The Scotland Epistles Football Magazine

First published on Facebook on April 26th, 2015

It was a great night for Partick Thistle but was also tinged with disappointment. On this night Scotland played Sweden and two-ex Jags were making their debuts and only appearances for Scotland.

Ronnie Glavin became the fifth member of the 1971 League Cup winning team to gain caps for Scotland. John Hansen and Alex Forsyth had both been capped by Tommy Docherty in his tenure as Scotland manager, whilst playing for Thistle. Jimmy Bone had also been capped by the Doc in 1972 but playing for Norwich at the time. Jimmy made two appearances with his only goal coming against Denmark in a 4 – 1 win in Copenhagen in a World Cup Qualifier. Of course, Alan Rough was also in the ’71 team but wasn’t capped ‘til 1976 under Willie Ormond.

    Although, only Rough would become an established Scotland player it does show what a talented side the ’71 team were, indeed Denis McQuade would also represent the Scottish League. If you look back the St. Mirren cup winning team of 1987 they had a similar pedigree with Lambert, Ferguson and McGarvey, all being capped by Scotland.

                On this night another ex-Jag would play also and would enter the Scotland record books for his unique scoring feat. Scotland won the game three – one with a Hellstrom og and Kenny Dalglish goal opening the scoring. Joe Craig would score for Scotland before his first kick of the ball, as he scored with a header after coming on as a sub. Thus his place in the annals of Scotland and pub quiz history.

                Alan Rough was in goals that night, so it was proud night for Thistle . . . and the disappointment? The fact that Glavin and Craig, both had to be Celtic players before they were capped.

The photo is of Joe Craig from Shoot magazine and as you can see he is proudly wearing his Scotland top, sadly in the article Joe’s ambition was to become an established international player. Alas, it was not to be but even sadder was that, Carly Simon was one of his favourite singers.

David Stuart