Northboy

Is he trying to get in or out? Is the old boke standing as lookout? Judging by the apparent lack of people, vehicles and general activity I'm guessing this may not actually be a match day.

There is an argument that the Scotland v England match was the only one that mattered and that both nations combined to sh#t on Wales and Northern Ireland but keep the glamour fixture going in the form of the Rous Cup. The success of Scotland, England and Northern Ireland in qualifying for Spain 82 and the anticipation that they might (and did) repeat the feat at Mexico 86 raised questions about where the Home Internationals could fit in the football calendar. Scheduling was also difficult due to the regular participation of English clubs in the final stages of European competition which in that era also involved numerous Scottish, Welsh and Irish players as well as English. I always liked the Home Internationals but in hindsight it had become stagnant and probably a bit parochial too.

In reality if a group of big clubs want to form a European Super League then it is going to happen. UEFA/FIFA may well threaten penalties but experience in other sports shows that top level breakaways tend to become the established norm. I've considered a European Super League as inevitable for some time. The challenge for football as a whole is to ensure that a Super League is structured so that any club from any country has the possibility to reach if they can.

Young people - their optimism is annoying and as they will find out completely unfounded.

Looks like it. I've got no recollection of that game, though. I thought I could remember just about every Scotland -England game from about 1973 until the late 80's I like to think I also have a good memory for matches in this era but I can't recall anything about this one.

Would this have been a midweek match? My memories of Home Internationals was that Scotland usually starter with Wales on first weekend, NI midweek then England the last weekend.

Eric Black?

Stuart Munro on the far right ? Don't think that other one's Davie Dodds , but I don't know who it is Far right is a mystery to me but a mate has suggested Brian Scott, the former Celtic physio who also worked with the Scotland squad.

Looks like Eamon Bannon behind Eck. I thought it was Bannon too, in the days when he had hair.

When you pay by cash at Tesco self service tills why does your change have to be given in the maximum possible number of coins?

Scotland vs Northern Ireland at Hampden in late 60s, crowd just over 7000. Bring back the Home Internationals!

Not a pish advert but I'm impressed by the current INDEED jobs agency TV advert where they've been open minded enough to use a middle aged white man as the successful jobseeker.

Agreed, I've never understood why Dubai and Doha are so well organised yet Abu Dhabi is a nightmare to transit through.

Someone has just told me that breathing creates vast amounts of CO2. As a committed environmentalist I think we need to consider banning it.

You're absolutely correct but sadly that is exactly how commercial media operates - it panders to the mass market where their returns from subscription and advertising will be maximised.

David Irons on the ball for the Bankies. Looks like a fairly star studded Rangers line up for a testimonial match.

British Airways have completely gone to the dogs.

The concept of a community club is relatively new but signs are that it looks to be a good model. In Aberdeenshire a couple of well organised youth clubs have started up amateur teams in recent years. A couple of amateur teams have also looked to start youth teams too.

Fair point about younger players not moving on from youth to amateur level. I've seen a lot of guys play through the youth age groups but drift away from the game when the reach 18/19. From my son's youth team he is one of only 3 players from the 19s team who is still playing regularly. Amateur and youth teams need to develop relationships to give players a chance to continue playing.

Agreed - I go to football to watch football. I have never considered or expected it to be a dining experience.

I completely agree. The draft system is particularly suited to US sport where the education system provides the development route. Also NFL, NBA etc captures the market in terms of talent while a budding young footballer here would have options in Scotland, England or even further afield.

There's a Clydesdale Bank just along from my work. It has a decent sized car park but it has only one entrance/exit and is always crammed as can easily be seen from the road. It's a regular thing for thoughtless idiots to stop in the middle of the road holding up traffic while they wait for someone to leave the car park and let them in.

Were I a Hearts supporter and I rated Lafferty as a player then I'd be quite happy that Hearts were 'digging their heels in"

Rothes are a stronger team than in recent years but 11-1 is still a thumping. Fort have had their problems but there seemed to be a positive attitude coming form them through the summer. I hope they react to this and move forward.

Can hardly imagine today's football fans forming such an orderly queue?