1966 and all that

Just imagine if we won the world cup, jings Scotland beat England a year later 3-2 and we live eternally on a such a futile victory.

I am slightly dissapointed on behalf of my English chums that there has been no street parties, an achievement so magnificent a national holiday should have been granted. The remaining players, plus Jimmy Greaves honoured in David Cameron's last honours list, an act of sheer gratitude on behalf of the nation of England.

A Scottish peek at the few documentaries this past week would have revealed a bunch of relatively ordinary lads who conquered the world, with the added advantage of playing at home and at Wembley Stadium to boot. England deserved to win, the 3rd goal may have been not quite over the line, however the Germans have punished England ever since and seemingly a major part of their masterplan was to include penalty taking compulsory in Schools ever since. Alan Ball it turns out was a great guy, Bobby Moore a likely lad. As for Sir Bobby Charlton hero the world over, Scotland included.

I was 8 in 1966 and like most of Scotland at the time supported England. This changed a year later when we won 3-2, played keepie-up and to this day honoured and remembered as our greatest victory over any world champions. The game was in fact a Euro qualifier, we drew later with Wales, lost to Northern Ireland and went out with a creditable 1-1 draw in the return 1968 England game.

We complain that our English friends go on too much about 1966, why shouldn't they?

Hamish

A bright future

I feel that at 58 I have the right  through 50 years of watching Scotland to fell depressed. Downright depressed. Non qualification since 1998 and our clubs success in Europe is judged when 2 teams reach August, 2 teams defeated, one in Denmark and one at home to Malta. Jings, defeats in Luxemburg & Gibraltar just rubs salt in our Brexit wounds.
Brian McClair leaves a post that he seems to be ill-suited to, Performance Director......we are suffering from an overdose of Lack of Performance.
The world cup qualifiers are around the corner and the team we fear is Malta. The fans are booked for Wembley, Slovenia and Lithuania, I fear we may not need to get some rubles.

20 years ago

Jings time flies in when you have not qualified, 18 years since we were not very good in france & even worse 20 years since we missed that penalty courtesy of David Seaman's elbow, or was it Uri Geller's spoon bending spell that made the ball move off the spot? A wee shift in the time space universe that put Gary off. I was front row when he took it and 2 minutes later was in the Wembley loo listening to England fans celebrating Gazza's wonder goal. I saw the ball move!
A week earlier we held the Dutch to a goaless draw at Villa Park with the Scotland fans in the Holt End physically blowing the ball away from Andy Goram.
Days later we were one up on the hapless Swiss, oor pals 100 miles south were skooshing Holland 4-0. We were through, assistant manager Alex Miller was sent to the touchline to calm the players. We were through until oor nemesis said David Seaman was nutmegged & we were out.
Looking back there were few kilts & we were flying 'We hate Jimmy Hill' flags replacing the 'Remember Bannockburn' of former Wembley weekend trips. What must the locals have thought of us?
My brother marched up Wembley Way avec kilt, carrying a tray of grass up the steps handing the returning turf to it's owner. The Commisionaire at the main door was perplexed, he either had a short memory & or was obviously not one of the estimated 300 England fans in Wembley June 4th 1977.
20 long years since we again did not reach the 2nd round. 18 years since we last flopped in the finals.
When will we see our likes again?

Hamish

Gibraltar

A six one victory & yet. The first Scotland hat-trick since Colin Stein in 1969 & yet we have not had a player score 4 in one game since Colin Stein in 1969, more than that he scored 4 in a row.
Ludicrous ticket pricing saw a poor paying crowd supplemented by an East & West Stand freebie youth section, no bad thing as the experience of a good Scotland win may entice others to join the cause.
I for one however struggled to raise a cheer for home goals as it was only Gibraltar we were playing, mind you they brought a sizeable support that fully deserved their goal & to be honest I clapped the equaliser in their honour. One day Steven Fletcher will score a hat-trick of back heelers, he certainly has had enough practice.
The group is as we expected developing into one of death, we have been here before, see any of our qualifying groups in the major championships. Ireland insist on scoring in injury time and although we beat them 1-0 they, or we on their behalf still hit the crossbar well into the 90th minute at Celtic Park.
We march on to Dublin in what has become for Ireland a must win game & to be honest for us a must not lose match.
Poland are leading & deservedly so, we will have to beat them at Hampden & what an atmosphere that game will provide.
So 2 massive home games lay in wait & as usual new will have to get a result against the World Champs, no change there then. A tricky, awkward trip to Georgia awaits, the type of game we have lost in the past, can't afford it again this time.
Can we do it? Of course we can.
Can't wait.


Hamish

Stuart McGrady

We were at the funeral is afternoon of Stuart McGrady, 29 years old who passed away in his sleep . A wee boy who grew up over the road. Forehill & Kyle Secondary School, Ayr Utd, Queens Park, Cumnock and Maybole Juniors for the last 7 years. He represented Scotland at schools level & beat England as captain.
A loving family brought up a smashing lad, a gent & a credit to them, football & the town of Ayr. A life ahead for him & his partner, instead we were listening to a really uplifting tribute. Lovely stories & memories of a real good guy. The players of Maybole Juniors represented him well today, what a lovely lad. The ceremony finished with' You'll never walk alone', I was greeting as everybody else did.
Life is cruel.


Hamish

I was invited to a Rangers game at home to Ibrox in the early 90's by a Lanarkshire builder, I was naturally delighted to accept. In arriving at the club deck c/w tie & jacket it was explained that Willie was a Celtic fan & had recently fallen out with the Kelly / White dynasty & had taken his custom & customers to Castle Ibrox.
We were 4 at the table joined with 2 couples from up north which led to much convivial conversation & a few drinks.
Walking out onto the Club Deck it was immediately apparent that the Bears sitting in the Debenture seats were fully aware that Willie was a Celt & there ensued some lively banter. My memory was of a close first half with the Dons providing stiff opposition. Half time came and went with the 2 couples enjoying a few brandies & possibly more.
Returning to the stand they were directly behind me, however after 5 minutes she was directly on me. She was blootered, she struggled to keep upright, her struggle to keep the contents of a sizeable Rangers drinks cabinet was however in vain. She was sick. After she was sick she fell in the sick. She was then carted out of the Club Deck much to the amusement of the Bears in rows 3 to 43.
' Willie, I see you've brought your sister' was the cry from a delighted Bear as not only were Rangers 1 up, the Celtic were in disarray & the lady that may indeed not have been Willie's sister was sick & in the sick, however both he & me were slightly splattered.
This story came to mind 2 weeks ago when asked for my thoughts by The Times of London, Scottish edition on the sale of alcohol to ordinary punters. A question of human rights me thought. If the corporate can have a pint then why can't we in the cheap seats?
Whilst not entirely convinced that there is much demand I can't see any reason why for example Elgin City can't approach the local licensing board to set up a wee bar.
The London Times, Scottish edition printed my thoughts & included my wee Ibrox anecdote. This week did I not find myself outside Willie's building factory & after introducing myself we laughed out loud at the memory of  the wifie landing in the sick.
The moral of the story is of course that perhaps we should leave the Corporate to drink themselves into a puddle of sick whilst we continue to drink a puddle of weak Bovril.
By the way Aberdeen drew 1-1 & soon after Fergus McCann saved Celtic. Willie has given up on football & listens to radio phone-ins.

Northern Ireland

The excitement never stops as seemingly we are due to play Northern Ireland at home in February. I have been heartened by the progress of our cousins across the water in the current Euro Qualifiers however I am less than convinced that the re-opening of Hampden will quake to a full house for this friendly.
And a question can be posed....why not in Belfast? Is it really over 30 years since we played there, qualifying for the 1982 world cup with a fortuitous 0-0 draw.  When there Northern Ireland did a might better than us and beat the hosts Spain. Gerry Armstrong was the hero then & as far as I know became a media star.