THE SFA paraded Sir Alex Ferguson at Hampden on Saturday evening, at half-time during the Scotland v Israel World Cup Qualifier. They presented him with a cap to mark his contribution to the 1967 World Tour, during which he played in non-cap internationals against Israel, Hong Kong and in three games against Australia. During this tour he scored six international goals, but, was never awarded a cap.
Ferguson was the second member of that tour party – who never won an official full cap – to be awarded a souvenir cap, former Hearts defender Alan Anderson, who played in the same internationals as Fergie, plus the final game, against Canada, in Winnipeg, was awarded a similar cap earlier this year. Anderson is suffering from Dementia and is in an Edinburgh care home. Harry Hood's son was also there to accept a cap on behalf of his late father.
Now, I don't have much respect for the journalistic qualities of the SFA's Media Department. OK, they're better than the SRU's lot at Murrayfield, but, that's damning with faint praise. The official citation for the caps, on the SFA website suggests two of the Australian internationals, plus the Canadian game in Winnipeg have now been upgraded to A international status. Fair enough, but, which two of the three Australian games? And what about the game against Israel? OK, I can understand not making th Hong Kong game an official international, but, surely, given subsequent events and not least the timing of the presentation, how can the Israel game not be upgraded?
I welcome these gestures by the governing body, but, what of the other members of the tour party who fall into the played for Scotland but never capped club? These men are: former Burnley goalkeeper, the late Harry Thomson, former Partick Thistle and Bury full-back Hugh Tinney and another who has now sadly passed: Anderson's old Hearts' team mate Jim Townsend. Should they, and in the case of the trio who are no longer with us, their families, not also be presented with a cap? And, while we are at it, what of the final member of the touring squad, ex-Arsenal man John Woodward, who flew out to New Zealand as a replacement, played in the two games there and in Vancouver. Should he not also have his contribution to the Tour recognised?
Back in the early days of this century, I was proud to write a piece for The Scotsman, in which I identified the then 92 players who had played in full internationals for Scotland, but, because of the rules in place at the time, were denied a cap. Donald Walker, the then Sports Editor, who championed the initiative, led with the disgraceful fact, Eddie Turnbull, had played nine games for Scotland, but didn't get a cap. The SFA immediately capitulated and Eddie got his cap, on the park at Hampden.
The Welsh Rugby Union has in place a system whereby players who play in “non-cap internationals” receive what is called A President's Cap, to mark the occasion. Why doesn't the SFA copy this? I can think of a few players who would be honoured if they did this, men such as Partick Thistle's Davie Baird, the late St Mirren centre-half Jackie McGuigan and former Rangers and Liverpool left-half Billy Stevenson, who all played in the non-cap match against Jutland, during an end-of-season European Tour in 1959. And what of former Hearts, Kilmarnock and St Mirren goalkeeper, the late Jimmy Brown, who featured in the non-cap internationals agains the USA and Canada, during the 1949 North American Tour.
The late Danny Malloy, of Dundee and Cardiff City, was in double figures for appearances for “Scotland Xis” and the like. He was seen as the natural replacement for Willie Woodburn and George Young, but, he never got a cap. Surely all these representative honours are worthy of a Scottish edition of the President's Cap.
WRU President's Caps were also awarded to previously unrecognised War-time internationalists. Might it perhaps be time to recognise the handful of unfortunate players, such as Brentford goalkeeper Ted Crozier and Blackpool centre forward Jock Dodds, whose peak years and Scotland recognition came during war-time?
NEWCASTLE UNITED being taken over by Saudi Arabian interests was this week's big story darn sarf.
Back in the 1970s, while I was working in England, on a Saturday, deiving back up the M1 or the A1 to my then Yorkshire home, I would pass convoys of Newcastle coaches, taking the Toon Army south to wherever the Magpies were playing that day. I used to think: “These guys must be the most-loyal and unfulfilled fans in the country.”
United last won the English League in 1927, when Hughie Gallacher was their captain. They last won the FA Cup in 1955, when Jimmy Scoular was their captain, and the team included Ronnie Simpson in goals and Bobby Mitchell at outside left, while they were managed by Scot Doug Livingstone.
Their last major trophy was the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, in 1969, when the team, led by Bobby Moncur and including fellow Scots Tommy Gibb, Jim Scott and Jackie Sinclair beat Rangers in the semi-final. So, yes, the Toon Army has maybe become used to under-achievement and disappointment.
The famous black and white stripes have been worn by many famous Scots – how's this for an all-time team of Newcastle Scots, in 3-4-3 formation: Ronnie Simpson; Gary Caldwell, Bobby Moncur, Stephen Caldwell; John Brownlie, Roy Aitken, Jimmy Smith, Tony Green; Kevin Gallacher, Hughie Gallacher, Bobby Mitchell.
Ignore the distinguished number of Scots to have played there, it used to be said the North-East produced more professional footballers than any other area of England, but, for every Paul Gascoigne, Alan Shearer or Jackie Milburn who was a hero to the Gallowgate End, there would be a Bobby or Brian Robson or a Jack or Bobby Charlton that they allowed to slip away.
Since the new owners have designs on challenging at the top of the English Premiership I dare say, in the short term they will try to buy their way there. I just wonder if they might be better, in the long run, mining the still rich seam of local talent around the Toon.
But, building from the ground up isn't the style in that league, which is a pity. After all, following 94 years without a league title, what's the hurry?
I AM NOW into my eighth decade as a Tartan Army foot soldier. I saw George Young, Tommy Docherty and Bobby Evans play for Scotland; the Glory Years of Denis Law and Jim Baxter, I rocked through the World Cup campaigns of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, but, even back then, we blew games we should have won easily. We had bad days almost as often as we had great days, an unbeaten season would be followed by one when we barely won a game.
Since the end of World War II, we have only won around 40% of the 600-plus internationals we have played. Supporting Scotland has always been a roller coaster ride. That said, I don't think many of these games have been a white-knuckle ride to compare with Saturday night at Hampden.
At least we won, but, we are now convincing ourselves we only need to turn up to win in the Faroe Islands and Moldova, and we will qualify for the World Cup Qualifying Play-Offs.
I am worried now.
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