A National Anthem

I have no recollection of God Save The Queen at Hampden however I do remember it getting laldy at Wembley 1977.
The Queen as Patron would have quite rightly been un-amused & I do remember an article in The Sunday Mail by The Lord Lieutenant  stating that it was a treasonable offence to fly The Lion Rampant flag without royal permission punishable by death. I kid you not!
An embarrassed SFA chose a Cliff Hanley ditty written circa 1950 for the singer Robert Wilson as the new anthem. A music hall success it proved to be quite popular with the fans and treated with half-hearted disdain by those in the old Hampden South Stand.  Used at Spain '82, a  tune with words so frivolous that when played abroad the travelling fans accompanied their lack of knowledge of the lyrics with mock highland flings. Many a home fan would stand at attention in respect and gawp at our frivolity.
Flower of Scotland a stirring song had it's most stirring rendition at the rugby Grand-slam, with neer a republican nationalist in sight. Have a peek at U-Tube from an Italian view of us singing FoS before our fatal Euro-qualifier defeat, rip-roaring, throat bending stuff.
As it stands we do not have a national anthem although in 'Auld Lang Syne' we have one of the most popular songs in the world. My father is of the opinion that many a Hampden fan only goes for the half-time Proclaimers & Runrig sing-song.
We certainly did not rise and be a nation again, but then again in Fitba we have been independent since 1872.
I will sing Flower of Scotland this week and hope to bring down our campaign in France in 2 years after a narrow defeat in the 2nd round with a rendition of 'Auld Lang Syne' having driven 500 miles (plus) to be there.


Hamish