The Scotland Epistles Football Magazine

Hmm wonder what the Scotland connection is there.

 Well it could be the amount of caps won by David Weir and Kenny Miller, who are seventh equal in our most capped players list. Of course Weir did have a spell when he refused to play for the team so could well have had more. Kenny also features in our top ten goalscorers list at number six with 18 goals; of course if he scored some of those sitters maybe he would be well up the list and we might have qualified for a tourney or two also.

                Talking of goalscorers; maybe 69 stands for the amount of goals scored by Denis Law, Kenny Dalglish, Steven Fletcher and Chris Martin put together. I also imagine this is the last time they four players will mentioned in the one sentence. Just for the record Law and Dalglish have 30 each, Fletcher 8 and Chris Martin a lowly one.

                Okay, what else could it be? Well, does it stand for the year 1969 and a reminder of the heights Scotland hit that year? Unfortunately no, as we Played 8, Won 2, Drew 3 and Lost 3. Sadly the three losses were away against West Germany and Austria in the World Cup and a thumping at Wembley too. So no World Cup for us.

                However, it wasn’t all doom and gloom as we did pump Cyprus 8-0 at Hampden and put 5 past Wales at Ninian Park. There was also debuts for Eddie Gray and Peter Lorimer that year but final games for Eddie McCreadie and Bobby Murdoch.

                Well, maybe it’s about the players born that year. Well, no but born that year first of was Billy McKinlay who won a total of 29 caps scoring 4 goals in total. Billy was also famous for coming on as a sub in our opening game of Euro ’96 against Netherlands and again in our opener against Brazil in France ’98 and never playing again at either tournament. Still, it could be worse he could have been Derek Whyte – three tourneys and no game time.

                Also, born that year was Paul Lambert, who was capped 26 times for Scotland and played in all our games at the World Cup in 1998.

                Finally there’s Billy Dodds, who may have only played twenty four times for Scotland but he did manage a credible 7 goals including a duo against Belgium, in that game that saw our 2002 World Cup hopes dashed as Belgium managed to snatch a  two all draw despite going down to ten men after only 27 minutes. Damn Belgians!

                No that’s not it. I was trying to find a crowd of 69,000 somewhere down the line but got kind of bored of that. So what is it?

                Well, as you know we have secured the funding for issue 4 of the Epistles but this is due to advertising revenue and not sales of issue 3. For issue 3 to break even we need to sell . . . yes, you’ve guessed it another 69 issues. So if you haven’t bought it please do. As always it can be found on eBay (along with the opportunity to buy the 3 issues for only £7) and other ways of buying are available on the website. So, let’s face it, another two copies sold and I can go on about the number 67 and the pumping of England 3-2 in that year. Mind you, another 8 and I might have to go on about 1961!!!

                So please buy and set me a challenge of fun facts about Scotland!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SCOTLAND-EPISTLES-BULLSHIT-THISTLES-3-TARTAN-ARMY-FANZINE-MAGAZINE-/381452870780?ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

David Stuart

So there I was last night wondering how many beer mats were in the 1974 set and lo and behold David Murphy a follower on our Facebook page gave the answer. There were 23 in the 74 set. The 22 players in the squad and manager Willie Ormond and to make it complete he sent a photo.

Tennents 1974 scotland World Cup Beermats Set;

Danny McGrain
David Hay
Donald Ford
Eric Schaedler
Denis Law
Billy Bremner
Thomson Allan
Peter Cormack
Sandy Jardine
Jim Stewart
John Blackley
Tommy Hutchison
Kenny Dalglish
Willie Ormond manager
Jim Holton
Gordon McQueen
Willie Morgan
Willie Donachie
Peter Lorimer
Joe Jordan
David Harvey
Jimmy Johnstone

Thank you David Murphy.

David Stuart

To tell you the truth I only ever thought there was the 1978 set of beer mats until I came across these two. Does anyone know how many there were in the set? As for the ’78 set, how many were in that also I have 25 of them altogether is that them all?

As for the ’74 set here’s Danny and Jinky two of the best players ever to grace a Scotland shirt.

David Stuart

With regards to the new replica Scotland jerseys I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. The Tartan ‘Hibs/Arsenal’ top is too far removed from the standard dark blue jersey for my liking but then again I’m a stubborn traditionalist who has difficulty embracing change or so the results of my psychometric testing says. I’m swithering about the pink away top however – it all comes down to whether or not my blind patriotism can overcome my homophobia. Would Billy Bremner or Graeme Souness have worn it?

Anyway, as an aside I’ve attached a couple of adverts for previous new-kit launches and I particularly like the delusional Brazil supporters version. [Co-incidently, ‘Delusional’ is another word that crops up in my psychometric report]. Both adverts were scanned from Scotland match programmes some time ago but I’m damned if I can remember which programmes or which years they are from and I can’t be arsed searching through them all again so if you know which season they relate to I’d be much obliged.

It goes without saying though that as a Scotland [and Partick Thistle] supporter, I have worn some gaudy, God-awful, garments over the years and I’m sure we all have our favourite wardrobe malfunctions/fashion faux-pas [don’t be afraid to share them with us – you’ll feel better for it] but I just can’t visualise either of the new tops on the playing fields at Russia 2018. Then again, WHEN we make it to Moscow etc I’ve no doubt that the marketing men will have provided us with a further two or three World Cup Specials to spend our cash on.All things considered then, I might just get that new pink top and have ‘Liberace’ added to the back of it – just to prove I’m not prejudiced. I’m sure it will go down a storm at my local boozer – The Testosterone Arms.

Robert ‘Shut that door’ Marshall

Frank will be 56 on November 22nd. It’s hard to think about Frank and not conjure images of Jonathan Watson doing a parody of him on Only An Excuse. Even though it stopped being remotely funny about five years ago, it and the other issues in his life i.e. addiction, drug busts and bankruptcy have all overshadowed his ability as a football player.

Like some of the best people Frank grew up in the Milton area of Glasgow and started out his football career at St. Mirren in 1980. Frank played for the Scotland Under 21 team three times during this period and indeed scored the only goal in a European Championship match away to Italy in Catania, playing alongside the likes of Jim Bett, Jim Leighton, Steve Nicol and Gary Gillespie among others.

Frank moved to West Ham in the summer of 1985 and season 1985-86 was to be a golden one for him and the Hammers with one important moment for Scotland. Frank would end that season scoring 26 goals in the top English division, only being bettered by Gary Lineker.

With Frank scoring goals for fun; Alex Ferguson chose him to start, partnering Kenny Dalglish in Scotland’s vital play off against Australia in November, 1985. On a rather nervy night Davie Cooper finally put Scotland one up in the 57th minute with Frank adding a second, a few minutes later. Frank’s goal gave Scotland the breathing space for the return leg in Melbourne a fortnight later.

Frank started up front with Chelsea’s David Speedie in Australia but neither side were to score which meant Scotland were on their way to Mexico for the 1986 World Cup.

Frank would probably been frustrated by the following months, although his goalscoring from continued Alex Ferguson chose others in front of him for warm up friendlies and the 1986 Home Internationals with Graeme Sharp, Charlie Nicholas, Paul Sturrock and Ally McCoist all given their chance.

Ferguson’s time in charge of Scotland was not a happy one as he struggled with being the manager of Aberdeen on one hand and the manager of the National side. There would be quite a few players aggrieved at not being picked for the Finals like Alan Hansen, Mo Johnston; some like McAvennie would be angered at not getting to start a game in Mexico.

Ferguson chose Charlie Nicholas and Paul Sturrock as the front pairing for the opening game against Denmark, which Scotland lost one nil. McAvennie would come on, in the 61st minute for Sturrock as Scotland began to chase the game, having conceded a few minutes before. Seeking goals in our next game Ferguson brought in Stevie Archibald to start his first Scotland game in 16 months and again ignored McAvennie’s claims to start the game. Frank would again be brought on, bizarrely in the 61st minute again, to try and help Scotland retrieve a result after going 2-1 down to West Germany. This would also be Archibald’s last game for Scotland.

For the final and crucial group match against Uruguay, McAvennie was dropped completely by Fergie. Looking back, Frank suspects it more was to do with off field incidents, particularly in criticizing Fergie for failing to pick him that led to this sad state of affairs. Graeme Sharp and Paul Sturrock would start the final game with Charlie Nicholas making a subs appearance; all failing to make any impact with Scotland not being able to find the net against Uruguay who were reduced to ten men in the first few minutes of the game.

As for Frank, his golden season ended in disappointment and although he would continue to score goals for the Hammers with diminishing returns, he headed up to Celtic in October, 1987. One more Scotland outing awaited him as he would picked to start for a friendly In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia by Andy Roxburgh. Scotland drew two each with Mo Johnston and John Collins scoring the goals but for McAvennie that was it, the emergence of Ally McCoist and Mo Johnston once more getting a regular game, meant there was no place for Frank in Roxburgh’s plans.

Happy Birthday Frank and who knows what might have happened had you been given a starting place in that last game in Mexico.

David Stuart

If you have a masochistic bent [or conversely, if you think you are tough enough], then can I direct you to a new section within the Scotland Epistles website entitled ‘The Dark Side’. It is a veritable Room 101 for Scotland memorabilia associated with some of our biggest footballing nightmares such as heavy defeats in London, Cardiff, Manchester, Amsterdam and Paris plus World Cup disasters against the likes of Uruquay, Peru, Iran, Costa Rica and Morocco. If you think you are feeling too cheery for your own good than this is the place for you –

I have been adding cards and stickers to the Epistles website and sourcing a few on eBay to add as well. I’ve been trying to buy some of the lesser known players on cards, although I haven’t as yet stretched to buying the John Fleck Futera Future Star one yet. It’s quite sad to say I had bid over a fiver for a Swedish sticker of . . . wait for it . . . one cap wonder; Mike Galloway, recently and lost out to someone else. If it was you, then it’s good to know there’s someone sadder than me out there.

As for this one, I quite liked that there are few photos of Tony Green available in a Scotland strip as he only played six times and quite a few were substitute appearances.

Tony started his career at Albion Rovers but soon moved on to Blackpool in 1967, where he would win all of his six caps, playing alongside Tommy Hutchison for a few seasons, where he was a much loved skilful midfield player who like Hutchison would make it into the Blackpool FC Hall of Fame.

His first cap came at a time when Scotland were struggling. Bobby Brown whose Scotland management career had started with the high of the Wembley ’67 had failed to guide Scotland to the World Cup in Mexico and had been trying to rebuild, but his time in charge was petering out.

Tony would come on as a sub at half time for Pat Stanton in the quagmire of Stade De Sclessin in Liege, Belgium on 3rd February, 1971 in a European Nations Cup Qualifier as it was. Scotland toiled to a 3-0 defeat in the mud filled pitch, a video of which I posted on here a few months back. Also, making his debut that night was Archie Gemmill and making his final appearance was Tommy Gemmell.

Tony would again replace Stanton in the 75th minute of the next qualifier a 2-0 defeat to Portugal in April, the same year. Making their debuts that night and perhaps showing the depths of problems Scotland had at the time were Davie Robb of Aberdeen, Jim Brogan of Celtic and Airdrie’s Drew Jarvie who would come on for Jim McCalliog who perhaps summed up the promise of Brown’s early days in charge with his scoring debut at Wembley only for him never really to make an impact after that; all decent and good club servants but not Internationalists by a long shot. However, with no Leeds players in the team it might suggest that English clubs were failing to release players for the National team, which was something that frustrated Bobby Brown throughout his time in charge. Making their farewell bows along with McCalliog that night were sixties legends Willie Henderson and Alan Gilzean.

Scotland were to have a poor Home International Championship that year; Tony would miss the first game, a nil nil draw with Wales at Ninian Park, Cardiff. Tony would start at Hampden, three days after this on May 18th, 1971 against Northern Ireland. Again, a fairly inexperienced team with only one player having more than ten caps starting the game, unfortunately for the winner of his 42nd cap that night, John Greig scored the only goal for the Irish to win one nil.

Onto Wembley and although Billy Bremner and Jimmy Johnstone were to be involved this time, the English won 3-1, all too easily against such lightweights as Green, Robb, Hugh Curran of Wolves (scorer of Scotland’s goal) and Forest’s Peter Cormack. Green would be substituted for Drew Jarvie in the 82nd minute.

Despite chants and calls for him to go, Bobby Brown stumbled on for two more games, both one nil defeats away to Denmark and the USSR, neither of which Tony played in, with the Euro defeat to Denmark being a particularly humbling score at the time.

A new Manager and a new attitude as Tommy Docherty brought some needed enthusiasm back into the Scotland fold. Tony was in the squad for Tommy’s first game in charge against Portugal in October ’71 but didn’t get to make an appearance.

However, Tony was back into the team for the second game of the 1972 Home Internationals; Scotland had beaten Northern Ireland with goals from Denis Law and Peter Lorimer in the first, before facing Wales at Hampden on 24th May. Scotland won one nil with Lorimer again providing the goal.

Green would be on the subs bench for the game against England a few days later with fellow midfield players Asa Hartford and Lou Macari emerging to claim their spot in front of him. Scotland lost one nil to England in a rather tousy affair, which saw 20 fouls committed in the first twenty minutes. Green would come on in the 74th minute for Willie Donachie for his final appearance in the dark blue of Scotland.

Fate would deal Green a cruel blow in the following season, shortly into his Newcastle career following a £150,000 move from Blackpool, he would fall victim to a cartilage injury in September 1972, effectively ending his career at 25.

However, Tony is still active in football as for over thirty years he has been on the Pools Panel alongside Gordon Banks and Roger Hunt, although all too often he has predicted Partick Thistle for a nil nil draw for my liking.

David Stuart

Congratulations to the Republic of Ireland on qualifying for the finals of Euro 2016. Whilst our failure to qualify still hurts big style I think it would be churlish not to be pleased for our ‘celtic cousins’. If truth be told, I’m also pleased that our other near-neighbours England, Northern Ireland and Wales have also qualified although come next summer their departure for France will probably serve to increase the pain for supporters of Cinderella Scotland. Maybe I’m just a masochist at heart.

About a month ago we posted a colour postcard of the Scotland team that beat England 2-0 in 1962 which was given away free with the Daily Record to commemorate our first win over England at Hampden in 25 years. Hamish Husband and Alan Nelson our admin man had both concurred the photo had taken place at Cathkin Park, then home of Third Lanark and a stone’s throw from Hampden (it would have to be a World Record stone’s throw but a stone’s throw all the way). However, it turns out they were wrong as Hamish might have found out if he looked in his brother’s Scottish Football Book No 8 from 1962 as the same photo is in a piece  called Training Time for Scotland and it’s all about Scotland training at St. Mirren’s Love Street ground.

The player photo is of Billy McNeill doing a leap of some sort and the other one is the team photo which one assumes was taken the day before the game.

David Stuart