{"id":291998,"date":"2023-09-10T10:34:41","date_gmt":"2023-09-10T10:34:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/?p=291998"},"modified":"2023-09-10T10:34:41","modified_gmt":"2023-09-10T10:34:41","slug":"a-look-at-the-first-ever-international-as-england-prepare-for-scotland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/soccer\/a-look-at-the-first-ever-international-as-england-prepare-for-scotland\/","title":{"rendered":"A look at the first ever international as England prepare for Scotland"},"content":{"rendered":"
Among the pages of the Manchester Guardian on December 2, 1872 a 700-word report chronicled the events of the 24th annual Birmingham Cattle Show, a celebration of the finest \u2018fat cattle, sheep, pigs, roots, corn and implements\u2019.<\/p>\n
On the same spread, another report was given far less prominence. \u2018On Saturday afternoon a football match between England and Scotch Elevens was played at Hamilton Crescent, Patrick, Glasgow,\u2019 it began.<\/p>\n
It ran to 124 words and that included the teams.<\/p>\n
How different the interest in association football is these days as England and Scotland prepare to play their 150th anniversary match at Hampden Park on Tuesday to mark the goalless draw played out on a Glasgow cricket ground that is officially considered the first full international.<\/p>\n
Back then, many reports felt it necessary to outline the rules and remind readers that, no, this wasn\u2019t rugby. The first international rugby match, also between Scotland and England, had taken place months earlier.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
England play Scotland in their 150th anniversary match on Tuesday (Billy Gilmour seen challenging Raheem Sterling when the two sides last met in a Euro 2020 group game)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A lot has changed from the first ever international fixture which saw the two sides meet to now (England boss Gareth Southgate pictured alongside Scotland manager Steve Clarke)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
England’s goalless draw with Scotland from November 30, 1872, illustrated for a publication several weeks later<\/p>\n
\u2018The laws of the Association game are exceedingly simple, numbering only 12, as against some 40 in the Rugby code,\u2019 wrote The Scotsman. \u2018One of the principal differences consists in the entire prohibition of the use of the hands, except by the goalkeeper for the protection of his goal, thus making the skilful and always pleasing \u201cdribble\u201d one of the best points of the game.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A poster for the first ever match played between the two nations<\/p>\n
‘A goal is scored when it is kicked under the tape, the ball not being allowed to be carried, thrown, or knocked in. Hacking, tripping, holding or charging an adversary from behind are among things forbidden. Such are some of the differences of the two styles of play, and it will readily be admitted that the Association game is one which will commend itself to players who dread the harder work of the Rugby mode.\u2019<\/p>\n
Much is still the same, more than 150 years later. The goals are still the same size. In off the post still counts. You still can\u2019t shove anyone.<\/p>\n
Much, though, has changed. And not just because there\u2019s a crossbar these days instead of a bit of tape as well as a net to help fans know, unlike in November 1872 when the crowd began to celebrate Scotland\u2019s Robert Leckie\u2019s late saved effort, that the ball has gone in. \u2018Leckie took a shot at goal, which roused the enthusiastic spectators, who thought the ball had gone under,\u2019 reported the Glasgow Herald. \u2018Alas, no! It struck the tape, but unfortunately instead of going under it rolled over. A close shave; but shaves don\u2019t count.\u2019<\/p>\n
Teams won \u2018defensive corners\u2019, a law borrowed from the \u2018Sheffield Rules\u2019 version of the game but scrapped a year later. If the ball flew over the goal tape, the defending team earned a goal-kick regardless of who kicked it but if the ball went behind the byline either side of the goal, the corner was taken by the opposition team to the one who kicked it. Throw-ins were taken by whichever team got to the ball first.<\/p>\n
There was only a half-time in the game between Scotland and England because no goals were scored. The teams changed goalkeepers that day too. Usually, teams would change ends every time a goal was scored.<\/p>\n
Each team had an umpire on the pitch and if they couldn\u2019t agree on a decision they would \u2018refer\u2019 it to the pitch-side timekeeper. In other words, the referee. We know this game on November 30, 1872 as the first international but it was actually the sixth. The first five were played in London at The Oval starting two years earlier but were not recognised because only Scots based in the English capital were called into the Scotland team.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Scottish football team from 1872 who played England in the first ever international game<\/p>\n
Secretary for the Football Association and England captain Charles Alcock organised the first five match-es, issuing pleas for Scottish players in the newspapers, but missed the sixth and first official meeting through injury. England missed a few of its stars due to illness. Alcock still travelled to Glasgow and was fit enough to be one of the umpires.<\/p>\n
All of the Scotland team were members of Queen\u2019s Park, the most prominent Scottish team of the time, though three players were members of Granville and South Norwood too.<\/p>\n
Scotland wore blue, England white. That much, too, hasn\u2019t changed. Historian Andy Mitchell describes in his book First Elevens how the sister of Scotland forward David Wotherspoon stitched a rampant red lion on to the blue Queen\u2019s Park shirts. It\u2019s a badge they still wear today. England, even back then, sported the Three Lions.<\/p>\n
The English players warmed up in their coats with pipes in their mouths, pictured in a series of nine stunning drawings by William Ralston in The Graphic. His illustrations are the only images from the game. Scotland captain Robert Gardner in goal, the spectators in top hats huddled behind the ropes.<\/p>\n
A photographer attended but packed up his things in a huff when the Scotland players refused to commit to buying his prints. Admission cost a shilling, though women were let in for free. Reports talk of a crowd of 4,000, though historians suggest the figure was closer to 2,500 with gate receipts sixpence short of \u00a3103, which would be about 2,000 entries at a shilling apiece.<\/p>\n
Queen\u2019s Park paid \u00a320 to West of Scotland CC for the ground and picked up the tab for the post-match dinner at the Carrick\u2019s Royal Hotel that came to \u00a369 11s 6d. Spectators endured a 20-minute delay to the 2pm kick-off but, once under way, were treated to \u2018the best game ever seen in Scotland,\u2019 according to the Aberdeen Press and Journal. No one seemed to care about the lack of goals.<\/p>\n
Your browser does not support iframes.<\/p>\n
Scotland won the toss and chose to attack the southern goal to take advantage of the slope. The play itself would be unrecognisable today. The forwards, seven on each side, roamed in packs, much like in rugby, until \u2018consumed in a scrimmage\u2019 so says a report by the FIFA Museum.<\/p>\n
\u2018The Englishmen had all the advantage of weight, their average being about two stones heavier than the Scotchmen and they had also the advantage in pace,\u2019 observed the Glasgow Herald.<\/p>\n
\u2018Queen\u2019s Park promoted a passing game that was alien to the English, who had been brought up on a diet of individual dribbling and \u2018backing up\u2019, which required a strong physical presence.\u2019<\/p>\n
It was that passing game that saw Scotland dominate the early contests against England, winning nine of the first 13 official contests. The finest England dribbler was Cuthbert Ottaway, who captained the side in Alcock\u2019s absence and \u2018astonished spectators by some pretty dribbling\u2019.<\/p>\n
The last meeting between the sides, at Euro 2020, also ended goalless. Let\u2019s hope Hampden Park produces something to cheer about.<\/p>\n
If not, the Royal Highland cattle show is next June.<\/p>\n
\u00a31m needed to save historic venue\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The West of Scotland Cricket Club has been graced by the greats. This is a patch of land in Partick has hosted WG Grace, Don Bradman, Allan Border and Steve Waugh. And it is the birthplace of international football. The first international match was played on this ground when Scotland drew 0-0 with England on November 30, 1872.<\/p>\n But the venue is facing an uncertain future. There is a \u00a31million question mark hanging over Hamilton Crescent.<\/p>\n In 2021, flooding caused extensive damage. The insurers have settled but a shortfall of around \u00a31m remains. Fundraising is well under way but the future is in doubt.<\/p>\n The club was founded in 1862 after a meeting with the Clutha Cricket Club who used the northern part of the ground. Now, a fundraising dinner is to be held in aid of refurbishment in the Doubletree Hilton, Cambridge Street, Glasgow, on September 17. Hosted by Dougie Donnelly, guest speakers include Alex McLeish, Gordon Sherry, Frank McAvennie and Angus Fraser.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The venue for the first ever international fixture is facing an uncertain future and is need of funding<\/p>\n Four England v Scotland clashes<\/span><\/p>\n April 15, 1967 – England 2-3 Scotland at Wembley<\/span><\/p>\n Scotland claimed they were world champions after beating the World Cup winners in front of 99,000 supporters. Scotland led 1-0 through Denis Law after 28 minutes before four goals in the last 12 minutes settled the tie<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Scotland’s Jim Baxter is hugged by delighted fans who invaded the pitch after beating England<\/p>\n June 4, 1977 – England 1-2 Scotland at Wembley\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Tartan Army invaded London for the Home Championship decider. After Kenny Dalglish\u2019s winner secured the title, thousands of kilted Scots invaded the pitch, climbing on the crossbar which broke and helping themselves to pieces of turf.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Jubilant Scotland supporters break the crossbar after winning the Home Championship in 1977<\/p>\n June 15, 1996 – England 2-0 Scotland at Wembley\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Paul Gascoigne scored a memorable goal as England sparked into life in their Euro 96 campaign at home. The goal celebration came after criticism of the team\u2019s wild dentist chair party in Hong Kong in their build-up\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Paul Gascoigne scored a memorable goal for England against Scotland back at Euro 1996<\/p>\n November 17, 1999 – England 0-1 Scotland at Wembley\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Don Hutchison scored the only goal in the second leg of the Euro play-off but it was not enough as England qualified 2-1 on aggregate. This was the last match between the two countries played under the Twin Towers at Wembley.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Don Hutchinson scored the only goal in the last match under the Twin Towers at\u00a0 Wembley<\/p>\n It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Your browser does not support iframes.<\/p>\nIT’S ALL KICKING OFF!\u00a0<\/h3>\n