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#LockdownBoredom kicking in so a totally pointless thread on where I've watched Scotland games in World Cup Finals.
1954 - not born
1958 - two years old, memory's not that good
16 years before we qualified again. Seemed an eternity at the time but lightning fast compared to now
1954 - not born
1958 - two years old, memory's not that good
16 years before we qualified again. Seemed an eternity at the time but lightning fast compared to now
1974 v Zaire. At home, with my dad, my brother and a couple of pals. Disappointed we didn't win by more
v Brazil -bottom shop, Dundonald. Bremner ya useless swine
v Yugoslavia - Kilmarnock Labour Club. High hopes ended in a draw. Exit unbeaten
v Brazil -bottom shop, Dundonald. Bremner ya useless swine
v Yugoslavia - Kilmarnock Labour Club. High hopes ended in a draw. Exit unbeaten
1978 v Peru, student house, Middlesbrough. Four Scots, pissed, celebrating early lead, started talking about who we'd face in next stage. You know the rest
v Iran - Halls of residence. Over 100 Iranian students there. Bigmouth said 'They've nae interest in fitba, mair bothered
v Iran - Halls of residence. Over 100 Iranian students there. Bigmouth said 'They've nae interest in fitba, mair bothered
wi' overthrowin' the Shah' Wrong. Big time. So bad even the English boys started supporting us. Humiliation
v Holland. Ostensibly working behind bar, in reality watching the doorman's nine-inch portable set. Never really believed even after THAT goal
v Holland. Ostensibly working behind bar, in reality watching the doorman's nine-inch portable set. Never really believed even after THAT goal
1982 v New Zealand. First half at home in Middlesbrough, three up. Down the pub for the second half to celebrate. Pegged back to 3-2 before winning 5-2 relief
v Brazil. As in 1974 bottom pub Dundonald. Mate was going up to Glasgow so scrounged a lift. Narey's 'toepoke' great but
v Brazil. As in 1974 bottom pub Dundonald. Mate was going up to Glasgow so scrounged a lift. Narey's 'toepoke' great but
ended in disappointment. 200 miles for 4-1 defeat. V USSR, mate's house in North Ormesby. Jumped six feet in the air at Scotland's opener, came down eight feet. Another glorious defeat (draw) and could barely walk. It got worse. I had to be in Birmingham the next day & decided
to look up an old pal. No answer on phone. Pre-mobile, pre-google maps. Wandered round Kings Norton in agony before giving up and heading to a hotel. Had to pay up front. Asked where bar was & told 'Sorry Sir, this is a temperance hotel'
1986 v Denmark. Home in Middlesbrough, four of us. More or less resigned to fate in 'group of death' V West Germany. heading back from London so listened on mate's car radio. This is how I came to realise how big Sherwood Forest is. Sign saying approaching it just as Strachan
scored to put Scotland ahead. Still driving by it by the time the Germans were 2-1 up. V Uruguay. back home. three of us. Strachan's arse booted into air after 40 seconds. Man sent off. 90 minutes to get one goal v ten men. Piece of piss. Except if that game was still being
played now it would still be goalless. 1990 v Costa Rica. At home. Alone. Thank Christ it was only me that had to suffer the embarrassment. V Sweden. Not on tv as clashed with England game. Decided to fly out to the match. Best laid plans etc. Didn't have a passport.
Watched on Ceefax. Great win. v Brazil, back in flat alone. Knew what was coming. Disappointed to be not disappointed to find I was as disappointed as I expected to be with late Brazilian winner
Forgot 1998. v Brazil, Longboat pub Penzance. Dressed as conservatively as your average 42-year-old fan - tammy, scarves - one on neck, one round hand, replica top, saltire - a shout of 'The Tartan Army's here' as I walk in the pub. Look around, nobody in similar attire. On this
occasion the Tartan Army consists of a lone Scottish soldier who'd certainly wandered far away. Another glorious defeat. V Norway, same location, unlucky not to win. Decide this pub is a jinx though so for the final match v Morocco I go to the Union hotel, reputedly the first
place in mainland Britain to receive news of the Battle of Trafalgar. Alas, the Scotland game is more like Flodden. Gubbed 3-0 but it never occurred to me for a moment that over 20 years later that would be the last World Cup finals match Scotland played in
First time I saw a Scotland World Cup Finals game I was still at school. if we qualify for Qatar then by the time I watch another one I'll be in receipt of the pension. So when the English talk of '30 years of hurt' I say this: that's nothing. You want hurt? Try being Scottish.
