Scotland and the 1930 World Cup

[SeaCider]

Scotland is a proud footballing nation, with so many highly rated superstars achieving success at various clubs throughout the world. But despite success at a domestic and continental level, Scottish players have consistently failed to translate this winning mentality to their national team. Between 1954 and 1998, Scotland would only qualify for the FIFA World Cup on 8 occasions, and only twice for the UEFA European Championships. Despite some memorable moments (Queue Archie Gemmill’s goal against the Netherlands in 1978), Scotland has never reached beyond the group stage of an international tournament, and perhaps a more damning statistic, has never won more than one match in a group. (*At the time of writing, Scotland has just been eliminated from EURO 2024, once again, at the group stage). 

Scotland, along with the other home nations, were invited to participate in the very first World Cup, set to be held in Montevideo, the capital city of Uruguay. The Scottish Football Association had originally become a FIFA member in 1910 but the relationship between the two organisations had broken down over several years until finally coming to a head in 1928 when the SFA, as well as the football associations other the home nations, withdrew from FIFA over disputes regarding payments to amateur players. This self imposed exile wouldn’t be resolved until after WWII when the SFA would rejoin FIFA in 1946. This is the reason why no home nations competed at the World Cup until 1950, where England would make their tournament debut.

But while the Scotland National Team has arguable failed to live up it’s potential, some Scottish players have, over the years, been able to find success in other circumstances. For example, if I were to tell you that 5 Scottish players not only performed well at a World Cup but actually reached the Semi-finals and went on to receive bronze medals for finishing in third place, would you believe it? Well it turns out they did…for the United States! The names Andy Auld, James Brown, Jimmy Gallagher, Bart McGhee and Alexander Wood might not mean a lot in Scottish football terms but in American soccer, these men, along with their 1930 team mates, are regarded as legends, as is their coach Robert Millar, who also happened to be Scottish.

This is their story, a story of immigrants who came to America to start a new life and become history makers. This is the story of Scotland and the 1930 World Cup. 

Defender: Alexander "Sandy " Wood, born in Lochgelly, Fife 12th June 1907

Midfielder: Andrew "Dasher " Auld, born in Stevenston, North Ayrshire, 30th April 1900

Midfielder: Jimmy Gallagher, born in Kirkintilloch, 7th June 1901

Forward: Bartholomew "Bart " McGhee, born in Edinburgh, 30th April 1899

Forward: James Brown, born in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, 31st December 1908

Hi folks, I'm Aidan, a filmmaker from Saltcoats. In 2022 I produced a short documentary about one of those US players, Andy Auld, who was born in raised in Stevenston, North Ayrshire where he played at Junior level as a midfielder for Stevenston and Parkhead before emigrating to the US where he turned out for Providence Clamdiggers and was called up to the US national team for the first time in 1926, scoring 2 goals on his debut. He would be called up again in 1930 as the country made their debut on the World stage where they would make it all the way to the semi-finals before being eliminated by a bullish Argentina side. The US were then awarded third place over Yugoslavia. 

In my research I discovered more and more details of this incredible story which suprisingly few people in Scotland have ever heard of. I'm hoping to use this topic / forum to share what I've found and bring it to a wider audience. Feel free to take a look at my video linked below. 

Andy Auld: Ardeer to America

 

Edited July 16 by SeaCider
More information added

[Guest]

Just got round to watching this. A fascinating story. Thank you for telling

[SomersetBairn]

5 hours ago, SeaCider said:

 

Andy Auld: Ardeer to America

Cheers Aidan, nice wee documentary. Thanks for making and sharing it.

 

 

[Scary Bear]

Well done on making that film. I wasn’t aware of that story. Only critique would be, I didn’t like the dead space black screen bits. Kept thinking something was wrong.

Interesting back story to the player. I wonder what the back story of the other players was. My Grampa also emigrated to the USA from Lanarkshire back in the 1920s. 

[Lurkst]

Always thought it was a great story, good to see someone put in the effort to tell it 

Sticks in my craw that Scotland didn't embrace the early World Cups. 1930 was possibly our best chance of winning it with the likes of Hughie Gallacher playing.

 

[DoingThe42]

10 hours ago, Lurkst said:

Always thought it was a great story, good to see someone put in the effort to tell it 

Sticks in my craw that Scotland didn't embrace the early World Cups. 1930 was possibly our best chance of winning it with the likes of Hughie Gallacher playing.

 

It's an interesting thought. I think that from the look of the tournament Argentina and Uruguay seem to have been head and shoulders above the rest, and had even been so at the Olympics in the Netherlands in 1928. Scotland's results around the time are decent, but I think the travel, unfamiliar surroundings, and the quality of the two teams mentioned mean we'd still have been some way off.

A cool thought though. Suppose we'll never know.

The SFA would have found some way to make an arse of it (considering they already did by not playing).

[Guest]

We weren't members of FIFA so couldn't have played in the first three world cups even if we wanted to. 

Worth remembering that the SFA in their wisdom didn't even enter Euro 64 and refused to play in the 1950 World Cup unless we won the qualification group. 

A book detailing Scotland and the early world cups would be fascinating if anyone fancied it

[SeaCider]

On 25/10/2023 at 20:44, Autistisches Nilpferd said:

We weren't members of FIFA so couldn't have played in the first three world cups even if we wanted to. 

Worth remembering that the SFA in their wisdom didn't even enter Euro 64 and refused to play in the 1950 World Cup unless we won the qualification group. 

A book detailing Scotland and the early world cups would be fascinating if anyone fancied it

I’ve heard conflicting things, like how we weren’t fifa members but at the same time, another source I read said every single nation with a national team at the time was invited to participate in the first world cup. I think the travelling would have been the killer, it was hard enough for the US team to get down there. Interestingly to this day, the 1930 WC is still the one with the fewest european teams. Egypt, Japan and Siam were all originally supposed to participate but the latter two withdrew while Egypt missed their boat to South America. 

Also how Uruguay came to actually host the event seems to be due to the other host nations (Italy, Sweden, The Netherlands, Spain and Hungary) withdrawing their bids. 

Edited October 27, 2023 by SeaCider
More info.

[Brummie Clyde]

Seem to remember that there was a World Cup that India should have played in, but think they couldn't afford the travel.

Think there was a story about them wanting to play barefoot and not being allowed, but probably just to save face about not having money to go.

[Raven]

The teams from Europe and Brazil, also Jules Rimet and his trophy,  arrived for the  1930 tournament on the SS Conte Verde, built in Dalmuir. No Scotland,  no party indeed.

[PossilYM]

Be interesting to see how much coverage the 1930 World Cup got in the Scottish/UK press if any.

[HibeeJibee]

1 hour ago, Brummie Clyde said:

Seem to remember that there was a World Cup that India should have played in, but think they couldn't afford the travel.

Think there was a story about them wanting to play barefoot and not being allowed, but probably just to save face about not having money to go.

Scotland, India and Turkey withdrew from WC 1950, while France accepted an invite then withdrew.


It's worth noting our results versus overseas opposition around 1930 were not impressive:

1929   Norway XI 3-7 Scotland, Norway XI 0-4 Scotland XI
1929   Germany 1-1 Scotland
1929   Netherlands Amateurs 0-2 Scotland

1930   France 0-2 Scotland                    France beat Mexico but lost to Argentina and Chile at WC 1930

1931   Austria 5-0 Scotland
1931   Italy 3-0 Scotland
1931   Switzerland 2-3 Scotland

 

11 minutes ago, PossilYM said:

Be interesting to see how much coverage the 1930 World Cup got in the Scottish/UK press if any.

The Scotsman:






Glasgow Herald (2nd article down):

        

[PossilYM]

"So Called"

Arrogant feckers 

lol

[HibeeJibee]

22 minutes ago, PossilYM said:

"So Called"

Arrogant feckers 

lol

SFA declined WC even in 1950 despite qualifying (why? as was 2nd to England in Home Championship)... refused to enter Euro 60 or 64 qualifiers (as did just Cyprus + Finland)... alone voted against UEFA recognising women in 1971.

Even when did qualify for WC 1954... incidentally FIFA again let Home Championship count... we only took 13 players, plus it was an organisational debacle culminating in 0-7 loss v Uruguay.

Even as late as 1971, when finally played our first-ever home Euros qualifier... UEFA had used Home Championship for Euro 68... it was at Pittodrie: in those days regular venue of U23 internationals. It was our only home game - qualifier or friendly - played outwith Hampden between 1938 and 1990; which tells you the sort of attitudes prevailing.

Edited October 27, 2023 by HibeeJibee

[Lurkst]

12 hours ago, HibeeJibee said:

Even when did qualify for WC 1954... incidentally FIFA again let Home Championship count... we only took 13 players, plus it was an organisational debacle culminating in 0-7 loss v Uruguay.
 

That would be worthy of a film in its own right. Some great players named in the squad and not taken (supposedly so the blazers' wives could get seats on the plane)...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1954_FIFA_World_Cup_squads

I remember hearing Tommy Docherty saying they'd only taken heavy winter strips because the SFA thought it would be cold in the mountains, the players ended up melting in heatwave conditions 

 

[Guest]

Scotland 13/22 squad places

Belgium 16

England 17

South Korea 20

Excusing South Korea's travel distance. Shows a lot of dregs of imperial entitlement with only needing half a squad

Edited October 28, 2023 by Autistisches Nilpferd

[SeaCider]

Alexander Lochian Wood | Defender

Alexander Wood was born in the small Fife village of Lochgelly on June 12th 1907 and grew up playing football from an early age, being capped for the Scotland National Junior team against Wales in 1921, aged 13. Later that same year, his family would up-sticks and emigrate to the United States, eventually settling in Gary, Indiana.

In the US he would continue his career in football, or soccer, turning out for sides such as Chicago Bricklayers and Masons who would reach the final of the National Challenge Cup in 1928, losing out to the New York Nationals. A  brief stint with Detroit Holley Carburetor followed before he eventually turned professional in 1930 when he joined Brooklyn Wanderers in the American Soccer League. Ultimately though his spell with the New York side would be short lived as the Wanderers would fold the following year. 

It was also in 1930 that Wood would be selected to represent the United States National Team at the inaugural FIFA World Cup to be held in Uruguay. He would feature in all 3 of the American’s group stage matches; 3-0 victories over Paraguay and Belgium respectively, before being elimated in the semi-finals at the hands of Argentina in a 6-1 defeat. Wood would also play in a 4-3 post tournament loss to either the Brazilian national team or a Brazilian XI made up of Botafogo players, sources conflict. 

In 1933 Wood returned to the UK when he signed for Leicester City and would make over 50 appearances for the Foxes. He then moved to Nottingham Forest ahead of the 1936/37 season. He would join Colchester United in 1938, and would end his footballing career at Chelmsford City in 1939. Following his retirement from football, Wood returned to the steel industry in his home state of  Indiana, working in the industry for over 30 years until his retirement in 1970. 

Wood and his fellow 1930 team mates would be inducted into the US Soccer Hall of Fame in 1986. 

Alexander Wood died on 20th July 1987, aged 80.

 

Edited June 26 by SeaCider

[Alert Mongoose]

On 27/10/2023 at 22:08, HibeeJibee said:

 

Glasgow Herald (2nd article down):

        

It's not easy to read but is the St Johnstone FC up to no good as usual?

[HibeeJibee]

6 hours ago, Alert Mongoose said:

It's not easy to read but is the St Johnstone FC up to no good as usual?

They got exonerated of all charges m'lud!

Note the representative of Newmiln FC they were alleged to have paid off helpfully neither attended the hearing, nor responded to correspondence...



          

[SeaCider]

James Brown | Forward

James Brown was a native of Ayrshire in south-west Scotland. Born on 31st December 1908 in Kilmarnock, he would grow up in the nearby coastal town of Troon. Unlike most of his future team-mates, James did not play any organised football in Scotland. His skills were instead honed the natural way: on the streets. He coupled his fancy footwork with an apprenticeship in a nearby shipyard as a riveter. Football skill seemed to run in the family, as his brother John became a goalkeeper and would play for a number of clubs including Clyde where he would win the Scottish Cup in 1930, the same year he would also earn a full Scotland cap. Another brother Tom, would play for local junior sides before signing with Ipswich Town, making over 100 appearances. The Brown’s uncle, Alex Lambie, played professionally for Partick Thistle, earning over 200 appearances over a 10 year spell with the club. 

At age 12 James’ father would dessert the family and head for the United States. James would cross the Atlantic in 1927 to track him down. When he arrived in the US, he found work in a metal factory and joined Plainfield Soccer Club, scoring 4 goals on his debut before quickly moving on to amateur side Bayonne Rovers. He was nicknamed “Red” or “Ginger” by his teammates due to his fiery hair. He would score 16 goals in 13 games for the club, a goal in every game he played in.

In 1930 James would turn professional, singing for the New York Giants and made an instant impact, with 13 goals in 26 matches and this step up to the American Soccer League garnered him his first call up for the United States National team at the 1930 World Cup. He would feature in all of the team matches, only managing to score a late consolation in the 6-1 defeat to Argentina, which to this day makes him the only Scotsman to have scored in the semi-finals of the World Cup. Brown would return to the UK in 1932 following the collapse of the American Soccer League.

Brown’s reputation as a goalscorer, as well as his achievements at international level, made him a highly sought after signing for several clubs in both England and Scotland. Ultimately it would be none other than Manchester United who won his signature. On his debut against Grimsby town, he would score directly from a corner kick within the opening 90 seconds of the match. He would go on to score 17 goals in 40 games between 1932 and 1934 , including the winner against their city rivals in the Manchester Senior Cup final. Sadly, as was to become the recurring tale of his career, Brown's constant advocacy for a player's union is what would lead to his relationship with the United management breaking down and he was transferred to Brentford for a fee of £300. His strong union beliefs went with him to London and he would only make 1 full first team appearance for Brentford but he would score 53 goals in 74 games for the club's reserve team. In 1936 Brown was transferred to Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of £1,200. In October 2023, Brown was included in Tottenham Hotspurs’ legacy numbers list which assigned numbers to every player in the club’s history to make a competitive appearance, coming in at #345. His time with Spurs would once again be short-lived, and he moved on to semi-professional Guildford City in 1937. The club would win the Southern Football League in 1938 and the following season would be a notable one for James, racking up 5 hat-tricks as well as scoring 7 goals in 1 match with 6 of these being headers. His stats at Guildford speak for themselves: 148 goals in 150 games!

James returned to Scotland in November 1940, joining his brother John at Clyde. During a match for Clyde, just like his debut with Manchester United, he would score directly from a corner kick. He retired due to injuries soon after. Clyde would finish the season in second place, only three points behind eventual champions Glasgow Rangers. After football he would return to the Troon shipyards to resume his trade as a riveter before heading back to the United States to take up various coaching positions with Greenwich High School, Greenport United, Brunswick School and Elizabeth Falcons. His son George would also have a career in football earning 2 caps for the US national team between 1957-59. 

James would be inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1986 along with his 1930 team-mates. George would later be inducted in 1995. 

James passed away on November 9th 1994 in Berkley Heights, New Jersey at the age of 85.

His grandson, also named James Brown, has recently published a book about his family's exploits in British football, American soccer and South African rugby. Which you can purchase here if interested. https://amzn.eu/d/hWHCMUG

How different would James' career have been if he had stayed in Scotland? Would his natural ability see him play for the likes of Celtic or Rangers, or the Scotland National team? How many goals could he have rack up in the Scottish leagues?  

 

Edited June 26 by SeaCider