As expected the return of the Scotland England fixture will continue with a visit from the Auld Enemy in November. Surprise or shock should be muted as last year's visit to Wembley was seen as a success with a really good competitive game and even more importantly the two sets of fans mingled with some enthusiasm. Extra revenue for the 2 respective FAs, surely not?
Many of the Scots in London were able to experience the traditional Trafalgar experience & whilst they could only gape in awe at the size of the ground and appreciate the good value for money that a national stadium costing many many millions that is stuck in London within the M25 & not in any way easily accessible for Londoners never mind the rest of England.
There is a real prospect that the game will be played at Celtic Park due to the unavailability of Hampden. Whilst Wembley holds 90,000 these days that figure is dwarfed by the 149,000 plus that Hampden held on 2 occasions for games held in the 1930's. 52,000 is of course more than enough to accommodate Queens Park, Scotland friendlies and all semi-finals.
A visit from our friends south of the border is another matter & Hampden holds no great emotional
bond for me these days & the prospect of a 60,000 crowd would let more fans in. Dare I say a better atmosphere & other than a wee section for away fans a better view of the pitch.
I was honoured to have been part of the fans game last August with Scotland deservedly winning 6-2. We all got on famously, & why not?
We will have to ensure that there will be a good Scottish welcome for our visitors, as warm as we treat all football fans in Glasgow.
I travelled to London last year as cool as a cucumber. The game meant little more than part of the rebuilding of our battered team. When we scored I was again a young lad with bell bottomed trousers celebrating Kenny Dalglish's 1977 winner. Does the England game mean a lot to a Scotsman?
You better believe it.
Wednesday, 30 April 2014
Thursday, 17 April 2014
Barry
Barry Ferguson former Rangers & Scotland captain was interviewed on Radio Scotland this evening & thoughtful as ever reflected on a nearly great career. His first managerial job is the temporary boss of a sinking Blackpool & I wish him well. No doubt he will soon be looking for a new club & may land back home in Scotland.
He was a boyhood Rangers fan & followed his brother in wearing the blue of Ibrox. When younger he was struggling to get a game & seemingly asked his best pal if there was a vacancy at Celtic.
The Captain of Rangers job came eventually & he had a career not without its controversy & he was the major factor in seeing off the hapless Paul Le Guen, a well respected foreign coach hounded out of Ibrox.
For many Barry's defining moment was not the Italy goal and captaining Scotland in an exciting campaign including a double over France, no drinkgate in Loch Lomond & his lack of judgment following.
I was called often that week by the media to damn him & in the end I called for some form of punishment, however Walter will have chastised him more than any angry quote I could muster. He was banned by fax.
Drink & fitba, surely not? The first Scottish footballer to disgrace himself?
Archie Macpherson writes a first hand account of the shenanigans at oor 1974 World Cup camp. Scotland Captain Billy Bremner & sailor extraordinare Jimmy Johnstone appear at the team hotel drunk & singing. Argentina '78......
But they were different they were well, not Barry Ferguson. Modern day footballers live by different standards, but we continue to eulogise Jinky , Bremner & the king of booze, Jim Baxter.
Barry will with a bit of luck be a good manager, maybe not of Rangers, but then again.
He claims that many want him to fail. Those who remember Loch Lomond.
I remember a really classy player, he played at Wembley '99. He captained the last Scotland squad to play well in the qualifiers.
Good luck Barry. Be a good manager, give us some good Scottish lads with technique as well as passion.
Barry Ferguson former Rangers & Scotland captain was interviewed on Radio Scotland this evening & thoughtful as ever reflected on a nearly great career. His first managerial job is the temporary boss of a sinking Blackpool & I wish him well. No doubt he will soon be looking for a new club & may land back home in Scotland.
He was a boyhood Rangers fan & followed his brother in wearing the blue of Ibrox. When younger he was struggling to get a game & seemingly asked his best pal if there was a vacancy at Celtic.
The Captain of Rangers job came eventually & he had a career not without its controversy & he was the major factor in seeing off the hapless Paul Le Guen, a well respected foreign coach hounded out of Ibrox.
For many Barry's defining moment was not the Italy goal and captaining Scotland in an exciting campaign including a double over France, no drinkgate in Loch Lomond & his lack of judgment following.
I was called often that week by the media to damn him & in the end I called for some form of punishment, however Walter will have chastised him more than any angry quote I could muster. He was banned by fax.
Drink & fitba, surely not? The first Scottish footballer to disgrace himself?
Archie Macpherson writes a first hand account of the shenanigans at oor 1974 World Cup camp. Scotland Captain Billy Bremner & sailor extraordinare Jimmy Johnstone appear at the team hotel drunk & singing. Argentina '78......
But they were different they were well, not Barry Ferguson. Modern day footballers live by different standards, but we continue to eulogise Jinky , Bremner & the king of booze, Jim Baxter.
Barry will with a bit of luck be a good manager, maybe not of Rangers, but then again.
He claims that many want him to fail. Those who remember Loch Lomond.
I remember a really classy player, he played at Wembley '99. He captained the last Scotland squad to play well in the qualifiers.
Good luck Barry. Be a good manager, give us some good Scottish lads with technique as well as passion.
Wednesday, 16 April 2014
The Hearts
The trials & tribulations of the hearts fans may just be drawing to a close, for now. The mad spending of the mad chairman has wreaked & that cannot be a bad thing however to what purpose?
Tynecastle is a great arena for atmosphere & requires a new main stand. Years of overspending on the playing staff has resulted in some cup success but no custom built club & training facilities.
The future must surely lie in creating a modern Scottish football club with a modern footballing style, raising kids to play the modern way. Coaching in the European style where a brand of football can be instilled in the youths and carried onto the big team.
Will fan ownership demand this? Will there be a clear strategy for the future; modern football?
The club have yet to leave their period of administration however the fans have a lot to ponder for the future of the Heart of Midlothian.
Hamish
Tynecastle is a great arena for atmosphere & requires a new main stand. Years of overspending on the playing staff has resulted in some cup success but no custom built club & training facilities.
The future must surely lie in creating a modern Scottish football club with a modern footballing style, raising kids to play the modern way. Coaching in the European style where a brand of football can be instilled in the youths and carried onto the big team.
Will fan ownership demand this? Will there be a clear strategy for the future; modern football?
The club have yet to leave their period of administration however the fans have a lot to ponder for the future of the Heart of Midlothian.
Hamish
Wednesday, 29 August 2012
The World Cup
It is as if we have been hibernating. No competitive international fitba for nearly a year and until this last week I have been in a state of neutral. I have not been peeking at past glories on U Tube, I have cast aside happy memories of Scotland heroes such as Dennis Law and Willie Henderson. Scotland, gie's a break.
My emotions have been placed on Andy Murray, Paul Lawrie and numerous Scottish Olympics athletes.
Perhaps it was the resounding Boo that woke me up a couple of weeks ago in a show down Easter Rd, Edinburgh that got the loudest raspberry in the Festival.
An ungratefull Scotland crowd that did not accept a win at home in a friendly with the unfettered glee that would have been gratefully received in the dark ages of a decade plus of dirge at Hampden under various ( hapless) managers and (duff ) Scotland players.
The Westa supporters meeting on Sunday was a sell-out and travel plans were the agenda items. Busses to Wales, 2 of. 1 of which is off to Belguim.
A bus to Luxemburg, 1 of.
A bus to Aberdeen, 1 of, to see the mighty Estonia.
Plans are afoot to visit Croatia next June.
World cup fever grabs me and my pals, but is is exciting the nation?
The home game double header is not a sell out, and is unlikely to be. The cost of tickets is a scandal and other than England we are probably the most expensive international nation in Europe. And to watch us! Scotland, surely not!!!
The 8th September sees us on the road to the road to Rio.
I for one will be excited, let's hope the players are up for it.
Hamish
My emotions have been placed on Andy Murray, Paul Lawrie and numerous Scottish Olympics athletes.
Perhaps it was the resounding Boo that woke me up a couple of weeks ago in a show down Easter Rd, Edinburgh that got the loudest raspberry in the Festival.
An ungratefull Scotland crowd that did not accept a win at home in a friendly with the unfettered glee that would have been gratefully received in the dark ages of a decade plus of dirge at Hampden under various ( hapless) managers and (duff ) Scotland players.
The Westa supporters meeting on Sunday was a sell-out and travel plans were the agenda items. Busses to Wales, 2 of. 1 of which is off to Belguim.
A bus to Luxemburg, 1 of.
A bus to Aberdeen, 1 of, to see the mighty Estonia.
Plans are afoot to visit Croatia next June.
World cup fever grabs me and my pals, but is is exciting the nation?
The home game double header is not a sell out, and is unlikely to be. The cost of tickets is a scandal and other than England we are probably the most expensive international nation in Europe. And to watch us! Scotland, surely not!!!
The 8th September sees us on the road to the road to Rio.
I for one will be excited, let's hope the players are up for it.
Hamish
Wednesday, 25 July 2012
The World Cup starts soon
It's not that I am counting the days, but it won't be long until we are heading to The National Stadium to witness the new World Cup campaign. The first in line are Serbia and the one piece of good news is that it is on a Saturday. We all have our different traditions & meeting places. The Queens Park Cafe, Victoria Rd has long since been a favourite as it is too busy and there came a time when we felt unwanted. To be fair the locals would look askance at the long queues and the lack of staff.
The Iron Horse in West Nile Street became a fans favourite & again too busy. There were however many happy traveling fans who experienced a real Glasgow pub. The Croatians were a rather athletic bunch and for the delight of the ladies I am assured they looked good topless on the dance floor. We will meet again.
Eventually, and we were struggling, I was invited with every other Scotland fan to Shawlands Bowling club. Great, intimate and a warm welcome. Pies & rolls. A veggie? A roll & butter!!
A brisk walk to Hampden and the misery & ecstasy begins. The singing, the optimism the stramashes & that is just the queue for the toilets.
Who knows what the new campaign will bring?
It will not be easy, it hasn't been Easy Easy since 1974 & even then it wasn't particularly easy (easy).
Not long now!
Hamish
The Iron Horse in West Nile Street became a fans favourite & again too busy. There were however many happy traveling fans who experienced a real Glasgow pub. The Croatians were a rather athletic bunch and for the delight of the ladies I am assured they looked good topless on the dance floor. We will meet again.
Eventually, and we were struggling, I was invited with every other Scotland fan to Shawlands Bowling club. Great, intimate and a warm welcome. Pies & rolls. A veggie? A roll & butter!!
A brisk walk to Hampden and the misery & ecstasy begins. The singing, the optimism the stramashes & that is just the queue for the toilets.
Who knows what the new campaign will bring?
It will not be easy, it hasn't been Easy Easy since 1974 & even then it wasn't particularly easy (easy).
Not long now!
Hamish
Wednesday, 4 July 2012
Wembley 2013
I was out for a drink on Saturday & met a pal who had booked his bus seat for Wembley next August. A pre-season friendly which is in truth a warm up to the second phase in our attempt to qualify for Brazil 2014. With a bit of luck and hopefully skill we then will be in a good position for our Belgium / Macedonia double header!
The English Fitba Association have invited their oldest rivals in a re-enactment of the Home International games first played in 1872. The 0-0 draw was the first international in the world ever and the annual game against the Auld Enemy was to dominate our game for the next hundred odd years. There were off course high points both at Hampden and away. The Wembley Wizards in 1928 won 5-1 and set in motion our national obsession with, it should be noted that 2 years later England won 5-2.
Scotland had their hroes with Tommy Walker of Hearts with a great scoring record, Last Minutte Reilly and of course Baxter. The 1967 legendary performance in seeing us briefly assume the mantle of World Champions, lost soon after in a home defeat to Russia by the way. The 1963 2-1 victory was by all accounts a better performance coming 2 years after the 9-3 drubbing.
We also suffered 7-2 and although we had a good Wembley record we also had the Wembley Hoodoo with disastrous goalie mistakes. I myself suffered;
1969 4-1 Herriot
1975 5-1 Kennedy
1979 3-1. Woods
Were these and other setbacks enough to send us homeward to think again? The Wembley clubs and the massive Scottish crowds filling London as well as the stadium give a resounding no.
The 70's saw our invasion reach epidemic proportions and the Londoners must have been mightily confused to see Lion Rampant flags with the brazen message, or was it a threat,?
' Remember Bannockburn , 1314'.
I'm not sure they did and of course their reply may have been 'Remember 1966'
So we return in large numbers to watch a friendly & I am not concvinced it will be treated as seriously as we Scots will imagine. Team England will be fullof players who will not have a Scot in their dressing room to rub it in as surely Denis Law & Billy Bremner did in '67.
Wembley is now a magnicent stadium , light years away from our dismal Hampden rebuild. It will be a great sight to see our flags return & we may raise our game to add to past victories.
Stein was not forgiven easily for sacrificing the 1982 game, we lost 2-0 to save players for the World Cup. We went out in the first round.
The target is Brazil, nothing else counts & win lose or draw in London I want to be celebrating qualification on Tuesday 15th October next year with a victory over Croatia.
Now that matters.
Hamish
The English Fitba Association have invited their oldest rivals in a re-enactment of the Home International games first played in 1872. The 0-0 draw was the first international in the world ever and the annual game against the Auld Enemy was to dominate our game for the next hundred odd years. There were off course high points both at Hampden and away. The Wembley Wizards in 1928 won 5-1 and set in motion our national obsession with, it should be noted that 2 years later England won 5-2.
Scotland had their hroes with Tommy Walker of Hearts with a great scoring record, Last Minutte Reilly and of course Baxter. The 1967 legendary performance in seeing us briefly assume the mantle of World Champions, lost soon after in a home defeat to Russia by the way. The 1963 2-1 victory was by all accounts a better performance coming 2 years after the 9-3 drubbing.
We also suffered 7-2 and although we had a good Wembley record we also had the Wembley Hoodoo with disastrous goalie mistakes. I myself suffered;
1969 4-1 Herriot
1975 5-1 Kennedy
1979 3-1. Woods
Were these and other setbacks enough to send us homeward to think again? The Wembley clubs and the massive Scottish crowds filling London as well as the stadium give a resounding no.
The 70's saw our invasion reach epidemic proportions and the Londoners must have been mightily confused to see Lion Rampant flags with the brazen message, or was it a threat,?
' Remember Bannockburn , 1314'.
I'm not sure they did and of course their reply may have been 'Remember 1966'
So we return in large numbers to watch a friendly & I am not concvinced it will be treated as seriously as we Scots will imagine. Team England will be fullof players who will not have a Scot in their dressing room to rub it in as surely Denis Law & Billy Bremner did in '67.
Wembley is now a magnicent stadium , light years away from our dismal Hampden rebuild. It will be a great sight to see our flags return & we may raise our game to add to past victories.
Stein was not forgiven easily for sacrificing the 1982 game, we lost 2-0 to save players for the World Cup. We went out in the first round.
The target is Brazil, nothing else counts & win lose or draw in London I want to be celebrating qualification on Tuesday 15th October next year with a victory over Croatia.
Now that matters.
Hamish
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