Scotland hosts the auld enemy England in a celebration marking 150 years since the first international match!
There is no friendly game ever when the auld enemy is in town! Celebrating 150 years from the time that the first international match was played we have tonight revival of the oldest rivalry in the world football! The game as it is officially recognized by FIFA as the first ever international saw Scotland play England and both take front stage tonight in a game at Hampden Park that marks that special football anniversary!
By CHRISTOS SOTIRAKOPOULOS
On the last day of November 1872 about 4000 supporters packed into the West of Scotland Cricket Club in Glasgow to watch the game between Scotland and England that ended in a draw 0-0.
In the 19th century, the Scottish city of Glasgow, like so many other throughout the world, experienced major transformations due to industrialisation. From a town of just 70,000 inhabitants at the turn of the century, it had grown to become a major port and industrial centre with a population of over half a million by 1872.
At the time of the first international Glasgow was the second city of the empire after London, it was famous for its cotton, shipbuilding, and heavy engineering industries visible on the banks of the River Clyde.
In 1871-72 season started the first FA Cup and the success of the semi final between Glasgow’s Queen’s Park (as Scottish clubs were playing in tempo competition) and eventually winners Wanderers persuaded Charles Alcock, the secretary of The Football Association, to take an England team north of the border for the first time! It happened when the new season kicked off that Autumn. It was a show of support for the game in Scotland at a time when rugby was far more popular than association football! The rest is history as they say!
Hampden Park will play host to the head-to-head on Tuesday, 12 September as part of the year-long calendar of events from the Scottish FA to celebrate!
Scotland Men’s National Team Head Coach Steve Clarke said that this fixture is enshrined in world football’s history and will be proud to lead the team out at Hampden as part of the 150th anniversary celebrations of the national game.
“This next chapter of the oldest rivalry in football will be a special occasion for our players and fans, especially after the recent experience at Wembley during UEFA EURO 2020” said Clarke.
Scottish FA President Rod Petrie added: “We look forward to welcoming England to Hampden Park to celebrate one of sport’s oldest rivalries as we mark 150 years of Scottish football. Everyone who enjoys Scottish football today – in any capacity – owes a debt of gratitude to the pioneers of international football, in whose footsteps we are fortunate to follow” he underlined.
So Scotland versus England it is and it will be live tonight in Greece on Novasports! Definitely, there is no love lost between the two countries, and nobody expects the whole affair to be under the radar!
Last but not least the two teams will play tonight wearing vintage shirts. A real blast from the past!
Kane & Robertson. 🏴⚔️🏴 pic.twitter.com/gLR9WXsyxs
— - (@JoshLFC1909) September 11, 2023
