WITH the men’s footballing World Cup in full flow, it seems the perfect time to remind everyone that the first international match was played right here in Glasgow.
Almost exactly to the day 150 years ago, Scotland took on England at the West of Scotland Cricket ground in Partick in the west end of the city, on St Andrew's Day 1872.
The historic match was attended by around 2500 spectators, bussed in from around the city as excitement built up in every neighbourhood north, south, east and west.
The Scottish Football Museum celebrates the event with a range of fascinating pictures and memorabilia, including the only surviving ticket stub from the match, which reads: “International Foot-Ball Match (Association Rules), England v Scotland, West of Scotland Cricket Ground, Hamilton Crescent, Partick, Saturday, 30th November, 1872 at 2pm. Admission – one shilling.”
(Ladies were admitted free.)
The museum collection, a fascinating insight into the early days of football in Glasgow, includes the cap worn by famous Scottish player Walter Arnott in an 1893 game against England and a photograph of him wearing it.
Arnott was 10 years old when he watched the historic match on November 30, 1872 and later, he wrote: “It is now 34 years since that game took place. And during that time I have been directly or indirectly involved in association football. And I make bold to say that some of the play that I witnessed on that first international match would have put to shame what I have seen in recent years in our first-class club games.”
The Hampden museum's display explains the background to the very first match between Scotland and England: “There were actually five unofficial international matches played between teams representing Scotland and England since 1870, none of which Scotland won.
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“Strangely, all players selected for the Scottish sides, and England sides, in these early unofficial internationals were mainly from the London area; with the majority playing for the Scotland team not actually Scottish.
“It took a man called Charles Alcock, the FA General Secretary, to write a public letter in the Glasgow and Edinburgh newspapers offering a challenge for a team made up of Scots to face a team of 11 Englishmen.
“This challenge would ignite a spark, for Queen’s Park Football Club decided to take Mr Alcock up in his offer.
“Robert Gardner and David Wotherspoon of Queen’s Park, whilst playing in London for a Queen’s Park FA Cup tie, stayed in the capital post-match to meet with the FA to arrange the fixture.
“Due to Edinburgh not being accustomed to association football code, both parties agreed Glasgow would be the best location for the tie.”
The museum notes that although 2pm was the official kick-off time , the start of the game would be delayed because both teams spent time preparing - and if surviving sketches done by William Ralston are anything to go by, it seems the England players warmed up while smoking pipes.
Our sister newspaper, the then Glasgow Herald, reported: “Both sides were working hard, and showing excellent play. The Englishmen had all the advantage of weight, their average being two stone heavier than the Scotchmen and they had the advantage of pace.
“The strong point of the home club was that they played excellently well together.”
The game finished in a goalless draw, but the seed was sown, and a rematch swiftly followed in March, which England won 4-2. Henry Renny-Taylour was the first ever goal-scorer for Scotland.
One week later, the Scottish FA formed, taking responsibility of the Scotland National Team.
Find out more about the Scottish Football Museum at Hampden Park, Scotland’s national stadium, or online at scottishfootballmuseum.org.uk
*Send us your footballing memories of Glasgow’s great games through the decades, whether at local, national or international level. Write to Ann Fotheringham, Glasgow Times, 125 Fullarton Drive, Glasgow G32 8FG or email ann.fotheringham@glasgowtimes.co.uk
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