The Scotland Epistles Football Magazine

        This article was originally posted on Scotland Epistles Facebook page on February 2nd 2015

In issue two of the Epistles, there is a short article on vintage football magazines from the 60’s and early 70’s. Here are some that didn’t make the cut.

      From the July 24, 1964 issue of Soccer Star. The Scotland team pictured was the line-up that drew with West Germany in Hanover in a friendly on May 12th that year.

                The line-up from left to right is Willie Henderson, Davie Wilson and Jim Baxter (all with Rangers), Alan Gilzean, John White of Spurs, whose tragic death occurred three days before the publishing date, after being struck by lightning on the Crews Hill Golf Course in Enfield. Manchester United’s Denis Law is next, followed by Rangers legend John Greig, full backs Jim Kennedy of Celtic and Alec Hamilton of Dundee. The goalkeeper is Jim Cruikshank of Hearts, winning the first of his 6 caps and Billy McNeill of Celtic captained the side. Gilzean scored both goals with an Uwe Seeler double replying for Germany.

From October 27^th issue comes a photo of Ronnie Simpson, Simpson had been in goals for the game at Windsor Park against Northern Ireland on 21st of the month, which the Irish won one nil. The score could have been worse as Ronnie saved a penalty from Johnny Crossan. The Home Internationals that year and the previous championship were combined as qualifiers for the Europeans Championships. Scotland were runners up to England by just  one point.

                The final cover is of Charlie Cooke of Chelsea from August 1st, 1969 and is from the match against Wales in 3rd May of that year at the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham which Scotland won 5-3. The Scotland goals were shared among Billy McNeill, Colin Stein, Alan Gilzean, Billy Bremner and Tommy McLean then of Kilmarnock.

 David Stuart