The family trees of three of Scotland’s footballing heroes with historical links to Clydebank have been revealed in a series of books by author and genealogist Derek Niven.

The three footballers are Stevie Chalmers, whose background is told in ‘Pride of the Lions’; Willie Johnston in ‘Pride of the Bears’; and Ally Macleod in ‘Pride of the Jocks.

Derek told the Post: “The idea for this series of books honouring the achievements of famous footballing legends, and the ancestors who made them, came from my passion for footballing history and through my work as a genealogist.

“What became fascinating in the research for the books was just how interesting the stories of the players’ ancestors revealed themselves through tales of migration, poverty and two world wars.”

In ‘Pride of the Lions’, the Bearsden-based writer tells how Stevie Chalmers, who scored the winning goal for Celtic in Lisbon in 1967, was the son of David Chalmers, a tinsmith, and Mary Hunter.

David Chalmers was born in 1897 in Hamilton and his ambition was to play for Celtic.

David was unsuccessful in making the breakthrough at Parkhead, however, he was signed by Clydebank and played at Kilbowie for nine years, including a season alongside Celtic great, Jimmy McGrory.

In ‘Pride of the Bears’, Derek tells how Willie Johnston, who scored the winning goal for Rangers in Barcelona in 1972, was the grandson of Minnie Anderson.

Marion Anderson was born at 1 Union Street, Clydebank, in 1885 to John Anderson, a joiner, and Isabella Ritchie.

In January 1905, Minnie, 20, a dairymaid, still living in Union Street, married William Copland, 24, of 150 Kilbowie Road (and a needle-maker at the world-renowned Singer Sewing Machine factory) in Clydebank United Free Church.

In ‘Pride of the Jocks’, Derek tells how Glasgow-born Ally Macleod, who famously described himself “as a very good manager, apart from a few days in Argentina”, moved to live at 27 French Street, Clydebank, in the mid-1930s.

Ally was the son of William Macleod and Jane Smith, and William worked as a sewing machine manufacturer’s clerk at the nearby Singer’s factory.

On the nights of 13 and 14 March 1941, French Street was very badly bombed during the Clydebank Blitz.

The Macleod family evacuated to Mount Florida, near Cathkin Park, and the young Ally made his debut for Third Lanark in 1949.

To read more about the above fascinating histories, Pride of the Lions, Pride of the Bears and Pride of the Jocks are available in Waterstones Glasgow stores and on Amazon.co.uk in paperback for £9.99 and also on eBook from £0.99.