25 minutes ago, The Rising Sun said:

There was another goal at the MH end when I think that  the ball hit a Spurs player in the face and went in !

Can't remember when it was though.

 

I'm beginning to think I've dreamt it, can't find anything about it anywhere..

1 minute ago, The Rising Sun said:

I was at the game, " you'll never play for Chelsea" belted out after the OG. !

For me , it was the first time I wasn't worried about going a goal down, we were on the way to greatness by then . .

A great day, Cardiff was a top city for hosting finals.

A great day out. Agree, Cardiff was a top city for hosting finals. The stadium, railway station, pubs and cafes all in close proximity to each other. Didn't Kezman score in the game? One of his few goals for us.

3 minutes ago, Boyne said:

A great day out. Agree, Cardiff was a top city for hosting finals. The stadium, railway station, pubs and cafes all in close proximity to each other. Didn't Kezman score in the game? One of his few goals for us.

I can't remember if he scored. Collector's item if he did ! The pubs and restaurants were brilliant, true.

4 minutes ago, The Rising Sun said:

I can't remember if he scored. Collector's item if he did ! The pubs and restaurants were brilliant, true.

Just checked and he scored the winner in extra-time. A shame that it didn't work out for him. Always thought he tried hard but only scored a few goals for us. One of those things I guess.

 

Grass roots football!😀

Some conditions for this RW Essen v Borussia Moenchengladbach game in 1969/1970!😀

And for this Wales v Scotland Home International game in May, yes May, 1971!😀😀

Edited October 18, 20241 yr by erskblue

 

Jeanie Park.

K

 

Edited October 18, 20241 yr by erskblue

Grassroots Football.

The above picture is of Keanie Park. Home of Johnstone Burgh. A local Non League Club in the West of Scotland.

Petershill FC 1978

 

The original caption states this is a match at Hampden in the 1900s.

This grainy photo from the early 1900s shows Port Glasgow Athletic playing Greenock Morton.

The building in the centre is my former primary school and the building to the  right, is the building where one of my grandparents was born in 1906.

A packed Hampden. Scotland v England. April 1946. Scotland won 1-0.

139,846 officially were in the ground. Add 25-30,000 for the real attendance.

 A wartime England v Scotland match. 14th October 1944. 90,000 saw England win 6-2.

 

Edited October 23, 20241 yr by erskblue

England v Scotland at Crystal Palace in 1905. Scotland wearing the Lord Rosebery racing colours.

The above photo is from the England v Scotland match at Bramall  Lane, Sheffield in 1903.

The two teams before the 1893 match.

 

.Manager Alf Ramsey talking to his three new caps Barry Bridges, Jackie Charlton and Nobby Stiles. 8th April 1965.

 

A supporters view from behind the goal. It’s England v Scotland in 1963.

An old fashioned turnstile. Glebe Park. Home of Brechin City.

 

The Legendary ‘Big Hedge’ at  Glebe Park!😀

The Legendary’Big Hedge.
Ach it deserves another picture!😀

 

The old Hampden Press Box always looked a bit unsafe to me as it sat perched on the roof of the old Main Stand.

3 hours ago, erskblue said:

The old Hampden Press Box always looked a bit unsafe to me as it sat perched on the roof of the old Main Stand.

It always looked like it was just about to tip over !

 

3 hours ago, erskblue said:

The old Hampden Press Box always looked a bit unsafe to me as it sat perched on the roof of the old Main Stand.

Hi Ersk. I keep getting a message " unable to complete previous operation due to low memory" every time I try to post an image.

Any Idea how to sort it out, memory etc is all ok ?

Cheers

2 hours ago, The Rising Sun said:

Hi Ersk. I keep getting a message " unable to complete previous operation due to low memory" every time I try to post an image.

Any Idea how to sort it out, memory etc is all ok ?

Cheers

Sorry mate. Absolutely no idea!

I’m the least IT knowledgeable person in the world. Seriously!!

3 hours ago, The Rising Sun said:

It always looked like it was just about to tip over !

 

Exactly what I used to think.

I couldn’t ever have visited it.

I suffer from vertigo and that old Hampden press box as you say, looks like it’s about to tip over onto the Hampden pitch!

ANDREW WATSON: PIONEERING THE BEAUTIFUL GAME FOR SCOTLAND

As we celebrate Black History Month, it's crucial to recognise and honour the remarkable individuals who have left an indelible mark on history, and in our case at the Scottish Football Museum, footballing history.

One such trailblazer is Andrew Watson, now regarded as the world’s first black international footballer.

His legacy not only transcends the world of sports but also stands as a testament to the power of determination, talent, and breaking barriers.

In this blog post, we'll delve into the life and achievements of Andrew Watson, shedding light on his remarkable journey and the impact he had on the beautiful game.

Andrew Watson was born in British Guiana (now Guyana) on the 24^th of May 1856. He was the son of Peter Miller Watson, a wealthy Scottish sugar planter and former slave owner, and a Guyanese woman named Hannah Rose.

Watson was sent to England for his education, where he attended the prestigious Heath Grammer School in Halifax, West Yorkshire.

It was during his time in England that he developed a passion for sport, although rugby was initially the game that he played rather than association football.

In 1874, Andrew Watson moved to Scotland, where he continued his education at the University of Glasgow, studying natural philosophy, mathematics, and engineering.

Watson never completed his course but instead became a partner in Watson, Miller and Baird, a wholesale warehouse business in Glasgow. 

It was in Scotland that he began his football career in earnest,signing for Maxwell FC around 1874, and later moving to Parkgrove FC.

In April 1880, he signed for Queen’s Park, then Britain’s largest football team and became their secretary in November 1881.

He led the team to two consecutive Scottish Cup wins in 1881 and 1882.

This is a black and white mounted photograph of the 1882 Scotland team featuring Andrew Watson.

1882 Scotland team featuring Andrew Watson

Watson won three international caps for Scotland between 1881 and 1882, earning his first cap against England. when he captained the side to a 6-1 victory.

A few days later, Watson played for Scotland against Wales, winning 5-1. His last cap came in 1882 when Scotland beat England 5-1. Watson's performance was lauded by fans and the press alike, earning him recognition as one of the finest footballers of his era.

In 1882 Watson moved to London and became the first black player to play in the FA Cup when he joined the Swifts Football Club.

He also played for other English clubs, including the Corinthians and Bootle FC. Watson assumed the role of “Scotch Professor” and taught his English peers "the science" of a more dynamic passing style. 

‘Modern Athletic Celebrities’ - Scottish Athletic Journal 1885

This is a ‘Modern Athletic Celebrities’ article about Andrew Watson, which appeared in the Scottish Athletic Journal in late 1885. By 1885, Watson’s status as an athletic celebrity was unquestionable- Watson had won the Scottish Cup with Queen’s Park, captained Scotland to a record victory over England at the Oval and played for the famous Corinthian FC in London.

The article hints at the on-field abuse Watson faced at the time, stating that he was ‘on more than one occasion subjected to vulgar insults by splenetic, ill-tempered individuals.’ You can see this journal article when you visit The Scottish Football Museum at Hampden Park.

Andrew Watson's groundbreaking achievement transcended the boundaries of sport. He paved the way for future generations of black footballers, challenging racial prejudice and stereotypes.

His success demonstrated that talent knows no colour or ethnicity and that anyone, regardless of their background, could excel in the beautiful game.

Watson retired to London, where he died of pneumonia in 1921. In 2012 he was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame. Watson features prominently in the First Hampden Mural at Hampden Bowling Club.

There is also a mural of him in Shawlands that was created by The Glasgow Southside Anti-Racism Art Project. In 2022 he was featured as one of Google’s Doodle Webpages.

As we celebrate Black History Month, it's essential to remember and honour individuals like Andrew Watson, who defied the odds and left an indelible mark on history.

His contributions to Scottish football and his groundbreaking achievements as the first black international footballer are a testament to his exceptional talent, determination, and the enduring power of diversity and inclusion in sport.

Andrew Watson's story is a reminder that the beautiful game can unite us all, regardless of our backgrounds, and that our differences should be celebrated as strengths rather than obstacles.

By Robyn McCready & Megan Stamper