Go Scotland

Well, to celebrate Scotland making it to the Euros final, and their first match against Germany tonight, here is a blip about my great grandfather, who played for Scotland and scored a goal in an international match.

This was of course in the days before fame and big money, but he played for a number of clubs including Aston Villa, as well as a number of Scottish clubs such as Queens Park and a couple of now defunct clubs: Cowlairs and St. Bernard’s.

It was when he was with St. Bernard’s that he was in the winning team for the Scottish Cup in the 1894-95 season. You can see in my blip that he got an inscribed ring and a small medal. 

As well as playing for clubs, he was also on the Scottish national team, having 5 caps between 1889 and 1898. He scored for goal for his country in the 1898 match against Northern Ireland (3:0 win for Scotland). He captained Scotland a number of times between 1889 and 1892.

After retiring as a player, he was a football referee and became president of the Scottish Football League.

You will see a couple of additional items such as a hunter watch/travelling clock presented to him by Queens Park in 1920 for services to the club, as well as a gold sovereign case presented to him on his marriage to my great grandmother in 1892, again by Queens Park.

He may not have been David Beckham, but I’m proud of him. 

All the best to the boys, as well as the English football team too.