Monument for Willie Johnston & Willie Mathieson

Aim

Both Mr Johnston & Mr Mathieson both grew up in the mining village of Cardenden and then both went on to win the European cup winners cup.

• A few people in the community would like to have in place a permanent monument to Willie Mathieson & Willie Johnston.

Both gentlemen grew up in the mining village attending  Schools in the area before Like most people at the time beginning there working lives in both Bowhill and Auchterderran colliery''s. It wasn't long before both guys would have a new career waiting for them. Both men would begin there football journey with local side Bowhill Strollers, before Signing professionally with Glasgow Rangers. 

Willie Mathieson would go on to play 174 league games winning the 1973 Scottish cup. later moving on to play for both Arbroath and Raith Rovers. 

Willie Johnston would make 246 League games over two spells at Rangers winning the scottish cup in 1966. The Scottish League cup in 1964  & 1971.

He would also make 261 League appearances for West Bromwich Albion, 48 League games for Vancouver Whitecaps over two spells. 15 appearances for Birmingham City. 94 appearances for Heart of Midlothian before bringing the curtain down at East Fife he would also collect 22 caps for Scotland

Both Gentleman names will forever be Remembered for Winning the European cup winners cup for Rangers in Barcelona 1972. Willie Johnston scoring two goals as Rangers beat Moscow Dynamo by three goals to two. Not Many Scottish players get there hands on a European winners medal. The Village of Cardenden has two. but it also raised two finer gentlemen you could ever hope to meet!

This project closed unsuccessfully on 27th August 2023