Tommy Gemmell recalls 1967 glory as Wembley test awaits Scotland

Published on 18/06/2012 00:00

TOMMY Gemmell – who played in Scotland’s famous 3-2 victory over England at Wembley in 1967 – welcomed the weekend’s news that the oldest international football fixture will make a comeback in 2013.

Scotland are due to play England as part of the FA’s 150th anniversary celebrations on Wednesday, 14 August next year, and Gemmell said he hoped it will open the door to an annual meeting between the two nations.

He said: “I played in the Scotland team that beat world champions England in April in 1967 at Wembley. The memory of that triumph was only eclipsed by Celtic beating Inter Milan to win the European Cup a month later. But overwhelming the English on their own turf is something that will live with me forever.

“The English critics had written us off completely. We were in for a thrashing, we were warned. One scribe from across the border even said we should take it as a privilege and an honour to be even on the same pitch as Sir Alf Ramsey’s men. Trust me, those words couldn’t have motivated us more. We were written off and I believe the bookies had us at 7-1. I think they were offering 6-1 on us turning up!

“Wembley, though, was the perfect setting that day. Denis Law and Jim Baxter were in our line-up that afternoon and, believe me, these two guys never needed to be pumped up for a game against the English.

“England had been unbeaten since beating West Germany the previous summer to lift the trophy. That meant little to anyone in that Scottish dressing room, believe me.

“It’s history now that we beat them 3-2 with goals from Denis, Bobby Lennox and Jim McCalliog.”

While Scotland can only dream of having such high-calibre players in their side these days, Gemmell, now 68, added: “It would be great to think that some Scottish footballers in the future could sample such a fabulous feeling. Believe me, beating England at Wembley was as sweet as it gets at international level.

“So, I think it’s great the fixture has been given the go-ahead and the Tartan Army can go down and enjoy a day in London. Just so long as they don’t try to take the goalposts home with them.”

The last time Scotland played at Wembley they won 1-0 with a goal from Don Hutchinson in 1999. The Scots, though, had already lost 2-0 at Hampden the previous Saturday and England therefore won the Euro play-off 2-1 on aggregate. England also beat Scotland at Wembley 2-0 at Euro 96 – the first time the sides had met since the final Rous Cup match in 1989.

Meanwhile, as the two sides announce plans to renew world football’s oldest rivalry, a new book published this month tells the story of how it all began.

The first international in Glasgow on 30 November 1872 marked the end of two years of arguments and experiments, including five unofficial internationals in London which were the unintentional catalyst for the first rugby international in 1871.

Andy Mitchell, former head of communications at the Scottish FA, has researched the events and the players who set the ball rolling. His book, First Elevens: the birth of international football identifies all the players who took part for the first time.

The match ended without a goal being scored, but spectators did witness a Scot performing the world’s first overhead kick.

• First Elevens: the birth of international football is available price £9.99 from the author’s website, www.scottishsporthistory.com