One of the many great things about collecting football programmes is that even the adverts help provide a social history/commentary. Over the years these ‘adverts’ have also included the Scotland replica jerseys some of which have become retro-classics whilst others have moved Gok Wan to tears. Here’s a random selection.Our current manager in his Umbro finery is featured on the back page of the Scotland – England, Rous Cup programme from May 1985. The small insert photo meanwhile includes Alan Rough and Davie Cooper as well as four female models – two of which are wearing the girlie-looking yellow away top. Roughie’s yellow goalie jersey passes the ‘macho-test’ however although the socks look a bit suspect.
The front cover of the programme for the Scotland-Bulgaria Euro qualifier from March 1991 gave us two Ally McCoists for the price of one – resplendent in the home and away strips of the time. I’ve always regretted not having the bottle to buy [and wear] that ‘dripping-paint’ belter of an away jersey.Scotland v. Germany, a friendly match from March 1993 features the three amigos of Eoin Jess, Ally McCoist [again] and Stephen Wright in a garish nightmare that includes purple collars, piping and shorts. A straight red card surely for this outfit.
And finally, perhaps it was significant that it appears they couldn’t get any player to be photographed wearing the salmon-pink away jersey which was on the back cover of the programme for the Scotland-Czech Republic Euro qualifier from March 1999. Confession time – I have one of these jerseys pinned to the ceiling of my spare room along with four other Scotland tops which no longer fit!
Robert Marshall
First posted on Facebook April 29th, 2015
The Scotland Epistles Football Magazine 
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