The Scotland Epistles Football Magazine

They say it isn’t over until the fat lady sings but somewhat worryingly, last night the ‘ghost’ of Hattie Jacques was spotted in the reception area of Hampden Park warbling ‘When Irish eyes are smiling.’ So who are we gonna call? Well right now I’d take a midfield of Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Rick Moranis and Sigourney Weaver. As sore ones go, the game in Tbilisi is right up there with the time I put my willie in the toaster – metaphorically speaking.A few of the Epistles Apostles chose to watch the game in that Glasgow pub called ‘Walkabout’ but unfortunately we didn’t see Jenny Agutter or a single Scotland shot on target – two big disappointments in the one evening.

Johnny MacKenzie will reach the grand old age of ninety on September 4th. Johnny played on the wing for Partick Thistle in the 1950’s and was known as the ‘Firhill Flyer’. Johnny was capped nine times for Scotland and is the only known Gaelic speaking player to represent Scotland at football. Although born in Denistoun, Glasgow, Johnny’s mother came from Tiree where Johnny now lives, his father was originally from Skye.
Johnny gained his first cap on November 4th, 1953 in a game at Hampden against Wales that doubled up as a Home International and World Cup Qualifier. Also, making his debut and only Scotland appearance was Willie Telfer of St. Mirren. The Scots drew 3-3 with goals from Allan Brown and Hibs Famous Five players Bobby Johnstone and Lawrie Reilly.

Five months later in April, 1954 Johnny faced England at Hampden in front of a crowd of 143,544. Scotland would lose 4-2 with the Scots goals coming from Allan Brown and debutant Hibs legend and future Scotland manager Willie Ormond. However, with Wales losing 2-1 to Northern Ireland a few days before Scotland qualified as runner up in the 1953-54 Home International series.
Johnny’s only goal for Scotland came in a World Cup warm up against Norway in Oslo as the Scots drew one all. A few days later in Helsinki against Finland and Scotland won 2-1 with goals from Hibs duo Bobby Johnstone and Willie Ormond. This was to be the only time Johnny would taste victory in a Scotland shirt.

It’s safe to say that Scotland’s World Cup campaign in Switzerland was a bit of a disaster and some of it was self-inflicted. The SFA had decided that they would only bring thirteen players despite being allotted the usual twenty two. There was also the issue of Rangers being allowed to tour America at the same time and taking their Scotland regulars with them.
Scotland narrowly lost their first game in Zurich one nil to Austria and the full line-up for our first ever World Cup game was; Fred Martin (Aberdeen), Willie Cunningham (Preston – Captain), John Aird (Burnley), Tommy Docherty (Preston), Jimmy Davidson (Partick Thistle), Doug Cowie (Dundee), Johnny MacKenzie (Thistle), Willie Fernie, Neil Mochan (both Celtic), Allan Brown (Blackpool) and Willie Ormond of Hibs.

Their final game was against Uruguay in a very hot Basle with the Scots playing in heavy winter football strips. Johnny is quoted as saying “Did I play in that game. I certainly didn’t touch the ball that often. It was so hot and our kit was unbearable. I lost about half a stone in weight.” The Scots lost 7-0.
Cap number seven came in December 1954 when the mercurial Hungarians came to town beating Scotland 4-2 in front of a crowd of 113,146. Scotland’s gaols came from Bobby Johnstone and Off the Ball legend Tommy Ring. Ferenc Puskas said of Johnny’s performance that he had “never seen wing play of such a high standard”. Praise indeed.

Five months later and Johnny and his Scotland teammates were shell-shocked by a blistering start by England at Wembley that saw the Scots 4-1 down with only 27 minutes played. The game would finish 7-2 with the Scots goals coming from Lawrie Reilly and Tommy Docherty. Johnny’s last appearance came in May, 1956 in a one each draw with Austria. Hearts’ Alfie Conn (Senior, of course) scored the Scots goal in his only appearance for the national side.
So Happy Birthday Johnny.

David Stuart

First posted on Facebook September 4th, 2015

A wee light hearted reminiscence of France ’98.

One of the best sports documentaries ever made is When We Were Kings, which is about the ‘rumble in the jungle’ – Muhammad Ali’s heavyweight contest against George Foreman in Zaire in 1974 (awright this is a football fanzine and am talkin aboot boxin but stick with me). Ali was the big hero as always and was followed everywhere by huge crowds of young Zairians. My favourite scene is when Ali goes out for his early mornin run and there are hundreds outside the trainin camp waitin to accompany him. Her sets off and they follow in behind. As they jog along the chant goes up,

“Alee ku-muu-a”. (trans: Ali kill him)

“Alee ku-muu-a”

More and more join in, until it is a resoundin primordial chant as they jog in time and punch the air,

“ALEE KU-MUU-A”.

“ALEE KU-MUU-A.”

“ALEE KU-MUU-A”.

“ALEE KU-MUU-A,”

and that’s how Muhammad Ali helped us beat the Brazilians. Let me explain.

We had played Brazil in the opening game of France 98 and were narrowly beaten (as ye well know). I had watched the game on the big screen at the Hote de Ville (town hall) in Paris with my 11 year old son Jordan, my brother David and several friends, and two of my outstanding memories of that day were the sound of John Collins’ penalty and the soakin wetness of the final whistle. When Collins slotted the penalty home to equalize, there was an incredible sound, apart from the huge cheer, I’d never heard before or since; it was the sound of thousands of beer, whisky and wine bottles and glasses, bein dropped on the ground or accidentally thrown in the air as the majority of the crowd leapt up in a great outpourin of joy and threw their arms wide ready to hug each other in celebration, before comin crashin and smashin back down to earth. It was an incredible, indescribable sound, like an elongated crrrrsssshhhmasshhhh (telt ye – indescribable).

Of course it was short lived as we were defeated when the ball went in off Tommy Boyd’s shoulder to put them 2-1 up. As soon as the final whistle sounded the skies, which had previously been bright blue, immediately turned black, there was a huge clap of thunder and an eruption of torrential rain that soaked us through to the skin within minutes. It was as if all the heavens were cryin for us sufferin another inglorious defeat.

So that was the openin game but on the Thursday (it might’ve been the Friday) we had to get the train from Gar du Nord to Bordeaux in preparation for the game against Norway, and it was on this train that Muhammad Ali helped us defeat the Brazilians. The journey was four hours long and started off with the usual nonsense you’d expect from hundreds of football fans at the world’s greatest event – drinkin, singin , drinkin, laughin, drinkin, fourteen-a-side football in the carriage, before it simmered down after a couple of hours to just drinkin, chattin and fallin asleep.

By the time we were pullin into Bordeaux we were all pretty subdued and lookin forward to gettin off and into some fresh air. Apart from the hundreds of Tartan Army foot soldiers there were a few normal French citizens about and in our carriage, five Brazilians (four men and a woman, don’t know why they were there, Brazil were playin elsewhere). As we stood up (far too early) in desperation to get off, one of the Brazilians, who had all remained seated, began singin a wee song in Portugese (there’s no such language as Brazilian), while lookin at the Scots and laughin. His companions cast their glances our way and also started gigglin and laughin. He sang another wee verse, more sniggerin and gigglin and lookin at us askance. After three or four verses we were all standin in silence, watchin them, which they found funnier and funnier – until this six feet four kilted warrior towerin over their table thumped the roof and chanted, “Alee ku-muu-a!”

He thumped the roof again and I joined in, “Alee ku-muu-a!”

The chant swept the carriage like wildfire until all the Scots and some of the French were thumpin the roof, walls and windows and stampin their feet causin the carriage to sway from side to side,

“ALEE KU-MUU-A”

“ALEE KU-MUU-A”

“ALEE KU-MUU-A”

There was no gigglin or laughin,it was all very dead pan and it became a resoundin primordial chant. I looked at the Brazilians, they looked at their feet. At last we’d silenced them, and that’s how Muhammad Ali helped us beat the Brazilians.

Alan J Nelson

First posted on Facebook September 3rd, 2015

Here’s a great film of Scotland Germany in 1959 with the late Graham Leggat providing two assists and scoring one goal. A similar scoreline on Monday will be fantastic.

David Stuart

First posted on Facebook September 2nd , 2015

Ex-Aberdeen and Fulham, Scottish Internationalist Graham Leggat passed away on August 29th at the age of 81. Graham generally played at outside right for the national team and in eighteen games was to score 8 times for Scotland including representing the side in the 1958 World Cup.

Graham was first capped as an Aberdeen player on 14th April, 1956 facing England at Hampden, playing alongside three of the Hibs Famous Five; Gordon Smith, Lawrie Reilly and Bobby Johnstone of Manchester City. Making his debut that day also, was John Hewie of Charlton Athletic, who passed away earlier this year. Graham put Scotland into the lead in the 60th minute but Johnny Haynes ruined a dream of a debut with an 89th minute equaliser.
Graham’s next game was against Wales at Ninian Park in October of ’56 where Scotland gained a two all draw with Lawrie Reilly and Willie Fernie of Celtic scoring. This was followed by Graham scoring the equaliser in a one each draw with Northern Ireland at Hampden a year later.
Timing is everything in football and although Graham never appeared in any of the qualifying games against Switzerland and Spain for the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, he returned in time for the two warm up games against Hungary and Poland with Scotland drawing with the Hungarians 1-1 in Glasgow and beating the Poles 2-1 in Warsaw. Eddie Turnbull of Hibs would also play in these games.
Although, Graham never scored in either game, he was picked to play in the first two games of the tournament in Sweden. Scotland drew one all with Yugoslavia with the late Jimmy Murray of Hearts becoming the first Scottish player ever to score at the World Cup. This was followed by a 3-2 defeat to Paraguay with Jackie Mudie and Bobby Collins of Celtic scoring the goals
Sammy Baird of Rangers took Graham’s place in the last game of the tournament with the Scots going down to a narrow defeat to France 2-1 with Baird scoring the goal.
As usual changes were made in the first game, following the World Cup and Graham, by then a Fulham player, was brought back in to face Wales in Cardiff again in October ’58. Making their debuts that day were John Grant of Hibs, Willie Toner of Kilmarnock, David Herd of Arsenal and Denis Law, then of Huddersfield making his debut aged 18.

Scotland won three nil with Leggat netting the first, followed by Law and Bobby Collins, then of Everton completing the scoring. Further games in the 1958-59 Home International series followed with a 2 all draw against Northern Ireland at Hampden with David Herd and once more the Mighty Atom Bobby Collins scoring. And then came a one nil defeat to England in April 1959 in which Graham played alongside the final player of the Famous Five; future Scotland Manager Willie Ormond.
Graham then hit a purple patch and would score in five consecutive appearances for Scotland. First up a 3-2 friendly win over West Germany in May 1959 with debutants John White of Falkirk and Motherwell’s Andy Weir both scoring in the first six minutes. Graham Leggat is instrumental in both these goals with White’s coming in eighteen seconds. (There is Pathe video of it and it is well worth watching and if we’re lucky the admin guy will post it).
After beating the Germans you may as well go to Amsterdam three weeks later and put the Dutch to the sword, which Scotland did with that man Collins scoring as well as Leggat in 2-1 victory.
Graham missed the next Scotland match; a one nil defeat to Portugal in Lisbon but returned for the Home Internationals in October. Beginning with a four nil defeat of NI in Belfast with Leggat hitting the opener and followed by goals from John Hewie, John White and George Mulhall of Aberdeen completing the rout.

This was followed by two one each draws with Wales (November ‘59) and England (April 1960) respectively with no lesser players than first John Charles and then Bobby Charlton scoring for the opposition. Graham would only play in the first four games of the new decade but had completed his scoring for the national side. After the England game, three friendlies followed including a 3-2 defeat to Poland at Hampden, a 4-1 defeat in Vienna and finally in June 1960 a three all draw in Budapest with Hungary.
Although, his time with national team had come to an end, Graham did create a little piece of history on Boxing Day 1963, when during a 10-1 humping of Ipswich Town he scored a hat-trick for Fulham in three minutes which was a English top flight record until Sadio Mane of Southampton scored a quicker one in the EPL last May.

Like many of us I never saw Graham Leggat play but it doesn’t mean we can’t all appreciate his service to the Scotland side. May he rest in peace and our thoughts go to his family at this time.

Davids Stuart

First posted on Facebook September 1st 2015

Derek Whyte will be 47 on August 31st. Derek had a fairly unique Scotland career. He gained 12 caps in total, all in a twelve year period between 1987 and 1999; he made the squads for both the Euros of 1992 and ’96 and also 1998 without making an appearance at either Finals.

Derek was first capped as a Celtic player in October 1987 coming on as a sub for Maurice Malpas in the second half as Scotland managed to beat our Belgian hoodoo with two goals from Ally McCoist and Paul McStay. (Perhaps when we play Belgium again we should arrange for Hamish Husband to be on holiday for that one too.) Also making his debut that night was Gary Gillespie of Liverpool whilst Stevie Clarke of Chelsea and Ian Wilson of Everton were also in the line-up.
Derek’s next game was away against Luxembourg in December of that year in the last of our Euro qualifiers, as a makeshift right back. Derek could be happy that Scotland kept a clean sheet. Not so much, that Luxembourg did too.
Fast forward two years and Derek was on Rous Cup duty coming on as a sub for Gillespie as Scotland beat Chile 2-0 at Hampden with goals from Alan McInally and Murdo Macleod. Jump another three years for Derek’s next appearance; again as a sub for Dave McPherson v USA in Denver as the Scots won one nil with Pat Nevin scoring the only goal. As stated Derek made the cut for the Euro Finals that year despite not featuring in any more of the warm-up games.
World Cup Qualifiers in October and November ’92 saw Derek, then a Middlesbrough player play the full ninety minutes against Portugal and then Italy with both games being played at Ibrox. Again Derek could be happy with clean sheets in both, unfortunately so could the Portuguese and Italian defences.
A pattern begins to emerge as Derek waits almost another three years and a Kirin Cup appearance against Japan in Hiroshima in May 1995. Derek came on as a sub late in the game for Colin Calderwood as we Scotland drew nil nil.
Derek started the following Kirin Cup game against Ecuador as the Scots won 2-1 with goals from John Robertson and Stevie Crawford. Cap number eight and this is the first time Derek has played in a team that conceded a goal, which came from a penalty.
Derek finally taste defeat in a Scotland shirt as the Scots go down 2-1 to the US in another Euro warm up. Incidentally, why have we gone to the US to warm up for a tournament in the Europe for two finals in a row? Gordon Durie scored Scotland’s goal that day.

The Euros ’96, another tournament, another squad and again no game time.Cap ten and Derek played against Latvia in a World Cup qualifier in October ’96. Again another clean sheet but fortunately goals from John Collins and Darren Jackson saw Scotland win.

Derek returns to the Scotland team almost eighteen months later in April ’98 as an Aberdeen player with an appearance in a friendly against Finland in front of a sparse crowd of 14,315 at Tynecastle. The game ended up one each with Darren Jackson scoring Scotland’s goal.
World Cup 1998, another tournament, another squad and again no game time.Derek’s final Scotland game was as one of six subs in the shock 1-0 win against Germany when Don Hutchison supplied the goal in April 1999 in Bremen.
So Happy Birthday to the unique Derek Whyte not only for all those Finals squads but one defeat in twelve and nine clean sheets for a defender must be quite pleasing too.

David Stuart

First posted on Facebook August 31st, 2015

The Germans are coming! The Germans are coming! So WHAT? Keep calm and give the ball to Anya..The last time Germany came to Hampden was for a Euro qualifier in June 2003 when they were lucky to go home with a point in my humble, totally unbiased opinion. Germany took the lead against the run of play [see I told you] when in the 22nd minute Fredi Bobic headed past Rab ‘The Cat’ Douglas. [It has to be be conceded however that sometimes ‘Cat’ was short for catastrophe].

Bobby will be 72 on August 30th. Like many of his contemporaries whether Lisbon Lions or not, Bobby deserved more caps but the competition for places was so fierce at the time and with generally no subs for most of the sixties, opportunities were not as readily available.
In total, Bobby played ten times for Scotland only suffering one defeat and playing a major part in the triumphant defeat of England at Wembley in 1967.
His first cap came in a Home International game against Northern Ireland at Hampden in November 1966. This game doubled up as a qualifier towards the 1968 Euros. Bobby started alongside club mates; Tommy Gemmell, John Clark, Bobby Murdoch, Joe McBride and Stevie Chalmers. Rangers trio John Greig, Ronnie McKinnon, Willie Henderson and goalkeeper Bobby Ferguson of Killie along with lone Anglo Billy Bremner made up the rest of the side. Scotland won 2-1 with the two Bobby’s, Murdoch and Lennox scoring the goals.
Bobby’s next game was the 3-2 win at Wembley in 1967. Bobby would score the second Scotland goal with Denis Law and Jim McCalliog supplying the other two. 53,497 turned up at Hampden a month later to watch Scotland play the USSR in a friendly, which was the only time Bobby suffered defeat in a Scotland shirt. A delightful own goal lob from Tommy Gemmell gave USSR the lead which was followed by goal from Medved late in the first half to complete a 2-0 defeat. Gemmell’s goal seems to have grown in stature over the years but as the video shows; it was not the rocket shot from 40 yards that has oft been described.

Bobby missed the 1-0 defeat to Northern Ireland in October 1967 at Windsor Park, where George Best ripped us apart and ultimately saw us fail to reach the Euros. Bobby played in the game against Wales a month later that Scotland won 3-2 with an Alan Gilzean double and a Ronnie McKinnon goal giving us the victory. The final game of that seasons’ Home Internationals came against England in February 1968, with Scotland needing a win to progress through to the Euros last eight; alas it was not to be with a one all draw being played out with John Hughes supplying the Scotland goal and England going through. Cap number six and goal number three came in a one nil win against Denmark in a friendly in Copenhagen.Bobby’s next three games were at the start of our World Cup Qualifiers for Mexico ’70. The campaign got off to a good start with a 2-1 win v Austria at Hampden in November with Denis Law and Billy Bremner supplying the goals. Bobby came on as a late sub for Chelsea’s Charlie Cooke in the 5-0 win against Cyprus a month later. All the goals had come in the first half with doubles from Alan Gilzean and Colin Stein and a solitary Bobby Murdoch goal.

Next up, was in front of a crowd of 95,951 at Hampden against West Germany with Vogts, Beckenbauer and Gerd Muller all playing. Muller had given the Germans the lead in 39 minutes but once again Bobby Murdoch was to provide the goal to equalise in the 88th minute. Murdoch only played 12 games for Scotland but managed to score six goals, which is the type of record any Scotland forward would be proud of.
Bobby’s Scotland career petered out with only one more appearance as a sub in a nil nil draw with Wales in April 1970.So Happy Birthday Bobby and all the best. Thanks for the memories and in particular Wembley ’67.

Happy Birthday also to fellow Celts and Scotland players Peter Grant (50) and Kris Commons (32).

David Stuart

First posted on Facebook August 31st, 2015