Scotland versus England
On this day April 13th, 1946 Scotland played England in the football Victory International. The war had ended and part of the celebrations was a match between the oldest rivals in international football; 140,000 tickets were sold with 30,000 English compatriots expected in Glasgow. All hotels were booked with pubs and restaurants expecting a bumper weekend. Rationing was of course in place however Scots and English fans were recently brothers in arms, many locals would no doubt be sharing a dram.
My young 13-year-old dad left his house, the Anderson Shelter still prominent in his garden. He was wearing his lucky tartan scarf, not so lucky as he was at the last meeting, a 6-1 heavy defeat by mighty England.
He took the tram to his father’s work who had finished his Saturday morning shift. I can only imagine the excitement and trepidation as they walked and talked the few miles to Hampden Park. Entering the massive bowl, they were surrounded by many still in army uniform. As the terraces filled 139,468 souls were entertained by the compere conducting communal singing. The Scots loud renditions of traditional songs followed by that most English anthem sung at FA Cup Finals ‘Abide with me’.
The emotion of the occasion must have been overwhelming, for our Scots players responsibility resting heavily on the single Lion on the navy-blue shirts. The English had 3 Lions on theirs, we had but one, ours however roared.
On this day June 10th, 2017 we played England once again, my late grandfather’s family walked to Hampden more in hope than expectation as we had not the players nor the talent of Baxter or Denis Law. The Tartan Army drawn to The National Stadium just as Bonnie Prince Charlie’s sodjers were to glorious failure. An act of fitba Newtonian gravity sucking us in to inevitable defeat.
England scored first, they always did, victory was theirs, it always is. In the closing minutes however a Scotland free kick.
‘He will never score from there’, and Griffiths did. Another free kick a minute later.
‘He won’t score from there, again?’. Yes, Griffiths did.
Our lungs burst; our ears rung with the Hampden roar. My family hugged, mass hysteria and dancing. Today, England of course equalised in the last minute. What a match, what drama, what a finale. We had snatched a 2-2 draw from the jaws of victory, from misery to happiness to misery.
Some 71 years before, my dad and grandfather stood as the match entered the last seconds, a no score draw perhaps befitting the occasion. All comrades together until Jackie Husband crossed and Jimmy Delaney headed the winner. Scotland had beaten England 1 goal to 0, my grandfather often joyfully related to us the scenes of sheer joy, as men hugged and danced a Hampden highland jig.
They walked home with a victory story we carry as a family tradition some 71 years later. Win lose or draw it’s the day we play England that is important.
