Issue 1_March 2023

Est 2005
When Elsie Met Pelé Elsie Cook tells her story
Archie Macpherson Fans with microphones George Young Scotland’s roll of honour Euro adventure awaits the tartan army Chick Young And lots more...
2022_ISSUE 4 www.tartanarmymagazine.com
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In previous issues you will find Steve Clarke and Shelley Kerr speaking ‘in their own words’, read the Tartan Army’s favourite singer Ted Christopher interview, read the facebook feedback comments on VAR,
Sky Sports presenter Luke Shanley’s love affair with Scotland,
Richard McBrearty column, read the views of Scottish Football
Supports Association, Wilf Parkinson, John Bleasdale, and s
ee epic tartan army photos, and as they say... lots, lots ,more!
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BOOK REVIEW BY IAIN EMERSON
Scotland’s Swedish Adventure – The story of Scotland’s European Championship debut.
This book by John Bleasdale finally puts right one of Scotland’s wrongs, and that is the almost forgotten story of Scotland’s great achievement in qualifying and participating in the Euros in 1992. It was the ninth UEFA European Championship, and Scotland’s first time qualifying for them, however for some reason the media has on the whole, tended to overlook this campaign.
This may have been because when 1992 came along it was on the back of Scotland having qualified for a remarkable five World Cups in a row from 1974 to 1990. Looking back at that era we now know how spoiled we were. For me personally,
I can remember all the World Cup campaigns like it was yesterday, however perhaps because we hadn’t previously qualified the European Championship this didn’t seem nearly as important to me at the time.
Thankfully Johns book has put all this right with some amazing detail in telling this
story. I’m sure even if you do remember this campaign well you’ll find detail in this
book that you didn’t know. It captures it all with tales from the management team,
players who participated and the fans who travelled. The tale takes you back to a
time when two points were awarded for a win, Yugoslavia had come to an end, the dissolved
Soviet Union competed as the CIS, a reunified Germany had replaced the East and West German teams, and when Pat Nevin appeared in a Hollywood movie ...So I Married an Axe Murderer starring Mike Myers!
I could go on but that would spoil it for you, the best thing to do is read the book and take yourself back in time to when the likes of Goram, Gough and McStay were strutting their stuff.
Author
A must read? Star rating
John Bleasdale
Yes definitely, and I’m already looking forward to further books from John. Five stars out of five
Book available at Pitch Publishing and Amazon in hardback RRP £16.99
02

CONTENTS December 2022
4–6 Euro 2024 Qualifiers Travel Guide 8–9 Scotland Women’s National Team
George Young – Roll of Honour
Elsie Cook
Scottish FA marks 150 years since first internationasl game
18 Turkey vs Scotland Friendly Match 19 Steve Clarke In His Own Words 20 The Chick Young Column
22–23 Fans with Microphones (Archie MacPherson) 24 Tartan Army Sunshine Appeal
Front cover photo by www.robinson.com
10–13
14–16
17
Welcome to the 2022, issue 4, edition of Famous Tartan Army Magazine
We hope you are all enjoying the World Cup, well, as much as you can without our beloved national team being there.
Having watched many of the games so far, I definitely think we are good enough to be competing at the top table,
and I think Steve Clarke is the best man to take us forward. Progress has been made, we have gone on several unbeaten runs under the boss, and qualifying for The Euros got that monkey off our backs, as he was getting pretty heavy! We continue to Keep The Faith.
A huge thank you to all who read our magazine, and especially to our editorial team whose enthusiasm never drops even when the results on the field don’t always go our way. Hopefully everyone will enjoy the festivities, and we will be back in the New Year ready to go again.
All the best Iain Emerson Editor
If you wish to contribute in any way please get in touch:
Browse: www.tartanarmymagazine.com Email: [email protected] Call: 07725 502 465
Visit our facebook and Twitter
‘Famous Tartan Army Magazine’
SCOTLAND’S INTERNATIONAL HONOURS
Kirin Cup Winners 2006
British International Championships
Outright wins 24 times – 1884, 1885, 1887, 1889, 1894, 1896, 1897, 1900, 1902, 1910, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1925, 1926, 1929, 1936, 1949, 1951, 1962, 1963, 1967, 1976, 1977.
Title shared with at least one other nation
17 times – 1886, 1890, 1903, 1906, 1908, 1912, 1927, 1931, 1935, 1939, 1953, 1956, 1960, 1964,
1970, 1972, 1974
TARTAN ARMY AWARDS
Winners: UEFA Fair Play Award, Euro 1992. Runners-up: (but should have won) UEFA Fair Play Award, Euro 1996 Winners: Fair Play Prize 2001. Awarded by Belgian Olympic Committee for sportmanlike conduct during qualifying game versus Belgium (the first and only time the award has been presented to anyone outside Belgium). Awarded: Scroll from Birmingham Council for Outstanding Conduct and Friendliness. Euro 1996.
Awarded: Engraved crystal football awarded to the Tartan Army and Scotland Manager Craig Brown by The Scottish Tourist Board 1999. Since Scotland hasn’t qualified for any major finals since 1998, the Tartan Army hasn’t been able to scoop any
more awards, so we’ll give it one instead....
Awarded: Best Supporters in the World Ever, no messing, presented to the Tartan Army by The Famous Tartan Army Magazine 2019
03

EURO 2024 QUALIFIERS
THE TRAVELLING TARTAN ARMY
TOUR GUIDE 2023
BY HAZEL GUILDER
It has been a challenging two years for football and for our Tartan Army fans given pandemic lockdowns with limited travel and attendance at international matches.
Nevertheless, it has been an exciting two years for the Tartan Army given that our recent squad finally got a rousing encore after their 22-year absence from the world football stage. We emotionally qualified for the delayed Euro 2020, after our win in Belgrade back in November 2020 from Marsh’s memorable penalty save from Mitrovic.
On Sunday 9th October 2022, Tartan Army fans across the globe anxiously learned Scotland’s football fate as the highly anticipated draw for UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying finally took place in Frankfurt.
Fingers, toes and legs were crossed during the draw with all eyes on Steve Clarke’s reaction to the nations pulled out of the bowl against Scotland in pot two of the draw.
I have to say, as a long-standing Tartan Army supporter, that it is typically the Scotland way when it comes to our
draws in tournaments and this one was no different.
We now face a prodigious undertaking after being drawn in Group A facing the likes of Samson and Goliath that are Spain and Norway as well as the usual potential banana skins of the past such as Georgia and Cyprus in 2023.
Firstly, let us talk about the Norwegian elephant in the room. I know some of you are reading this and maybe thinking the same as me, the formidable Haaland, right? North of Scotland is our North Sea neighbour Norway, home of one Norwegian Viking named Erling Haaland.
At the time of writing this, Haaland has scored 18 goals across 13 matches for his current club Manchester City and will prove more than a handful for our usual defence.
What we do have is a wealth of EPL experience across the squad and those players have good insight of playing regular club football against Haaland so they should be able to anticipate his manoeuvres on the pitch.
Haaland will also be joined by Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard who has scored 6 goals in 13 matches and a fellow teammate of our KT. Some of us, who have Odegaard in our Fantasy Football team, is known for providing several goal assists or poaching around the goal mouth. We cannot afford to take our eyes off Odegaard and must be marked otherwise we know it will cost us.
All of the Tartan Army fans, including the whole Scotland squad, want to secure our place at the Euro finals in Germany in 2024, after all, it is an easy country to get to as well as travel around with the usual German efficiencies in place.
The Germans are passionate about football, and we want to be part of their party atmosphere with plenty of German techno music, biere, bratwurst and brezeln however to secure our place to Deutschland, we have a monumental mountain to ascend.
With that in mind, let us touch on some of the football statistics in those countries as well as their stars who we will probably encounter. Let me offer some brief travel guides to those travelling Tartan Army fans and what is on offer in those European cities next year.
NORWAY
Land of the Fjords, Aquavit and Edvard Munch......
04

Oslo is well known city to the Tartan Army so no need for us to get in a Viking long boat to get to there. There are no direct flights from Scotland to Oslo so I know many of us are doing a two city stop to get there in June so good luck to all of those fans who are jumping onto planes, trains and automobiles to get to Oslo.
The 1000-year-old Norwegian capital sits at the head of Oslo Fjord. This stunning setting gives hints of the wild wonders that lie just beyond the city. From taking in visual delights at Vigeland Sculpture Park, the Viking Ship Museum, the Munch Museum and Holmenkollen, to the challenging content within the new Nobel Peace Centre and the Holocaust Centre, Oslo offers plenty of food for thought. The Oslo Pass allows free travel on public transport, free parking and many museum and sight admissions if you are interested and if budget allows it, stay a few nights in this wonderful, vibrant city.
Currency: Norwegian Krone Transport:
Transport Prices in Oslo (single leg prices approx.as at Nov 2022): Taxi from airport to city centre £100, Airport Express train to city centre £15.90, Suburban train from airport to city £7.50, Airport express bus to city centre £12.55, 3km taxi ride in Oslo £11.70, Metro/tram/bus/boat ride in Oslo £5.80
Scottish Bars: The Scotsman, Karl Johans gate 17, 0159 Oslo, weblink: https://scotsman.no
Pub, restaurant, and club on Karl Johans gate with everything under one roof. The Basement: Sports pub with eight 50-inch screens, shuffleboard, pub food and a great selection of beer, gin, whisky, and rum. The Pub: Classic pub menu, football (soccer) on big screens, tables inside and outside and a large selection of ales and whiskies. Live music Tuesday-Saturday every week. Open 365 days a year. The Club: Nightclub with drinks, DJs, party music and dancing into the night.
Top Bars:
Crow Bar & Brewery, Torggata 32, Oslo; Herr Nilsen, C.J. Hambros plass 5, Oslo
Cheapest Bar:
(approx. as at Nov 2022): Destiny Bar: Average Pint of Domestic Beer is £6.50 Average cost of drinks (approx. as at Nov 2022): Pint of Domestic Beer £8.08, G&T £8.29
Cheapest Restaurants/Cafes: (approx. as at Oct 2022): Pilestredet Parkservering, Pilestredet Park 18, Oslo 0176 (Italian/European/Healthy); TUNCO Bjerregaards gate 2, Oslo 0172 (Fast Food/Asian/Thai); Haralds Vaffel, Olaf Ryes Plass 3, Oslo 0552 (Dessert/Café/Fast Food); Sofies Mat & Vhnhus, Sofies gate 15, Oslo 0170 (European/Scandinavian/Norwegian) Top Attractions:
Royal Palace guided tour, Munch
SPAIN
the abundant dining and entertainment options that the city has to offer.
Currency: EURO
Transport:
Prices in Barcelona (single leg prices approx.as at Nov 2022): Taxi from airport to city centre £38, Aerobús from airport to city centre £5, Train+public bus from airport to city centre £5.50, 3km taxi ride in Barcelona £9, Metro ride in Barcelona £2
Scottish Bars: None
Top Bars:
CocoVail Beer Hall, C/ d’Aragó, 284, 08009 Barcelona; Dry Martini, Carrer d’Aribau, 162, 166, 08036 Barcelona; Vai Moana, Av. del Litoral, s/n, 08005 Barcelona; Dr. Stravinsky, Carrer dels Mirallers, 5, 08003 Barcelona Cheapest Bar:
(approx. as at Nov 2022): L’Ovella Negra, Carrer de les Sitges 5, 08001 Barcelona; Carrer de Zamora, 78, 08018, Barcelona; The Mint, Passeig d’Isabel II, 4, 08003, Barcelona; Dow Jones, Carrer del Bruc, 97, 08009, Barcelona; Bar Manchester, Carrer de Valldonzella, 40, 08001, Barcelona Average cost of drinks:
(approx. as
at Nov 2022): Pint of Domestic Beer £5.17, G&T £8.61
Cheapest Restaurants/Cafes (approx. as at Oct 2022): Transilvania Barcelona, C/ de Provenca. 99, 08029 Barcelona (Eastern European); Casa Xef, Carrer de les Guilleries, 17. 08012, Barcelona (Mediterranean); Kangam, Carrer de Jaume Roig. 8, 08028, Barcelona (Korean); Palomino, Carrer d’Andrea Doria.37, 08003, Barcelona (Catalan) Top Attractions: Sagrada Familia cathedral, Picasso Museum, Harbour cable car, Casa Mila
Sangria, Tapas, and Gaudi......
The travelling Tartan Armada will be heading to sunny Spain in September so the weather should be comfortable for the travelling support. At the time of writing this article, the Spanish have had an incredible start to their World Cup campaign winning 7-0 against Costa Rica. I know after their first game, many of the Tartan Army fans took to social media, including me, to air their thoughts about playing Spain next March.
Striker Ansu Fati has scored 5 goals across 10 appearances for Barcelona as well as Alvaro Morata who has scored 5 goals in 14 games for Atletico Madrid; Ferran Torres is also dangerous around the box. The Scottish question on everyone’s lips is will our regular EPL defenders such as Robbo, KT, McKenna, and Hickey be able to keep on top of these talented goal hungry footballers?
Since the draw took place in October, there are several logistics of where this Spanish away game will take place and it has been up for discussion on social media with Tartan Army fans.
It is currently the toughest European destination to book any travel for until the venue for the game has been confirmed. Tartan Army fans could be looking at anywhere in the country such as Alicante/Valencia/Madrid/Malaga/ Barcelona to name a few locations.
Museum, Viking Ship National Gallery
Museum,
The Scotland squad and the Tartan Army will head out in early September to the sunny island of Cyprus. Like Spain, Cyprus is another European destination where it is a bit of a challenge to book flights and accommodation until the venue of the game has been confirmed. Last time Scotland travelled to Cyprus in
So, for now, we will opt for Barcelona in the hope that we might get something that is easy to travel directly from the UK given that low-cost airlines fly regularly from Scotland to most destinations in Spain.
CYPRUS
Some of the cities that the Tartan Army have visited do not usually come equipped with sandy beaches, but that is one of many wonderful things about Barcelona so let us hope that the Spanish FA provide us with a great location.
The relatively mild weather during the year is another reason that Barcelona could be popular, and we cannot forget
Island of Aphrodite, Halloumi and Othello’s Tower
05

046
Nov 2019, the game will be remembered by fans who travelled to Nicosia. Goals by John McGinn and Ryan Christie secured a 2-1 over Cyprus in our penultimate Euro 2020 qualifier and advanced us towards a successful Euro 2020 qualification campaign.
Cyprus are currently ranked at 110th in the FIFA World Cup rankings and on paper, should be an easy win for us. However, as we know from past tournaments, it can be the smaller nations who can cause us headaches. On a positive note, Scotland have won all six of their previous meetings with Cyprus in all competitions, scoring 24 goals in the process.
Nicosia, the capital of the island of Cyprus, has incorporated elements of the many empires and kingdoms that have claimed it over centuries stretching back to the Bronze Age. Narrow winding streets lead visitors from the Cyprus Museum, with its collection of Neolithic and Roman artifacts, to the thick city wall. Built in the 1600s by the Venetians, the wall now divides the ancient part of the city from the modern. Step through the stone gates and enter a place where the past is still alive.
Nicosia Old Town is the ideal option of you are in the mood for bar/pub crawling. There are several choices within walking distance, so you can choose to spend your evening in one place or...four!
Currency: EURO
Transport:
Transport Prices in Nicosia (single leg prices approx.as at Nov 2022): Bus routes available connecting Limassol to Larnaca, Paphos or Nicosia 1 day unlimited fare £4.30, taxis provide connection between all major towns of Cyprus (Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos) average fare £68, airport shuttle buses under Limassol Urban Buses Company can transfer from Limassol to Larnaca or Paphos Airport £9 Scottish Bars: None
Top Bars:
Lost+Found Drinkery, Leoforos Vyronos 38, Nicosia 1096; Brewfellas Beer Bar, Pigmalionos 7, Nicosia 1010; Plato’s Bar, 8, Platonos Street - Old Nicosia (near Laiki Yeitonia)
Cheapest Bar:
(approx. as at Nov 2022): Nicosia, Backstage Cocktail Bar, Kennedy Ave. 12-14, Nicosia; Ipub Nicosia, Metochiou 25, Agios Andreas, Nicosia; Papa Bar Nicosia, Uray Sokak 71, Surlariçi, Lefkosa Average cost of drinks:
(approx. as at Nov 2022): Pint of Domestic Beer £3.06, G&T £7.67
Cheapest Restaurants/Cafes:
(approx. as at Oct 2022): Piatsa Gourounaki, Faneromenis 92, Nicosia 1011(Mediterranean/Barbeque); To Anamma, 89 Ledra Street, Nicosia 1011 (Mediterranean/Barbeque); Evroulla, Stoa Klollaro, Nicosia (Mediterranean/ Barbeque); Elysian Plant Based Kitchen Bar, Diagorou 15 Shop 3, Nicosia 1097 (Café/Fast Food/International)
Top Attractions:
Cyprus Museum, Buyuk Han, Ledra Street Crossing Point, Pivo Microbrewery
GEORGIA
Currency: Georgian Lari
Transport Prices in Tbilisi (single leg prices approx.as at Nov 2022): Taxi to/from airport city centre £18.24, Municipal Bus 1 day pass £0.91, Train to/from airport to city centre £0.15 Scottish Bars: None
Top Bars:
Maemani, Bambis Rigi 12 Old Tbilisi, Tbilisi 0105; SMA Craft Beer Bar, Asatiani Lado st 48, Tbilisi 0105; Terrace on Doki Street, 7 Doki Turn, Tbilisi 0102 Cheapest Bar:
(approx. as at Nov 2022): Divino, 9/11 Samgebro St., Tbilisi 0105; Canudos Ethnic Bar, Samaia Sq., Zoestan, V. Beridze St. 5
Average cost of drinks:
(approx. as at Nov 2022): Pint of Domestic Beer £2.73, G&T £6.98 Cheapest Restaurants/Cafes: (approx. as at Oct 2022): Divino, 9/11 Samgebro St, Tbilisi 0105 (Georgian snacks); Bread & Wine, Merab Kostava St. 3, Tbilisi 0108 (Georgian); Nikolozi, Anton Katalikosi St.,34, Tbilisi 0105 (Georgian/Healthy); Melograno, Chichinadze Zakarias St. Near Parliament of Georgia, Tbilisi 0108 (Italian/Central European/Georgian); Café Palermo, Ketevan Tsamebulis Ave. 11, Tbilisi 0103
Top Attractions:
Old Town (Altstadt), Aerial Tramway, Tsminda Sameba Cathedral, Narikala Fortress.
Khachapuri, Kakheti Wine and Kura River Rafting......
Georgia are currently ranked 86th in the FIFA world rankings and the Tbilisi trail has been well trodden by the Tartan Army over the years. Scotland have played against Georgia in the Euro 2008 playoffs, losing 2-0 in 2007. Scotland were drawn yet again with Georgia for the Euro 2016 playoffs and were beaten 1-0 in Tbilisi in 2015. We returned the favour by beating Georgia at home 2-1 in 2007 and then 1-0 in 2014.
One of the current standout Georgian players is Khvicha Kvaratskhelia or as he is known by his nickname “Kvaradona”. Dubbed the Georgian Messi, Kvaratskhelia is currently with Napoli scoring 5 times in 8 games as well as providing 2 assists. The 21-year- old has been capped 17 times by his country and scored eight goals. Tbilisi will be an interesting city to go back to, for Scotland squad to play at the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena and visiting Tartan Army fans to hopefully scoop up away tickets to this large capacity stadium.
Come and say hello during Euro 2023......
To all the Scotland squad and Tartan Army fans, please do come up and say hello to me as it will be great to meet as many of you as I can; I always wear my home/away personalised top HAZEGUILDER 09.
I will be working hard to cover all the games both home and away in 2023 for the FTAM. I will be taking pictures of all of teams’ action/tartan army fan interactions/venues/locations/ travel as well as covering all of this in forthcoming articles for this amazing and insightful magazine.
If you want to know the total number of miles that one Tartan Army fan will cover in 2023 over 4 European away games, it is 12,406 miles! No matter how you all get to the away games by any means, safe travels everyone and see you all on that exciting European football roadshow in 2023!
A useful fact......
Tbilisi is one of the oldest capitals in Europe and is straight from the pages of a Gothic fairy-tale. The name of the city is first mentioned in Georgian books from 4th century however it was not a capital then but a fortified city.
A deep valley forms the backdrop to brightly coloured turrets, cobblestoned streets, and a burgeoning art scene, while warm Georgian hospitality permeates the mix of contemporary and traditional restaurants serving up local favourites
Convenient geographical conditions have contributed to the development of Tbilisi turning it into a prominent hub between Europe and Asia. Tbilisi became the capital of Soviet Georgia for more than 70 years but finally managed to break free from the Soviet Union in 1991 after a couple of years of violent demonstrations.

“Scottish Football needs to open the door
and let progress in.” Henry McLeish March 2021
Join YOUR only independent national body of fans today and lets #GetTheBallRolling
By fans, for fans.
The Scottish Football Supporters Association. 76,000 members strong
and working for fans every day.
Sign up for FREE at: www.scottishfsa.org/reclaimthegame/

SCOTLAND WOMEN’S
NATIONAL TEAM
REVIEW BY
JOHN BLEASDALE
2022 has been a transitional year for the Scotland Women’s National Team, and one that ultimately ended with the disappointment and heartache of failing to qualify for the 2023 World Cup.
Defeat by Republic of Ireland at Hampden in the UEFA playoff final ended our hopes of reaching the finals in Australia and New Zealand next summer. It means that it is now two consecutive tournaments that Scotland have missed out on after watching the recent European Championship finals in England with envy at a tournament that broke all sorts of crowd records.
The disappointment was etched over the faces of captain Rachel Corsie and goalkeeper Lee Gibson as they entered the media centre at the National Stadium to do their post-match duties for press and broadcast media. Journalists and reporters knew that they both wanted to be a million miles away from us that night with emotions still raw, and they both were honest as ever as no excuses were offered to cover up what happened on the pitch.
“Everyone’s devastated” said Corsie, “probably more devastated because we don’t feel, tonight, we performed at a level to give us an opportunity to win the game. Credit to Ireland, they made it difficult, but they didn’t do anything that we hadn’t prepared for. Sometimes games like that can become difficult though when you just don’t feel like you can quite get into a rhythm early on.”
Having been watching the delayed Women’s Euro’s that summer following a collapse of their own qualifying campaign, the girls were even more devastated this time around at missing out on consecutive World Cup Finals appearances. This is emphasised by Gibson who, when asked how the Ireland defeat felt in comparison to missing out on the Euro’s, said: “I think it’s worse! You can compare them to an extent, but we put ourselves in a really good place by beating Austria, who were higher seeds, but when you play home nation teams it’s always difficult. It’s always a battle, and we were second best in a lot of areas today, and ultimately we just weren’t good enough.”
It was a sucker-punch for the Scotland Women’s National Team, who were beginning to show signs of progression under Head Coach Pedro Martinez Losa. The calendar year did get off to a difficult start as Losa took his side to compete in the Pinatar Cup in Spain, a competition they won in 2020 just before the pandemic hit. Defeat to Wales by a 3-1 score line ended hopes of retaining the trophy, but a 2-0 win over Slovakia and a penalty shootout win over Hungary after a goalless 90 minutes ensured a fifth placed finish. More importantly though, the camp gave Losa the chance to work more closely with his players and get his ideas across on how he wants his team to play. From that moment, the players began buying into his philosophy.
A 2-0 defeat to runaway group winners Spain at Hampden in April saw lots of positives in spite of the score line, especially the fact Scotland were far more competitive than the 8-0 humiliation to the Spaniards five months earlier. They took those
08

positives into the rearranged fixture with Ukraine, played in Rzeszow, Poland due to the ongoing invasion by Russia, in June and quickly sewed up the game in 42 first half minutes with a Caroline Weir penalty, an Erin Cuthbert strike and two headers from Martha Thomas securing a resounding 4-0 win. The victory also secured Scotland’s place in the World Cup playoffs.
Next up was a friendly in Netherlands in preparation for the playoffs. Scotland performed well against the then sixth best side in the FIFA World Rankings, recovering from the loss of an early goal to equalise through Claire Emslie, before going down to an 89th minute winner from Fenna Kalma. Four days later, Scotland ended their qualifying campaign with a resounding 6-0 win in the Faroe Islands thanks to goals from Nicola Docherty, Weir, Cuthbert, Thomas, Corsie and Jen Beattie, boosting confidence further going into the playoffs.
The girls were given a tough Semi Final draw in Euro’s quarter finalists Austria, albeit with home advantage. A tight game went into extra time where, two minutes in, Abi Harrison headed home a Cuthbert corner from around four yards, sending the Scots into the Final against the Irish. Pre- kickoff, all talk was about the permutations for Scotland to reach the finals and avoid another playoff scenario in New Zealand in February, with Portugal’s 4-1 win over Iceland and one of the other two Semi Finals meaning we required a three goal win to advance.
In the end, a disappointing night, starting off with Weir’s early missed penalty and rounded off with Amber Barrett’s winner 18 minutes from time, it meant that Ireland, managed by ex-Scotland Women’s boss Vera Pauw, advanced to the finals. It was a
Rachael Corsie
bitter blow for the Scotland Women’s National Team, especially after the elation of the Austrian result that raised hopes and expectations that we would be looking forward to seeing them at the World Cup Finals down under in July next year.
The rebuild for the inaugural Women’s Nations League and Euro 2025 qualifying campaign, where the host nation(s) will be named in January, has already began as Losa took his side to his homeland in November for two friendlies to round off the calendar year. Firstly, an Under 23’s international in Jerez saw goals from Harrison and Jenna Clark secure a 2-0 win over Panama. Clark’s namesake Kelly was
Lee Gibson
then on target in the full international victory against Venezuela in Cadiz two days later, with Emslie adding a second in a 2-1 win to round off 2022.
Despite the ultimate disappointment of failing to qualify for a second consecutive tournament, there is optimism that the Scotland Women’s National Team can learn from these heartbreaks and qualify for the Euro 2025 Finals. The fact that a record crowd for a competitive international was broken three times in 2022 emphasises that the general public are buying into what the group are trying to achieve, and the hope is that crowds continue to descend on the new home of Hampden Park to create new memories for the Scotland National Team as a whole.
Even in the aftermath of that playoff heartache, Head Coach Pedro Martinez Losa was positive about the future for the girls. He said: “The next opportunity we have that isn’t far is the Euros, and the sooner we can start qualification the better. I think this group has come so far and doing a lot of things well, and we see ourselves coming back, recovering individuals and making sure everybody can stick together and continue this journey and be competitive at this level for the next tournament.”
Let’s hope the Scotland Women’s National Team can put the disappointment of recent campaigns behind them and use it as motivation to move forward and reach the next major tournament. With quality such as Caroline Weir, Erin Cuthbert and co leading the way, there’s every reason to be positive about the forthcoming campaign.
09

Image: Hampden Football Museum
SCOTLAND MEN’S INTERNATIONAL
ROLL OF HONOUR
GEORGE YOUNG by Alistair Aird
In a new series for the
Famous Tartan Army
Magazine, Alistair Aird
looks at the international
careers of each player
currently on the International
Roll of Honour. The first player to be featured is George Young, who was also inducted into The Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2005.
Representing your country is said to be the pinnacle of any professional footballer’s career. Being selected is recognition that your performances at club level are of a sufficiently high enough standard that the manager of
the national team deems you to be one of the best.
Winning a single cap for your country is a proud achievement, but to win in excess of 50 elevates you into a pantheon of great players. And for Scottish players it grants you a gold medal, an invite to attend every Scotland home match, and a place on the International Roll of Honour. There’s also the small matter of having your portrait hung in the Scottish Football Museum.
The roll of honour was launched by the SFA in February 1988. At that point only 11 players had been capped
50 times or more by Scotland. The first to reach the half century was the Rangers defender George Young on 7 November 1956. Since then, a further 23 have been added, the latest being John McGinn who picked up cap number 50 on 24 September 2022 against the Republic of Ireland.
Born in Grangemouth on 27 October 1922, George Lewis Young was a colossus. He played as a centre-half in the old 2-3-5 formation (two full backs, a right half, centre half, left half and five forwards), although over the years he would also play at right-back too. In his pomp he stood 6ft 2in tall
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Continued
and weighed 15 stone making him a formidable figure.
Young started his career with Kirkintilloch Rob Roy where he came to the attention of Rangers. He signed as a professional at Ibrox in 1941, making his debut in Southern League match against Hamilton Accies on 8 November.
By the end of World War II, Young was a fixture in the Rangers first team, forming an integral part of the redoubtable ‘Iron Curtain’ defensive line that would be the bedrock of the success that the Light Blues enjoyed in that era. Young was part of the Rangers side that won the first-ever domestic Treble in season 1948/49 – he scored twice from the penalty spot in the Scottish Cup Final against Clyde – and he would win six league titles, four Scottish Cups, and two League Cups during his time at Ibrox.
But Young wasn’t just decorated at club level, he earned recognition at international level too.
On 27 November 1946 Young was part of the Scotland XI that drew 0-0 against Northern Ireland in a British Championship match at Hampden Park. David Shaw, brother of Young’s Rangers team-mate Jock – captained the side, an honour that Young would have in 48 of the 54 appearances he made for Scotland.
Although that was Young’s first ‘full’ cap, he had made history six months earlier when he was the first player to come on as substitute for Scotland. The Scots had played Switzerland in a Victory International in front of 111,899 at Hampden, and Young had come on to replace Morton’s Billy Campbell at right-half. Although it would be the 1960’s before substitutions became the norm in Scottish Football, in friendly international matches they were permitted by prior agreement. The match was initially classified as unofficial, but the status was later changed. Scotland won 3-1.
In April 1947, Young faced England for the first time. Willie Woodburn wore the number five jersey, so Young moved to right-back where his direct opponent was Willie Mullen of Wolverhampton Wanderers. According to the ‘Football Correspondent’ reporting in the Glasgow Herald, Young ‘was often beaten for speed by Mullen, but at close quarters he was the master.’ Young also featured in a couple of friendlies before the end of that
season, a 2-1 defeat in Belgium and a 6-0 win in Luxembourg. In the latter the match ball was introduced in a somewhat unorthodox manner. It was to be dropped into the heart of the pitch at the Stade Municipal De La Ville De Differdange from low-flying aircraft! Thanks to precision aiming the ball landed some three feet from its intended target – the centre spot - and bounced high into the air. But the force of the impact rendered the ball useless, and not long after the match kicked off, a replacement had to be sought.
Five months later, Young played in the opening match of the Home International Championship in season 1947/48 - a 2-0 defeat against Northern Ireland in Belfast – but didn’t make the XI for the second, a 2-1 loss against Wales at Hampden. But Young’s absence would only be temporary. Indeed, between 10 April 1948 and 4 November 1953, he played in each of the 34 internationals Scotland contested.
In the first match of that spell, Young skippered his country for the first time, goals from Tom Finney and Stan Mortensen earning England a 2-0 win at Hampden. England went on to win the British Championship, but Young and his team exacted revenge a year later.
Wins over Wales and Northern Ireland set up a title decider at Wembley on 9 April 1949. Scotland won 3-1 thanks to goals from Jimmy Mason, Billy Steel and Lawrie Reilly, but the success was also built on defending that was ‘courageous’ and ‘skilful’. Those were the words of the Glasgow Herald’s ‘football correspondent’ and he singled out Jimmy Cowan for his superb performance in goal, while also stating that Young had ‘reduced [Tom] Finney’s reputation to an almost unbelievably low level.’ Young’s club mates, Willie Woodburn and Sammy Cox, drew praise too.
Recalling the match in his 1958 memoir George Young Talks Football, Young reckoned it was ‘Scotland’s greatest triumph’ and called it ‘a glorious hour for Scottish football’. The plan was to stifle the threat of Stanley Matthews and that was achieved by stationing Sammy Cox at left-back. Cox had been an integral part of Rangers’ Treble-winning season, playing in 43 of the 44 matches the Light Blues played. All but one of those appearances had come at left-half. But he had prior knowledge of Matthews, having
played both with and against him in Services matches during the war.
That helped the players hatch a plan to nullify Matthews. Cox reckoned that the Scots needed to limit the number of passes Stanley received. He also knew that he liked the ball played straight at him instead of in front of him, so Sammy made up his mind to be quick into the tackle before Matthews could gain control of the ball.
With the threat of England’s ball-playing centre-half, Neil Franklin, also nullified by Scotland’s number nine, Billy Houliston, the half-time score was England 0, Scotland 3. Cowan was eventually beaten in the second half when Jackie Milburn deflected a Stan Mortensen shot into the net. But the spoils of victory deservedly went to Scotland.
That campaign was also the first in which Young would carry his lucky champagne cork. After Rangers had beaten Morton to win the Scottish Cup in 1948, a waiter had handed Young the cork that had popped out of the first bottle of champagne that had been used to fill the cup. He told Young to ‘keep it for good luck – and let’s hope it brings the [British] International Championship next season.’
For the first fixture at Ninian Park, the cork was thrust inside Young’s blazer pocket. And before the players took to the field, he touched it for luck. Scotland won the match 3-1, but they had enjoyed a fortunate break in the encounter. With Scotland two goals ahead, Willie Waddell thumped a shot towards goal that the Welsh goalkeeper, Cyril Sidlow, couldn’t
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hold. The linesman signalled that the ball had crossed the line and a goal was awarded. But analysis of photographs post-match showed that Sidlow had actually grasped hold of the ball some two yards ahead of the goal line. Luck had favoured the Scots, and Young later stated that ‘my ‘lucky champagne cork’ had made good at the first time of asking!’
The victory was Scotland’s first in Wales for 17 years and the first post- war win over any of the home nations, so it was no surprise that Young took the cork into the dressing room with him for the second match against Northern Ireland at Hampden Park. Once again, he touched it before he took to the field, but this time it looked like the magic had worn off. The Irish were 2-0 up after only five minutes thanks to a double from D. J Walsh of West Bromwich Albion, and although parity was restored, the teams were still locked together at 2-2 going into the final minute of the game. But at that moment, Billy Houliston stepped up and scored the winning goal. The waiter’s dream that the cork would give the necessary fortune to deliver the British Championship would soon become reality. And from that moment on, George Young would carry with him his cork and the moniker ‘Corky’.
When it came to the British Championship in season 1949/50 there was an added incentive for the participating teams. FIFA had stated that the teams that finished first and second would qualify for the 1950 World Cup in Brazil. The competition had first started some 20 years earlier, but this would be the one that was held since the cessation of hostilities at the end of World War II.
Neither Scotland nor England had played in any of the three tournaments contested, and Scotland got off to a flying start in their quest to qualify, thumping Northern Ireland 8-2 and then beating Wales 2-0. With England also emphatically defeating the Irish, winning 9-2 at Wembley, and beating Wales 4-1 in Cardiff, it seemed that it was a done deal; England and Scotland were off to Brazil.
Alas, the SFA and their secretary, Sir George Graham, had decreed that Scotland would only take up a place if they won the group. To achieve that they needed at least a draw against England at Hampden on 15 April 1950. But a goal from Roy Bentley secured a 1-0 win and the Championship for England. For
George Young, who is said to have acquitted himself well against the pace of Bob Langton, it wouldn’t be the last time that bureaucracy would deny him the opportunity to lead his country at a World Cup Finals either. On this occasion, the Scotland skipper tried his best to convince the top brass to reverse their decision. His pleas fell on deaf ears. In his opinion the SFA had ‘erred’ and later noted that the ‘decision of the Scottish F.A not to play in the 1950 World Cup Finals has gone down as a miserable moment for me’. Young was convinced that had they gone to Brazil, Scotland would have put on a ‘good show, and just as important, everyone who made the trip would have returned home a better and more experienced player.’ Young’s next cap came in a 3-1 win against Switzerland at Hampden. But it was the previous encounter between the sides back in May 1948 that stimulated some rather bizarre memories. Young recalled that the referee for the friendly match in Berne seemed to be in favour of the home side, and this was proven when after Switzerland scored, he ‘leapt into the air, waving his arms, and then rushed over to the goalscorer and shook him by the hand.’ The host won 2-1.
Young’s run of consecutive appearances eventually ended when torn knee muscles ruled him out of a 4-2 defeat against England at Hampden in April 1954. He now faced a race against time to be fit for the World Cup.
Scotland had qualified for the tournament after finishing as runners-up to England in the British Championship – the SFA decided on this occasion that they would take the place in Switzerland - but in the end it wouldn’t be injury that would rule Young out. He managed to regain fitness, but rather than captain his country at the World Cup, Young’s close season was spent playing games in North America with Rangers.
There were rumours that the Ibrox side refused to release any of their players to play for Scotland, but in the previously referenced 1958 memoir, Young felt he had been overlooked by the selectors as they had doubts over his fitness. The fact that Young played in each of the nine matches Rangers played on their tour suggests that those misgivings were incorrect. Young came back into the team for the first match that followed a dismal World Cup campaign – Scotland lost 1-0 to Austria and were hammered 7-0
by Uruguay – and would miss just four of the next 18 international matches Scotland contested.
That run of games would include the qualifying matches for the 1958 World Cup in Sweden. Would it therefore be third time lucky for Young? Would he get the opportunity to end a glittering career by representing his country on the biggest stage of them all? Alas, the selectors would once again intervene and deny Young.
The qualification pathway had changed since the previous World Cup. Rather than getting in via the British Championship, Scotland and the other 26 teams in Europe were split into nine groups, each of which contained three teams. Countries would play each other home and away, with the group winners automatically making it through to the main draw.
Scotland were bracketed in Group 9 alongside Spain and Switzerland, and they got off to a flying start against the Spaniards at Hampden. Jackie Mudie would be the star of the show, netting a hat-trick in a 4-2 win, but in the opinion of the Gair Henderson of the Evening Times, Young, up against Alfredo di Stefano, played ‘one of the great games of his career.’
A trip to Basle came next to face Switzerland. Although he didn’t know it at the time, it would be the last time George Young would pull on a Scotland jersey.
Young recalled the match as being ‘one of the hardest internationals in which I’d ever taken part.’ It was a
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tactical battle, with the Swiss enjoying early supremacy thanks to their two pacy wingers. They took the lead after 13 minutes, but Young then stepped in to make some tactical changes, instructing the two half-backs, Ian McColl, and Tommy Docherty, to step inside and look after the threat posed by the inside forwards, while the full- backs, Eric Caldow and John Hewie, were told to ‘keep on the toes of the wingers.’ It worked like a charm, Scotland scoring twice to edge the game by two goals to one.
But Young was struggling. He had suffered a groin strain against Spain, and although he was fit to play in Switzerland after receiving treatment from the former Third Lanark trainer, Peter Russell, he felt twinges during the game.
The next qualifying fixture for the Scots would be the return match with Spain in Madrid. Young desperately wanted to skipper the side and knew with a period of rest he would be fit to take his place at the heart of the defence. En-route to Madrid, Scotland arranged to play West Germany, the reigning World Champions, in a friendly match. In a bid to ensure he was fully fit for the vital clash with Spain, Young suggested that it would perhaps be best if he rested his injured groin and missed the friendly. This decision was not well received by the SFA selectors, and over the next few days decisions were made that would result in a rather ignominious end to George Young’s Scotland career.
Young takes up the story:
After we arrived in Spain and settled down into our quarters, too, I began to hear from friends that it was generally accepted that I would not be in the line-up against Spain.
Experience has taught me prudence in such matters, of course, but on the Saturday morning the team was due to be chosen I had a humiliating experience which, frankly, I will never forget’
Young joined his team-mates to hear the chairman of the selection committee announce the starting XI. During the meeting, Tommy Docherty was asked to gather players together for a photograph. This role would usually be something a captain would perform, and it was at that stage that Young knew his international career was over.
A training session followed, and after the team returned to the hotel for lunch, Young heard from some journalists
that he was being omitted. That was confirmed shortly afterwards when the chairman of the selectors came to the table around which the players were assembled and announced the team. Bobby Evans would be at centre-half, Tommy Docherty would be captain, and without reason or rationale, George Young would be dropped.
He later reflected:
It would not have cost the selectors anything to have called me on one side and explained that they were keeping together the team that had beaten Germany the previous Wednesday. They might even have taken the angle – as other associations have done for old servants – that I wasn’t considered quite fit enough. In fact, I would have been right with them. Instead, I was literally tossed overboard, stripped of my captaincy, and from no official was there a word of sympathy or explanation.
Young had been bruised and battered during his career. He had broken his nose three times, had stitches inserted in wounds on various parts of his body, and had his leg encased in plaster in four occasions. But he said that the treatment of the selectors hurt him more than any of them.
It was a poor way to bring the curtain down on a wonderful international career. The first player to be capped 50 times for Scotland should surely have
been afforded the opportunity to part on his terms. There were rumours that Young had declared that the match in the Spanish capital would have been his last as a professional footballer and that statement is said to have irked the selectors. Young refuted that, though. He simply acknowledged that there were some officials in the SFA hierarchy that he was never popular with.
George Young’s Scotland career was therefore bookended with appearances against Switzerland. If you include that appearance as a substitute in the Victory International against the Swiss, George was capped 54 times by Scotland. Scotland won 29 of those matches, drew 11, and lost 14. He captained his country on 48 occasions, a total that is unsurpassed. Billy Bremner is next on the list, with 39 of his 54 caps coming as skipper of Scotland. And when you also consider that Young was capped 22 times by the Scottish League – only Bobby Evans (25) won more caps than him - then his place in the pantheon of great Scottish footballers is secure.
Young retired from playing at the end of season 1956/57. He managed Third Lanark for a spell before becoming a successful hotelier. He passed away on 10 January 1997 at the age of 74.
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ELSIE COOK
Elsie was joint founder and honorary secretary of
Scottish Women’s Football Association in 1972.
She went on to manage the Scotland Women’s Team in 1974.
Elsie writes here for Famous Tartan Army Magazine in her own unique Ayrshire way....
Pelé 1966
This was to be a huge highlight in my life,
I was meeting the one and only Edson Arantes Do Nascimento aka PELÉ! I’d held this name in ma heart since 1958! During this period in the mid 60s I was employed by Robt Mackie & Co, a “bonnet’ manufacturer supplying Glengarry’s and Balmoral headgear etc to the Scottish army regiments, and, in those 60s days, the obligatory tartan tammies, for Scots fans going to football matches at Hampden and Wembley!
I had a go at everything from making the pom poms, darning, winding, looking
efter the stock, even had a go at designing when striped woollen mini dresses came intae fashion..but ma favourite job was working on the huge, noisy, warp machines that produced the tartan tammies and imagining aw the Scotland fans trooping tae Wembley in a bunnet I had knitted! The warp machines were so noisy and busy, so busy, but I loved it, learning aw the different tartans! I had ma wee corner in the room decorated wae photos of ma Killie ‘65 legends, and I was happy!
I thought I would apply for a job, a waitress, a receptionist, a short time job, in the
hotel they were booked into, the Marine Hotel in Troon! Time for that was against me so, instead, I talked my workmate and friend, Pat Alcock, into accompanying me to Troon to see the greatest player on the planet...Pat was not into football, but she tolerated my enthusiasm and agreed, “OK! You’re on!” We begged 2 dozen tartan tammies from the boss, the lovely Drew
McCrae, brother of Killie trainer, Walter, and a football fan, he heard us out, laughed at our “daftness” and gave us two dozen of the best tammies...OOFT!
Never slept that night for dreaming of meeting the world’s top player, PELÉ!
A well, two bus rides later, we arrived
at the hotel in Troon and there on the skyline in front of us, in the afternoon sunshine, on the edge of the world famous golf course, was the towering Marine Hotel! I can feel the anticipation, the excitement to this day! Tentatively we strolled forward to the front door and a fit of giggles overtook us, nervous giggling...they would either accept our gift, a tribute to their greatness, a small Scottish souvenir, or they would send
We approached an imposing, tall, serious looking, coloured gentleman wearing a Brazilian badge on his blazer, he turned out to be Dr Hilton Gosling, team doctor and through an interpreter we managed to convey the nature of our visit!
us packing! Nothing ventured, nothing gained! We rushed in where men would never dare to tread!
I felt like running away...there was too much emotion! Out they came Garrincha, Gilmar, Gerson, Tostao, Edu...Djalma Santos..I was getting more and more nervous...I couldn’t see PELÉ...OMG here he was, right in front of me, breathing the same air as me...with a smile to beat all smiles. The realisation that I was about to meet the one and only Pelé was too much for me and I burst into tears..I burst into tears?
Concerned, he held me by my shoulders and kissed my cheek, upset that I was crying! Oh! Dear! I turned to Pat...oh! heavens above! Pat was crying as well and she didnae like football!! Pelé never once stopped smiling, surely Pelé must be the most cheerful and modest footballer in the business.
He jokingly tried his tammie on and we had a photograph taken on the hotel steps..he never stopped laughing and smiling and shaking our hands and
My lifelong ambition to meet PELÉ, of Santos and Brazil, the world’s greatest ever football player was to be realised big style! I had presented tartan tammies to lots of foreign teams, Eintracht, Real Madrid, Nandori Tirana, the Saudi
youth team, even the Russian president, Kosygin, but this was a day I would remember all my life and the reception given us by the Brazil team was overwhelming to say the least!
We were rather overawed by the imposing, luxurious hotel confronting us and more so by the number of important looking men hanging about the entrance! Deep breath, here we go!
Immediately he took tae us twa giggly lassies and we were given VIP treatment and ushered inside by manager, Vincent Feola who, laughingly, ordered us to stay put and not to look so scared! The players were just finishing their meal...my knees were wobbling, my mouth was dry....While he went to look for God!
50 years on, Elsie catches up with Pelé
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thanking us, until he was ordered, jokingly, aboard the team bus. When Dr Hilton Gosling found out that we didn’t have tickets for the match at Hampden he handed us complementary tickets for the stand and wouldn’t hear of us going by local bus to Hampden Park, “Oh! No! You must come with us!” so there we were, twa daft young lassies from Stewarton, travelling to Glasgow in the Brazil bus, police escort and everything.
Jimmy, a talented football player and goal scorer wae Stewarton, asked if he could come along with me and my friend Sue! “Of course you can son!” What
an adventure awaited us in Liverpool..
if we thought the Troon adventure was memorable..well, this, to come, eclipsed even that!
World Cup 1966
We found ourselves in the huge city of Liverpool, ma faither was a Liverpudlian and by pure chance or luck, baith, in fact, ma grandparents were on holiday in Stewarton staying at oor hoose.....noo ma English granny was a very outspoken Yorkshire wummin, a spade was a shovel kinda thing, she wis aye oan at me for ma “Dusty Springfield” false eyelashes and ma shorter than short miniskirt!
She astounded me that morning as we were getting organised tae leave..she looked me up and doon wae that stern ‘you’re in for it’ luk...and handed me her hoose keys...her HOOSE KEYS..for Cecil Road, Seaforth, LIVERPOOL!! Saints be praised we were off tae the ‘Pool! Whit a kind gesture fae ma lovely English granny!
Found granny’s hoose in Seaforth and settled in..it was great tae be back
in Liverpool, especially under these surprising conditions....now for a bus trip to Lymm in Cheshire where we had heard the Brazil team were staying. An adventure!
We find the Hotel and the place was cordoned off by police! Hundreds of football fans already there, all waiting
in anticipation of the players coming out for training. There was movement at the door..the crowd of hundreds of likeminded fans, pushing forward taking us with it..the police pushing us back.... Lo! And behold, the KING, Pelé! We pushed forward some more and young Jimmy, holding aloft a Buchanan tartan Tammy, breaches the cordon and makes for the one and only, the best football player on the planet...Edson Arantes do Nascimento..”our” Pelé!
A gruff policeman grabs young Jimmy by the shoulder and starts hawling
him back into the crowd, when lo and behold, the voice, “THE” VOICE shouts out, “These my friends from Scotland!” and he took the policeman’s hand gently from young Jimmy’s shoulder. PELÉ! Amidst the melee...HE had spotted US! We felt famous, honoured, Pelé had remembered us and recognised us in this jostling crowd!
Huge beaming smile, a gigantic grin...”Come in, come in...” blooming heck, he was inviting us in to meet the players...poor young and football daft, Jimmy, was not allowed into the bar..wee soul had to wait in the lounge while Pelé himself introduced us to all the Brazil squad and “this is Garrincha, Gerson, Djalma Santos, Jairzhino, Tostao, Gilmar, Alcindu, Edu, Bellini, Lima, Altair!”
etc never even thought to get their autographs...or even photographs!
We were very undecided which of the two teams to shout for, so we decided Brazil first half, Scotland second half...we were sitting in the “posh” seats beside wee Tam McLean and Billy Dickson, oor Killie heroes and lots of other famous faces. The game was nothing to write home about, a cracking Stevie Chalmers goal
if I remember correctly, but ma clearest memory, I jist couldnae get away wae wee Bremner kicking Pelé, every chance he got! A friendly? Ha! Game finished 1-1 but the Scottish crowd were appreciative of their world famous opponents.
We were later invited to their reception
at the Grosvenor Hotel, but declined, we would have looked right out of place in our 60s bell bottoms and platform shoes! As the team bus left Hampden Park, Pelé shouted over, “You come to Liverpool!” “Yes! we sure will!” I shouted back laughing. The Brazil team were still smiling under their tammies when they left for a tour of Sweden next day!
So there and then, I started planning our visit to Goodison Park and the World Cup matches there and hopefully more happy memories! My young 10yr old cousin,
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OMG the most exciting times in my
life and I forget to take photos and
as anyone will tell you, I take my camera, EVERYWHERE! It was jist so overwhelming, then they were all called together for a trip to Middlesbrough’s ground for a training session!
Brazil V Bulgaria
OMG our luck definitely was in! We arrived in Middlesborough at the training pitch and there they were, all sweaty and muddy and training hard.. but where was Pelé, no sight of him!
Oh! Goodness he was right in front of me, in GOALS, he was the goalkeeper! he was agile and quick as a cat, riveting to watch, the beauty of his movement and the quickness of his response to a shot! Watched for a short while but Stan then one of the Welsh boys brought
out a ball and we had a wee kick about between ourselves....”See you tomorrow at Everton!” laughed PELÉ!
That luck was still with us throughout
the two weeks, as these like minded fans took us tae watch the Hungarians training. The next game was Hungary in a coupla days and another three of my football heroes were de Stefano, Ferenc Puskas, Ghento, oh! and Santamaria...I recollected I had also met them when they came to Rugby Park, with the famous Real Madrid side and who was leading the training session that day, none other than Ferenc Puskas, the most famous Mighty Magyar of all time! We stayed behind and wished them well, had a photo taken wae Bene and Puskas and told them we were really looking forward to this meeting of Brazil and Hungary! Next day
We had an amazing time thanks tae Stan, and Evs and we aw got on so well as fitba fans the world ower dae! They had a bright red Ford Cortina, I think it was, a car all decked out wae World Cup stickers and England pennants and aw sorts of memorabilia a mix of Man Utd and Man City!
Goodison!
Well, they were up against Bulgaria, who had a reputation for being dirty and physical..but they won that game by 2-0...Pelé was tightly shadowed
and fouled, every kick of the ball! Pelé and Garrincha both scored...they were incredible together...we watched from the halfway line. Garrincha was so clever and pacy on that right wing...with his trademark...those bandy legs, his mazy runs, the fans appreciated all the skill
v Brazil..In a packed and noisy stadium, Lima hits a blasting shot early doors
from 40yds which hits the crossbar and
3 minutes later Bene moves in from right wing, clever individual play and its 1-0 to Hungary. Tostao then scores a cracker for Brazil after neat approach play fae Falcao and Henrique and we look set for a Brazilian victory. Alas we were so wrong! The Hungarian side were awesome..led by Florian Albert and Bene they were unstoppable and worthy 3-1 winners! Pelé was missed!!
on show! The atmosphere that night was incredible, an amazingly packed Goodison Park and an enjoyable start to Brazil’s World Cup.
The World Cup of ’66 really advanced the gemme of fitba for all, and that thankfully did have an impact on oor women’s gemme too!
Next up for Brazil, a must win match, were the much fancied Portuguese team with their highly thought of striker, Eusebio! Brazil manager, Vincente Feola fielded a completely changed team
for this, must win match, dropping GK Gilmar, Capt Bellini, Garrincha, Tostao, Henrique, Djalma Santos, Zito, Alcindu and Gerson to the bench. Pelé was bundled off every ball and finished off being badly injured and helped from the pitch..that is my abiding memory of that particular game! See photo attached! My dream of sharing some time with my hero was shattered, my date with Pelé was not to be! Quarter final Portugal v North Korea 5-3
Well we had jist met up wae these Welsh guys, Manchester Utd and Manchester City fans and they asked us if we wanted to go along with them to watch a Brazil training session at the Middlesborough training ground, Rockcliffe Park. Phew! How could we be so lucky?
Pelé was injured and sat this game out... sadly, he and Garrincha were never to play in the same team again...this is a must win game for Hungary or they go out...last time these two teams met was in 1954 quarter final, in what was later called “the Battle of Berne!” Hungary
Jimmy Flemming with Alcindu
16

SCOTTISH FA MARKS 150 YEARS SINCE FIRST INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL GAME
The Scottish FA on 30th November marked 150 years since the first official men’s international football game –took place between Scotland and England, at the West of Scotland Cricket Ground in Partick, Glasgow.
On St Andrew’s Day, 30 November 1872, teams representing Scotland and England took to the field in front of thousands of spectators to play out a 0-0 draw – a significant moment in the development of international football. The size of the crowd that day is uncertain, estimates range between 2,500 and 4,000. All eleven players for the Scotland team were selected from the membership of Queen’s Park FC.
Teams of schoolboys and girls from nearby Hyndland Primary School took to a specially laid pitch at the West of Scotland Cricket Ground to walk in the footsteps of history, playing out an entertaining recreation of the original match. Scotland player Craig Gordon surprised the schoolkids by joining in with the match.
Colin and Alex Taylor, great grandsons of Joseph Taylor who represented Scotland that day, attended the event alongside representatives from the Scottish FA, Scottish Football Museum and Queen’s Park. Joseph Taylor played at full-back for Scotland in the first six international matches and featured in all three of Queen’s Park’s Scottish Cup wins between 1874 to 1876.
The Scottish FA supported the efforts by the Hampden Collection group of historians, poets and volunteers to arrange the event and match recreation. Graeme Brown from the Hampden Collection teamed up with Glasgow Football Tour, to offer historical walking tours of the ‘Three Hampdens’.
Graeme has worked to uncover the historical significance of the Hampden Bowling Club as the site of the original Hampden Park, the world’s first enclosed, purpose-built international football ground. The Hampden Collection is also working to have the Bowling Club and surrounding areas recognised with UNESCO World Heritage status, and call it ‘Football’s Square Mile’.
Scottish FA Chief Executive Ian Maxwell: “It is an honour to visit the West of Scotland Cricket Ground on the 150th anniversary of the first-ever international football game, to walk in the footsteps of the first Scotland team.”
Graeme Brown from the Hampden Collection: “This original ‘Great Match’ provided the ignition switch and launchpad for the explosion of football across Glasgow and Scotland, leading to the trailblazing Scotch Professors taking their beautiful game to the world. This match is the foundation stone of modern football, and our #Fitba150 programme ensures its celebrated, and gains the recognition it deserves.”
Colin Taylor, great-grandson of Queen’s Park and Scotland’s Joseph Taylor: “Growing up in England, my dad (Joseph’s Grandson) always looked out for Queen’s Park’s results. When he passed away, I was inspired to research my family history and was amazed to discover my great grandfather’s role in such a significant moment in world football history. It is a humbling experience to stand where he did, 150 years later.”
Colin Mair, Chairman of West of Scotland Cricket Club: “West of Scotland Cricket Club has always been very conscious and extremely proud of our Hamilton Crescent ground’s heritage and its highly significant place in Scottish and world sporting history. Very few grounds anywhere can have held internationals in four different sports - cricket, football, hockey and rugby. We are delighted to welcome representatives and supporters of Scottish football to the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the first-ever football international on St Andrew’s Day.”
The milestone date was marked as part of the Scottish FA’s calendar of events celebrating 150 years of Scotland’s national game, including the founding of the Scottish FA and the first season of the Scottish Cup. The Scottish Football Museum based in
Hampden Park is currently hosting a special exhibit, ‘The History Makers’, showcasing artefacts that tell the stories of the key moments in Scotland’s football history.
The exhibit includes the only surviving match ticket from the first international football game in 1872, alongside a professionally restored embroidered lion which adorned the Scotland shirts on the day.
The exhibition also includes mementos from the Ravenscraig Pioneers, the first Scotland women’s national team, including a match programme and poster from their 1972 match against England.
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TURKEY VS SCOTLAND INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY GAME Wednesday 16th November 2022 - Diyarbakir Stadyumu
It was the longest friendly game to be arranged with numerous Turkish locations being banded around which proved frustrating for many travelling fans trying to organise flights and accommodation.
Diyarbakir, the Kurdish stronghold city, finally provided the Moorish backdrop and hosted its first ever international for the Turkish side after serious concerns over security given the problematic issues with local fans. The city is situated around a high plateau by the banks of the Tigris River on which stands the historic Diyarbakir Fortress providing a dramatic backdrop to travelling fans. Scotland finally managed to secure their final 10th game of 2022 with Turkey. Never has a friendly game had so many tartan army fans discussing the different parameters of travelling with most people flying via Istanbul or Antalya to Diyarbakir from the UK.
With neither Scotland or Turkey making it to the World Cup in Qatar, the game was a platform for both teams to kick off their preparations for EURO 2024. Many regular international players were missing from the squad such as Celtic trio Calum McGregor, Anthony Ralston and Alex Taylor who had all headed to land of down under with the club. Nathan Patterson, Che Adams and Kenny McLean also pulled out of the squad’s preparations ahead of the match as well as Aaron Hickey missing due to injury.
Steve Clarke named his starting line-up for the game in Diyarbakir with Robbo retrieving his captain’s armband from John McGinn who pulled on usual No7 jersey. Both started alongside their fellow EPL players Kieran Tierney and Scott McTominay. Also joining the Scotland EPL line-up were Stuart Armstrong, Billy Gilmour, and Ryan Fraser with Lyndon Dykes upfront. Liverpudlian based Calvin Ramsey was selected for the squad and finally made his international debut substituting Bologna’s Lewis Ferguson in the second half.
Turkey started the game strongly with Scotland barely getting a chance to settle in the cold, rainy conditions. Craig Gordon pulled off some spectacular saves to deny Hakan Calhanoglu twice. The Scotland defence was then called
into question as some of the players looked exposed at the back, particularly in clearing balls from the Turkish feet. Defender Ozan Kabak looked dangerous, and had it not been for Craig Gordon, Scotland would have been down at least 3-0 at half time.
A counterattack after Stuart Armstrong’s foul at the edge of the Turkish box saw Grant Hanley and Scott McTominay caught napping and a lack of communication between allowed Calhanoglu to produce a wonderful cross onto Kabak in the 40th minute to push the Turks in front just before half time.
Steve, looking pensive with his ferocious note taking in the dugout, decided to make some tactical changes at the start of the 2nd half with Scott McKenna coming on to replace Grant Hanley. With only 9 minutes in, Cengiz Under spotted a sliver of space through Scott’s legs to drive the ball straight through and past Craig to net Turkey’s second goal.
After such a successful September for Steve Clarke’s side from their positive run and Nations League promotion, the performance of the overall squad was nowhere near what we had witnessed previously. Just when we thought all was lost and a heavy defeat was looming, in the 61st minute, Super John McGinn took matters into his own hands and created some really dazzling displays of creativity from the halfway line. SJM managed to beat several Turkish players and drive in his excellent finish in the far-right hand corner much to the delight of the travelling support.
SJM’s goal seemed to wake up our sleepy side and the creative football that had been missing in action suddenly appeared from nowhere like a mirage in the desert. With both Scott McKenna and Lyndon Dykes both badly tackled in the penalty area, it should have been a clear penalty, however the referee dismissed any claims by Scotland. To compound matters, Jack
Hendry missed a header which bounced over the bar much to his frustration and the travelling tartan army.
The game finished with a Turkish Delight of 2-1 to the home side and a bittersweet night for John McGinn’s 51st appearance for Scotland who moves up to joint seventh in the all-time scoring charts of the national team. SJM’s tally now stands at 15 Scotland goals, the same as former Scotland attacker James McFadden; one of which we will never forget that famous goal in Paris.
Turkey (3-4-2-1): Çakir; Kabak, Söyüncü, Özkacar; Çelik, Kökçü (Özcan 45), Çalhanoglu (Türüç 69), Kadioglu (Elmali 34); Ünder (Yüksek 81), Kahveci (Aktürkoglu 81); Tosun (Ünal 69) Subs not used: Bayindir, Akaydin, Sinik, Alemdar, Bozok, Bulut, Güler, Sanuç
How the teams lined up | Match stats
Goals : Kabak 40, Under 49
Manager: Stefan Kuntz
53% of possession, 16 shots including 4 on goal, 6 corner kicks, 4 offsides and as we all saw, there were some shocking incidents on pitch resulting in 14 fouls and 2 yellow cards. Scotland (3-4-2-1): Gordon; Hendry, Hanley (McKenna 45), Tierney; Fraser (Ramsay 45), McTominay (Ferguson 79), Gilmour (Jack 67), Robertson; S Armstrong (Christie 67), McGinn; Dykes (Brown 79)
Subs not used: Kelly, Porteous, McCrorie Goals : McGinn 62
Manager: Steve Clarke
47% of possession with 9 shots including 1 on goal, 6 corner kicks, 1 offside and as tempers frayed on the pitch, 2 yellow cards.
By Hazel Guilder
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STEVE CLARKE In his own words...
www.robinson.photo
Photo by Colin Robinson Imaging
On not qualifying for The World Cup
If you’re involved in football, you understand you have to move on. It was disappointing for ourselves not to go to the World Cup.
I’msureitwasdisappointingforTurkey not to go to the World Cup. But you have to look forward to the next challenge, which is qualifying for Germany in 2024.
On playing the friendly match
versus Turkey
It was important to fit a match into the November window because going from September to March is too long without seeing the players. We’ve managed to get a good percentage of the players with us that were with us in September even though it’s not an official FIFA window.
That was important. We can speak about what we did. We’ve already touched on what we did in the last camp in September and we look to improve that.
On the situation where Celtic players were not released for international duty due to their trip to Australia
The base line is it’s not an official International window. I don’t know why because there is a World Cup going on, that sounds pretty official to me. That’s what it is. Clubs don’t have to release their players and Celtic have chosen not to release theirs for this game.
I have to say I’m disappointed by that decision but we have to take it on the chin and it’s a chance for someone else. It was just a blanket decision. Celtic have said that none of their players are available for any games. So all the countries are affected
Describing his thoughts on Scotland’s first defeat in five matches, as they went down 2-1 to Turkey.
I have mixed thoughts on the match. I thought at times we coped quite well. Obviously at other times not so well. We probably gave up too many chances in the first half, a lot of them from our own slackness, maybe the mentality of a friendly. It should be mentioned that it is a long trip to get here, we had a long flight.
We only had 20 minutes’ tactical work on the pitch the day before the game, which was in front of everybody who wanted to watch it. So we can make some excuses from that but I don’t want to make too many excuses.
There was some things we tried on the pitch, organisation and set-plays, some of it worked and some of it didn’t work so we have to go away, analyse what we did and hopefully be much better next year.
The first goal is the key goal. If we get in at half-time 0-0 we can tweak the team a little bit and do what we want to do and still be on level terms.
To defend a set-piece like that is poor, so we will make sure we try and improve on that. It’s not something that we have been culpable off recently so it is something we can address.
On John McGinn’s goal
A fantastic John McGinn goal, as he normally gets for us, and that changes the dynamic of the game. Turkey had to be a little more cautious, we had some moments but we couldn’t get the equaliser.
Commenting on Scotland’s penalty claims when Lyndon Dykes and Scott McKenna were impeded at a second half corner
When you look at the penalty incident, it was a clear penalty and why it’s not given I do not know.
On the flip side, when Stuart Armstrong went down on the edge of the box, I don’t think it was a foul and Turkey score from the counter-attack off that. I would have liked the penalty, to be honest.
On Liverpool defender Calvin Ramsay earning his first full cap.
Young Calvin gets his first cap, which is great for him and it was a tough night for him. He gave us a little bit more defensive stability. Lewis Ferguson came off the bench and was very good.
Summing up the final game of the year There are positives to be taken from the game but the overriding feeling is disappointment that the four-game unbeaten run comes to an end.
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www.robinson.photo
THE CHICK YOUNG COLUMN
Brilliant, weren’t we? Like weans not invited to your class mate’s birthday party and reacting with the old “you kidding? I would never have gone to that.”
Then the morning after they’re all talking how you missed yourself. Life can be a scunner sometimes. World cups in November in the Middle East? Stuff that for a game of soldiers.
But here it turned out kind of good. And here we were again, faces pressed against the window like skint weans outside a sweetie shop.
England baiting and smiles of consolation at their every stumble is all very well, but it’s a bag of crisps versus the deli counter.
Heroic failure is a Scottish specialty act, the rock on which our national game is built. But I’m getting a wee bit fed up with it.
We haven’t been at a World Cup since 1998 and at best that will be 28 years in the desert...or not as is the case this time.
My generation assumed we had a divine right to be there. Like membership of say, the House of Lords, where only -seemingly- a crime against humanity would get you even a yellow card.
Five in a row from 1974 to 1990 with a consequent absence to see if we liked it. Turns out we didn’t and so back we toddled for France 98. Aye, no bother, your old reporter assumed, that’ll be us back on the straight and narrow.
Typical. You bend down to accept the medal and someone boots you up the arse. They sent me to Korea in 2002, Germany in 2006 and South Africa in 2010.
But World Cups without Scotland are like making love without kissing.
I’m not getting any younger. The referee is looking at his watch. Although I’m very grateful for this new fad for eons of time added on.
I’m very happy to hang about for a bit yet. But here is the thing. For all the political aches and pains, the undoubted corruption within FIFA and their logic defying double standards, Qatar has still been magical.
It’s still the greatest sporting show on earth. It’s still a must watch.
I haven’t been able to take my eyes off it, a sad old pensioner comforted in his living room watching four games a day.
They tried to shame us, allegedly politically correct doughnuts pouring guilt all over us at the prospect of watching a World Cup.
Jeezo. I’m watching the beautiful game. Not porn. I couldn’t be bothered with it the other way round. I’m at the age now if I watched an erotic movie I’d be thinking how comfortable that bed looked.
This planet has been a shambles since - and before- the game was invented and certainly during every tournament since the World Cup’s birth in 1930.
The tournament should never have been awarded to Qatar and although I was raging about it being moved to our winter, I’ve actually come round to wondering what the fuss was all about... even if I was one of those getting well fussed.
Why shouldn’t the Middle East host it? It’s neverbeenthere. It’sacupfortheWorld as I understand it.
So why has it never been held In Australasia? But I digress.
This World Cup is kicking lumps out of our deeply depressing mid winter and we are a period of Qatar time added on away from the shortest day and a u turn springwards again.
Andthat’swithoutus. Justgonnaeno’let it happen again? Just gonnae no’?
The Tartan Army have an honours degree in partying and frankly the desert has no idea what it’s missing.
Can you imagine?
Altogether now: “Doha a deer....”
Chick Young
20

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FANS WITH MICROPHONES
Archie Macpherson
is a legend of Scottish broadcasting, known famously for presenting BBC Scotland’s Sportscene programme. Archie has commentated at six World Cups and an inductee of The Scottish Football Hall Of Fame.
‘Football was my first love. I was brought up in Shettleston Road, in the east end of Glasgow, which meant I was literally three or four minutes from Greenfield Park which was Shettleston Juniors ground. I think Greenfield Park is still there, but they are radically changed now, and the clubs been renamed Glasgow United.
I was fortunate as I saw all my early football there, or up Shettleston hill, where there were four or five pitches, and I watched a lot of games on these ash pitches. I probably saw Tommy Docherty there before I saw him at Shettleston Juniors, as he played a lot of games locally, and I did see him make his debut for Shettleston Juniors. He only played for them for about four or five games before Celtic signed him. Of all the major Scottish figures he was the first I ever saw, and that’s why he is the first chapter in my new book titled ‘Touching the Heights’ which is personal portraits of Scottish sporting greats who I had the privilege of watching live.
I had a career in education long before I had anything to do with broadcasting, although it was writing and sending off
short stories to various publications in my spare time which was my interest initially in this field. I was always interested in that side of it, and I was still playing football into my 20’s for various amateur teams, so although I was teaching full time, I hadn’t divorced myself from football. I played in various positions, and as I was pretty fast I tended to play mostly on the wing. However, I was an average player, and I don’t pretend to be anything more than that.
And then the break came, I did a broadcast for the BBC, not on football, but when I was in there, they asked me to do an additional broadcast which was on football, and that was it. I worked for the BBC, while I was still teaching, and also when I became a headmaster, which was for a seven-year period before I actually joined the BBC full time. I started at The BBC in 1962 and didn’t leave my post as a headteacher and become full time at the BBC until 1969. I was twenty-five years with the BBC, yes, I went to other places after that when I went freelance, which was greatly to my benefit as it opened new horizons, but without diminishing the value of working with other organisations, my identity was really with the BBC.
When I worked with The BBC it gave me the chance to travel the world, I covered 18 World Cup games for Scotland. I think Scotland had the best squad in 1974, but regarding stand out moments obviously 1978 in Mendoza, Argentina, where Scotland played against Holland is up there. We had been in abject misery because what had happened in the previous games versus Peru and Iran, and then there was the drugs scandal with Willie Johnston, and I was highly dejected at that time. We were all demotivated at that time and wanted back home as we felt that Scotland wasn’t going to do anything. And then suddenly we had this marvellous performance by Scotland and perhaps the most iconic goal of all time, with Archie Gemmill. So that moment is the one that immediately comes to mind, but there are many other great moments too. My commentary from that goal was used in a film and when we qualified at Anfield the commentary was used on Rod Stewarts record. However, many of these World Cup records I’m sure never saw the light of day due to the disappointment of Argentina!
Regarding Scottish managers, there is three who stand out for me, and they are Jock Stein, Willie Waddell and Graeme Souness. They were three men who effectively changed from an established orthodox conservative approach to football and dealt with circumstances in their own way. Stein as he took over
at a club who were going nowhere, and who then two and half years later were European champions, which was an incredible feat. It was also him that established the press conferences as we know them now. Waddell, as he saved Rangers after the disaster and was a strong formidable figure who kept the ship on a steady beam as they could have scuppered on the rocks without him. He held the club together. And Souness, because he changed mentalities, with big spending of course, which Celtic eventually had to copy.
I had in and out relationships with managers. Eventually I travelled the world with Stein, and we had a good relationship. I had good relationships with them all, but I also had arguments and conflicts with them all too. My biggest fall out with a manager was with Fergie who famously fell out with me, he had been a good friend of mine, but he didn’t like some comments that I had made about his goalkeeper and blew a gasket. Regarding stand out players, Jim Baxter instantly comes to mind, he was a cabaret act, not just a footballer.
Jimmy Johnstone for his shear instinctive skills and being a hell of a nice guy. He had some terrible times because of drink, but I think this was because of his good- natured character that led to his lapses, but he was a brilliant player. I visited him when he was ill with motor neurone disease, which was devastating but also inspiring as I never saw him anything else but chirpy and upbeat.
Kenny Dalglish of course, with his great goals. John Greig for keeping Rangers going when they were in a terrible state and Celtic were winning all these league titles, but it was John Greig who held Rangers together on the pitch, and he was an inspiring figure for Scotland too.
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They were all marvellous players. Beyond Scotland a few names come to mind. There’s Pele, who I interviewed a couple of times, he was a brilliant player. All the Brazilians who I saw around that time were superb. But currently I think Messi comes to mind, and then of course Maradona, both tremendous players. The goal that Maradona scored against England in Mexico in 1986 was one of the best goals I’ve seen at the world cup. On the broadcasting front there was Arthur Montford who famously presented STV’s Scotsport at the same time I was hosting Sportcene. He and I were both rivals and friends. We got on well but of course we wanted to out do each other in terms of audiences, but there were never ever any harsh words between us. Later, I went to work on Scotsport and had a very good relationship with STV. They brought me back from when I was working with Eurosport with which I was eternally grateful for.
Regarding no longer commentating on games, there are aspects of the game I don’t miss at all, as I got fed up with the narrow mindlessness, parochial bitterness that existed and still exists now in Scotland, and you can be sucked into that, and I believe we should be bigger than that. But then again, I can sometimes miss it, but just every now and again.
I have written several books, however the inspiration behind my new book was that the idea was that I would write about some of the people that made me think, that stopped me
in my tracks, had an impact on me, and who I could never forget. Some of the names I cover in the book people might not know, and that’s why I wrote about them. They are not all from the football world, 75% of them are football people, but I’ve also gone into boxing, golf and athletics. My great hero was the boxer Jackie Patterson, the world flyweight champion who I saw live at Hampden in front of 60,00 fans. All the people in my book I have watched them live. The football people are there because they made huge impacts on me, and at the start of the pandemic, I just got stuck into writing it and putting down my thoughts. Fergie is in there too. Despite our fall out, we had had a wonderful relationship, we confided about a lot of things about Scottish football, much of which I’ve kept to myself, and he’s in the book because he was a huge impact on me. Jim Mclean is another big name included, and he was one of the most interesting men I ever met in football, he had a brilliant football brain, knew a good player and how to select a good team and of course was a controversial character as well.
Observing the Scotland current set up, I back the manager however I know it’s not just about him, it’s about the players, and if you’ve got good players you’ll succeed’
Archie was speaking with Iain Emerson
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We maybe living in uncertain times with the cost of living and energy prices going through the roof, but that hasn’t stopped supporters doing their bit for worthwhile causes elsewhere.
The Tartan Army Sunshine Appeal
have continued their incredible work by making donations to children’s charities across the globe. The recent £4000 donation to Turkish charity Rengarenk Umutlar Dernegi (Colourful Hopes Association), a group who fight for children’s rights and freedoms with rights-based activities to ensure equal opportunities for them, was their 93rd consecutive goodwill gesture since their formation in 2003.
The Turkish donation followed one of the same amount to Ukrainian charity Bebiko, who look after a group of children with Down’s syndrome and provide support to their families. I’m addition, up to four boxes of goods such as pens, pencils and colouring in books being shipped to the charity, which was gratefully received.
It is a remarkable effort by TASA, who rely on the generosity of the Tartan Army to carry out their work.
TASA Secretary Clark Gillies said:
“We don’t have a corporate sponsor, so the money we receive is purely from individual donations, functions and the sale of memorabilia donated to us. There was one person who done a bike ride from Wembley to Hampden and raised £30,000, which is amazing. We can’t thank everyone enough for their generosity.”
Going into their 20th year, TASA have more events up their sleeve to encourage more donations in order to continue their great work, with children’s charities in Norway, Spain, Cyprus and Georgia set to benefit.
Speaking of what the events mean to TASA, Clark said: “having no big corporate sponsors, we rely totally on the generosity of our fans, and events we hold like our charity nights are more our way of giving back to them as a ‘thank you’, and to put names to faces and such from those who have dug deep in their sporrans over the years to help us continue making a difference everywhere we go”.
Famous Tartan Army Magazine wishes TASA all the best with their ongoing work.
Check out their website and shop at
www.tasunshineappeal.scot
They begin 2023 with their annual Nod to Burns night at the Ukrainian Community Centre, Edinburgh (https://facebook.com/events/s/nod- to-burns-23/567209191379519/)
on 28 January, before their 20th Anniversary special on 1 April at Hampden, with details to come in due course. TASA welcome anyone who wishes to donate prizes for either event.
24

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