Inducting Gazza - For Me It's A Scam To Sell Tickets

CYNIC that I am, I reckon tickets for next month's Scottish Football Hall of Fame induction dinner must be slow to sell. That's the only explanation I can come up with for two “leaks” of information as to who will be getting inducted this year.

 Paul Gascoigne - inducted before some more-worthy Scots

I have no complaints as regards Julie Fleeting getting in – this is a thoroughly-deserved honour for a wonderful footballer, and a nice lassie into the bargain. I have no qualms about Paul Gascoigne being inducted as well – on footballing grounds.

Yes, Gazza probably, more than most, merits that old put-down about players wearing their IQ on their back, and yes, he has had his many and varied off-field problems. However, I firmly believe, Gazza is more to be pitied than scorned, I believe the only place he has ever been truly happy is on the park, playing, and, certainly, if we were gong to induct incomers such as Terry Butcher, Brian Laudrup and Henrik Larssen, then why not Gazza?

Of course, as soon as his inauguration was announced, the ranks of the unco guid rose-up in condemnation. Ach! They've been holding Scotland back since Rabbie Burns was a ploughman and part-time poet, what's new?

I do have a complaint, however, with some of the omissions. For instance, since the HoF was inaugurated in 2004, I have been saying Bob Gardner should be in there. Who he? I hear you ask. Well he is number one in the, to date, 1183-name long list of men who have played in a full international for Scotland. There is a direct line from Gardner, goalkeeper in the world's first international football match, and Hearts' John Souttar, the latest player to join the list.

 Robert Gardner - Scotland's first captain

But, there's more. When that inaugural international was arranged, back in 1872, Gardner was secretary of Queen's Park; he was the Scottish end of the correspondence with the Football Association's Charles W Allcock which got the game played, and, he captained the side. For Scotland cap #1 to still not be in the HoF, 14 years after it was started, is a disgrace.

Fourth-fifths of Hibs' Famous Five, arguably the best club forward line in the history of Scottish football: Gordon Smith, Bobby Johnstone, Lawrie Reilly and Eddie Turnbull are in, the fifth member, Willie Ormond isn't. Yet Ormond who was awarded the OBE for his services to football, was a successful Scotland team manager, leading the side to an unbeaten run and ninth place – our highest finish, at the 1974 World Cup.

Less-successful Scotland bosses are in the HoF, what grievous sin has Ormond committed.

Willie Ormond - why has he been overlooked?

I have long been arguing: football is a team game, you win as a team, you lose as one. “The Lisbon Lions,” the Celtic team which won the European Cup in 1967 are all in there, both collectively as the Lions, and individually. But, while the likes of Hughie Gallacher and Alan Morton are in as individuals, the bulk of the Scotland team known as the Wembley Wizards, the side which crushed England 5-1 back in 1928, and against which every subsequent Scotland team is measured, are not in.

Amazingly, Alex Jackson, who scored a hat-trick that day is not in.

As I said, the Lisbon Lions are in, and, while the likes of Leighton, Miller, McLeish and Strachan from the Aberdeen team which won the Cup-Winner's Cup in Gothenburg in 1983 are in there – would they have won it without Rougvie, Cooper, Black, Weir and Hewitt and the rest.

In fact, that Aberdeen team went on to beat Hamburg, the European Cup winners, to lift the European Super Cup, surely there should be a full-team induction there. The same argument could and should be made for the Rangers team which won the Cup-Winners Cup. If Barcelona Bears such as Greig, Jardine and Johnstone are in – why not the rest?

Wullie Shankly is in – but not his brother Bob, who was also an excellent manager, not least than when guiding Dundee to the European Cup semi-final in 1963. Speaking of Dundee, Billy Steel and Alan Gilzean are in, as is Bill Brown, but, what of Doug Cowie, or Alex Hamilton, Ian Ure or Bobby Cox?

Junior football is a major part of the game here. But, while we now have two women inducted, with Julie Fleeting joining Rose Reilly, where is the place for the legend that is Willie Knox – arguably Scotland's “winningest” (to use an Americanism) manager when with Auchinleck Talbot? What about some recognition for the great Cambuslang Rangers team of the late 1960s and early 1970s?

The great Willie Knox - when will be be recognised?

It is an uncomfortable fact of life, one largely ignored, but, the “Golden Age” of Scottish football was not during the 20^th century, but in the 19^th, when we really were the best team in the world.

Aye, inducting Charles Campbell, RS McColl, Bobby Walker and Andrew Watson paid lip service to those great pre-WWI days, but, no recognition for Dr John Smith, James Kelly of Renton and Celtic, or Tom Vallance of Rangers' “Gallant Pioneers,” or Dr John Smith, or Alec Raisbeck or Charlie Thomson – or any one of many great Queen's Park players.

Scant recognition there is in the part the Vale of Leven played in developing Scottish football, and when I remember, where is the name of Sir George Graham, the man who ran Scottish football for three decades and more as secretary of the SFA?

Jack Mowat supervises the pre-match pleasantries before Real Madrid v Eintracht in 1960

Tiny Wharton is the sole referee inducted – where are the names of Jack Mowat, or Peter Craigmyle? Archie McPherson is in, but not Arthur Montford. Hughie McIlvanney, but not Dan Archer, or Alex Cameron.

I appreciate, who gets in is a committee decision, and I also accept, reluctantly, it's the induction committee's decision which counts. But, I do feel, some of the guys doing the choosing, even if they are Celtic supporters with lap tops, don't know their football history.

Because I can think of a lot of players and managers who ought to be in there before some who already are. However, that's football opinion for you.