THIS is THE day - Them v Us is finally back on the football agenda, and, at 8pm tonight, I will be in front of my television, stomach tightening, waiting for the kick-off as, for the first time in nearly 14 years, we take-on England at Wembley.
Why aren't you going? I can hear you ask. Naw, Wembley is a young man's game; been there, done that, got the emotional scars - time for a new generation to enjoy/suffer as we once did.
Of course, my generation and ma faither's, while we took our licks, occasionally got to enjoy the journey and the old man was one of the lucky ones - he was there in 1928 when the wonder of Wembley was made to stick in Scottish minds, what a scoreline we produced on that glorious day, 31 March, 1928:
England 1 SCOTLAND 5
This was only Scotland's second Wembley visit, the first, four years pereviously, had ended as a 1-1 draw, with the now all-but-forgotten Willie Cowan of Necastle United, in his only international, becoming the first Scot to score at Wembley.
The 1926 match had gone to Manchester's Old Trafford, now, in '28, the Scots were back in London, albeit on something of a salvage mission. Wales had already won the Home International Championship, the Irish had embarrassed the Scots at Celtic Park and true to form, the selectors had panicked slightly, making a whole raft of changes and picking a side packed with Anglo-Scots, eight of them, for the Wembley trek.
Mind you, England weren't in good shape that season - sure, Everton's Ralph "Dixie" Dean was on his way to a grand total of 66 goals that season, but, well this England team was hardly a "Golden Generation". The teams were fighting to avoid the mythical wooden spoon, givent to the side which finished last in the Championship.
But, not even the Scottish press corps, those legendary "fans with typewriters" were building-up our side, which included two debutants: left back Tommy Law of Chelsea and centre-half Tom "Tiny" Bradshaw, from Bury, a town most Scots couldn't find with the aid of an atlas.
Alex James, seemingly a much-improved player with Preston North End from the debutant who had been cast out after an uninspring debut out of Raith Rovers two years previously, was re-called for his second cap, while his old school friend, centre forward Hughie Gallacher, was handed the centre forward's place, on completion of a two month ban for misbehaviour.
The team captained by the veteran Jimmy McMullan of Manchester City and amateur goalkeeper Jack Harkness, Time Dunne of Hibs and Rangers' Alan Morton were the three home-Scots in a side which read: Harkness (Queen's Park); Nelson (Cardiff) and Law (Chelsea); Gibson (Aston Villa), Bradshaw (Bury) and McMullan (Manchester City); Jackson (Huddersfield Town), Dunne (Hibs), Gallacher (Newcastle United), James (Preston North End) and Morton (Rangers).
Legend has it that, when the selectors ordered the players upstairs, so they (the "blazers) could enjoy "a wee swally" in the palatial central London hotel which was the Scots' HQ, McMullan gathered his players together and told them: "Go to bed and pray for rain".
They must have prayed hard, for, on the morrow - it was chucking it down, and, on a heavy pitch made for footballers, McMullan and Co proceeded to pass the English off the park.
Jackson became the first and still only Scot to score a Wembley hat-trick, while James, still some way short of the midfield passing machine he would become with Arsenal, bagged a brace.
On the Monday the Times of London waxed lyrical about the walking pace, passing moves put together by the victorious Scots as being: "almost like ballroom dancing". A legend was born, that of "The Wembley Wizards". Twenty-eight Scottish teams have followed in the Wizards' footsteps, hoping to embarrass, nay humiliate England, by winning on England's home ground. Only another eight have managed to win, but, none has come close to matching the Wizards' four-goal winning margin.
The match might have been meaningless - a third/fourth-place play-off in a four-team tournament, but, the result echoes on down the 85 intervening years. Flower of Scotland,when will we see their likes again?
How about tonight? After all, we don't rate Gordon Strachan's squad too-highly, but, the England squad is mince.
Come On Scotland - Gerrintaerum!!!
I've been following your blog posts religiously over the last week and enjoyed the jocularity in the big build up. Coming from a mixed marriage, the faither thankfully was a Tim, the ma on the opposite side, an English hun. I have never had an allegiance to any of the 2 ugly Glasgow sisters, but I do like to see fair play in football, which see's me more green than blue these days. I stay in London, but didn't fancy the commuter ride with the flag wavers and the John Bull's bleating on the way home after a damn good thrashing (fingers crossed) so plumped for the sofa and a wee carry out.
ReplyDeleteIf wee Gordy and the boys can do it then I might chance my arm and wear my Scotland shirt to work on the tube. My prediction for the night? 2-1 Scotland. Time will tell!