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First posted on Facebook, October 16th, 2016

In researching Bert McCann’s career the other day I stumbled upon this Scotland top and thought it was well worth an article on its own. The picture is actually from a sale lot of Football memorabilia that Bert was apparently selling at auction few years back including his Scotland cap for the 9-3 defeat against England (no wonder). The shirt was worn by Bert in a Scottish League v Scottish XI from March, 1959. A crowd of over 40,000 turned up at Ibrox to watch this trial match take place. Couldn’t have been much on the telly that night!
Bert captained the League side which was as follows; Jock Wallace (Airdrie), yes that Jock Wallace, Duncan MacKay (Celtic), Baird (Partick Thistle), John Smith (Celtic), McCallum (Third Lanark), Bert McCann, McEwan (Raith Rovers), John White (Falkirk), Andy Kerr (Partick Thistle), Gray (Third Lanark) and Willie Ormond (Hibs).
The Scottish select turned out as thus; Bill Brown (Dundee), Alex Parker (Everton), Eric Caldow (Rangers), John Cumming (Hearts), Bobby Evans (Celtic) Captain; Dave Mackay (Tottenham), Alex Scott (Rangers), Bobby Collins (Everton), John Colrain (Celtic), Dave Gibson (Hibs) and Graham Leggat of Fulham.
The game ended with 11 goals and three hat-tricks as the league won 6-5. Andy Kerr and John White would both hit three for the League and John Colrain would do likewise for the Scotland select. Colrain would be the only player in the Scotland side who would not be capped for the Full International side. White and McCann would move to the full side for the match against West Germany at Hampden a few months later and John Smith shortly after this. Andy Kerr and Willie Ormond had both been previously capped but would gain no more after this.
40,000 thousand. WTF. Finally it is a cracking strip though. I wonder how much it went for.

David Stuart