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First posted on Facebook on September 28th, 2016

The photo is actually from Souness’s Scotland debut as he lined up to play against East Germany in October 1974. Graeme had started out at Tottenham Hotspur but having been dismayed at his lack of first team starts, he moved on to Middlesbrough to play under Jack Charlton and alongside the legendary Bobby Murdoch at Ayresome Park.
He had one Under-23 cap to his name having played against England in a friendly in March, ’74. Also included in the line up for game at St. James’ Park were Willie Miller, Jimmy Calderwood and Derek Johnstone. The Scots lost 2-0.
Back to Hampden in October ’74 and also making his debut and one of only two appearances was Dixie Deans of Celtic. Scotland would win 3-0 with goals from Tommy Hutchison, Kenny Burns and Kenny Dalglish.
Graeme would play in Scotland’s next game a 2-1 Euro Qualifier defeat at home to Spain. His third cap came against Sweden in a friendly in 1975. He would then disappear from the International scene until Ally MacLeod brought him back for a friendly against Bulgaria in February, 1978. Of course, by now Souness was a Liverpool player and he would soon go on to become a regular player in the team.
Graeme would gain 54 caps in total scoring 4 times; his first goal would be that late goal against the USSR at Spain ’82 that briefly gave Scotland hope. However, it was the perennial case of too little, too late, once more for Scotland that night.
Graeme would also captain Scotland on 27 occasions. It is not surprising that he would line up alongside Kenny Dalglish for 32 of his Scotland caps, followed by a quartet of Aberdeen players as his most common teammates in Willie Miller (30), Alex McLeish (25), Jim Leighton (23) and then Gordon Strachan (22). Surprisingly, it is then Frank Gray who turns up next with 21 matches who only played 32 times for Scotland.
Finally it perhaps no surprise he was capped under Jock Stein more than any other Manager with a total of 39 out his 54 caps.

David Stuart