In life, there are many defining moments. Marriage. The birth of children. Securing that new job. Passing your driving test (and for the author of this article, it took 6, possibly 7 attempts, I honestly cannot remember). Defining moments that we remember for years, dare I say decades to come.
Football is no different. Whether it be a promotion, a relegation or perhaps a rather fashionable new kit that is worn with pride when out doing the shopping, it is remembered by thousands of Morton fans for many years. And I have one for you right now. Enter stage right, Janne Lindberg.
Before we start, how on earth did we manage to sign Janne Lindberg? Well, who cares, because we did and for every fan and player during the years between 1994 and 1997, it is an era that will be remembered fondly. The combined fee paid to MyPa (or Myllykosken Pallo – 47 Anjalankoski to give the club its full, Sunday name) was apparently £250,000 for Janne and his Finnish compatriot Marko Rajamaki. Both were Finnish internationals and Lindberg went on to win 32 caps for his country, a significant number whilst with Morton.
Goodness we had a cracking team and Janne was at the heart of it. He made 90 appearances over 3 seasons, scored 5 goals, from memory all crackers from outside of the box, but suffered a serious knee injury in March 1996 at Dunfermline, which ruled him out of the title run-in, when Morton came close to returning to the top tier of Scottish football. Until his injury he had been the engine of the team. A Rolls Royce engine at that.
Anyway, enough from me. You want to hear from one of the most accomplished football players to grace the turf of Cappielow Park, Greenock.
I give you…Janne Lindberg.
Janne, before you arrived on the sun kissed shores of Greenock, what was your knowledge of football in Scotland and in particular Morton?
I had some knowledge of Scottish football because Mixu Paatelainen, my former teammate in the Finnish national team played in Scotland at that time. After knowing I would be coming on a trial to Morton, I searched some information of Greenock and Morton.
You were recommended by a former Morton player, Jimmy Pearson. How did you hear of the interest in both you and Marko?
After the Finnish Premier Division (Veikkausliiga) season ended in 1994, I received a phone call from our head coach at MyPa. He asked if I was interested in going on a trial to Scotland. My answer to him was ‘give me 4 hours and I’ll let you know’
You came on trial to Morton. Was there any interest from other clubs in Scotland?
Yes, there were some rumours about if Morton were not going to react quickly, there would be other clubs interested. Not sure if these were true, mind you.
Do you recall how signing talks between you and the club progressed?
Members of MyPa were representing me and Marko in the contract negotiations. There was some confusion regarding the length and the content of the contracts. After all, everything went very well during the next summer – all thanks to the club and Mr Wilson, the former club owner
What are your memories of your time at Morton?
All my memories from the years we spent in Scotland and at Morton are pure gold. We had a chance to get to know a lot of great people and our children grew up in a wonderful environment there.
I trust it was easier to settle in Greenock with Marko being around. Did you guys get on well?
Of course, it was a relief for the both of us to settle into a whole new country while playing for the same club. Every now and then we still keep in touch with Marko, we are good friends with each other.
Many of your former teammates I have interviewed speak very highly of you – Derek Lilley, Peter Cormack, Alan Mahood (I could go on and on). Which players do you particularly remember and/or admire?
I did respect all of my teammates equally. Everyone was willing to do a lot of hard work for the club to get success. Probably the players who played alongside me in the midfield are the ones who have stuck well in my mind but all my teammates are still in my mind after all these years.
What do you recall about the Cappielow crowd on match days?
The support we received from the stands at matches will never vanish from my memories. One of those memories has especially stayed in my mind – when I led our team out onto the pitch the very first time as a team captain at Cappielow. That feeling was really incredible.
Throughout your time at Cappielow, Allan McGraw was, of course, your manager. How would you describe Allan’s style of management?
Allan was ‘The Boss’, who got us to do things consistently, leaning on each other, as a team. Sometimes you heard him shouting loudly when giving us instructions but all those words he shouted were the words of truth and wisdom, so we always took them as a lesson. He truly is a great man.
A last word from you Janne…
I would like to wish all the Morton members, supporters and spectators fantastic moments whilst enjoying the ‘king of sports’. I dream about returning to Greenock again someday and having a chance to meet all you wonderful people.
Morton, you will always be in my heart.
