee regarding the incident and when all the facts were brought to light, the United support were so incensed at the League's decision they threatened to boycott the match but realised they would only be harming their own club so withdrew their threat and turned up to support their heroes favourites. Yoker were bottom of the league and on 19th May, in a tension packed game, full of incidents the final score of 1-1 meant United dropped to second spot in the league behind East Kilbride, but with two games in hand.
After securing a 1-1 draw at Greenock, United beat Stonehouse Violet who were Scottish Cup Finalists that year and in doing so, became Division '6' Champions for season 1977/78. As Divisional Champions, United were eligible to play for the League Championship Cup. In an eliminator, United beat Division 'C Champions Maryhill 2-1 at Adamslie Park and thereby qualified to meet the Divisional 'A' Champions, Lesmahagow at Somervell Park. Danny Smith was-the hero that evening when he scored the only goal in a 1-0 win for United, making them, not only Division 'B' Champions, but also the proud winners of the Central League Championship Cup, otherwise known as "The Evening Times Cup", thereby ending what was indeed a very successful season and a return to Division 'A'.
