OLD RIVALS Scotland and England will write the latest chapter in their footballing history at Hampden on Tuesday (September 12).
The men's teams are gearing up for a special 150th Anniversary Heritage Match to mark the first meeting between the two sides on St Andrew’s Day, November 30 in 1872.
It is part of a year-long calendar of events from the Scottish FA to celebrate the history of the association.
The teams are taking a break from their Euro 2024 qualification campaigns to play in Glasgow (Scotland have won five out of five in Group A and look likely to qualify for Germany next summer.)
The original contest is recognised by FIFA as football’s first-ever international match, as 4000 supporters packed into the West of Scotland Cricket Club in Partick.
People were bussed in from around the city as excitement built up in every neighbourhood.
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, incidentally.)
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.t
Its display explains the background to the very first match between Scotland and the Auld Enemy.
“There were actually five unofficial international matches played between teams representing Scotland and England since 1870, none of which Scotland won,” it explains.
“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 on 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.
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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.”
England wore white shirts with three lions on the front, plus caps, while Scotland wore blue, with one lion, and red cowls.
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 - write to Ann Fotheringham, Glasgow Times, 125 Fullarton Drive, Glasgow G32 8FG or email ann.fotheringham@glasgowtimes.co.uk
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