a look back

SCOTLAND AT PITTODRIE | by Kevin Stirling

Hampden has been the traditional home for the national team since Scotland played England at the first Hampden in 1878. However, many internationals have been played out in the provinces for various reasons. The present Aberdeen FC had not yet seen the light of day when Scotland played Wales at the new ground at Pittodrie in 1900. The Scottish side included seven Rangers players and a record attendance of 12,000 turned up for the first full international in the Granite City. Pittodrie was certainly in its infancy, but it is known that a small Stand was in place for the game. Scotland won 5-2 with goals from Bell, Hamilton 2, Wilson and Smith.

Twenty-one years later, the Welsh returned and Scotland triumphed again, winning 2-1 with two goals from Andy Wilson. A crowd of 20,824 paid £2,353 for the privilege. Pittodrie had by that time a new Stand, which could house up to 1,000 spectators. The days of the Scotland side being predominantly full of Queens Park players were gone, but Scotland had some fine players in their ranks, and were invariably more than a match for England.

In 1934, Scotland completed a hat trick of wins over the Welsh at Pittodrie when Aberdonian dally Duncan scored one of the Scots goals in an exciting 3-2 victory. Three years later, Scotland said farewell to the legendary Bob McPhail, who was making his final appearance for his country. Ireland drew 1-1 with the Scots in what was to be the last international at Pittodrie for many years.

Scotland broke with tradition in 1971 when the European Championship tie against Belgium was taken to Pittodrie in an effort to intimidate the tough Belgians. Scotland had played 74 consecutive internationals at Hampden prior to the Pittodrie tie, and 36,500 packed the ground to see the Scots battle to a deserved 1-0 win. Tommy Docherty had been entrusted to revive Scotland hopes after replacing bobby Brown as manager. In what was only the Doc’s second game in charge of the national team, a solitary header from derby’s John O’Hare was all that separated the sides. In the second half, it was the substitution of Alec Cropley that went almost unnoticed as a young Kenny Dalglish made the first of his 102 international appearances. Aberdeen also was represented with Bobby Clark, Martin Buchan and Steve Murray all in the starting line up. The Dons were also buoyed by the inclusion of Jim Forrest on the bench. Young defender Willie Young was also drafted into the squad as a last minute replacement.

Scotland’s preparations for Italia 90′ were in the final stages as Egypt visited Pittodrie in 1990. On that occasion a solitary Ally McCoist strike was a mere consolation for the Scots as a slick Egyptian side won 3-1. Once again, Aberdeen were well represented with Stewart McKimmie, Alex McLeish and Jim Bett all starting the game. Former Dons keeper Bryan Gunn was in goal for Scotland, and it was a game the big keeper would want to forget, as he looked nervous throughout. This was the first Pittodrie defeat for the national side.

With the World Cup in 1994 going to the USA, the Scots were still in contention for a place in the finals when Estonia visited in 1993. A comfortable 3-1 win was marred by a Pittodrie crowd who were in no mood to show national fervour towards the only rangers player in the side, Ian Ferguson. The Gers had just beaten the Dons in the Cup Final four days previously, and emotions were still running high. Stewart McKimmie, Brian Irvine and Scott Booth all featured for Scotland. Three months later, Scotland welcomed Switzerland in what was a must win situation for the Scots. The Swiss had forced themselves in to pole position and were well worthy of a 1-1 draw before a capacity Pittodrie crowd. The new Richard Donald Stand was in place for this match that was made all the more atmospheric by the large colourful Swiss support. Eion Jess increased the Dons contingent to four as he came on in the second half to replace Scott Booth. Gary McAllister was making his first appearance for Scotland, as Andy Roxburgh announced after the game that he was quitting his Scotland post after seven years in charge of the national team.

Controversy surrounded events preceding the Scots next Pittodrie visit in 1997. The tragic death of Princess Diana had engulfed the nation in sorrow and the SFA were forced to switch the game to the Sunday, the day after the tragic Princess’ funeral. Once again, Scotland were on the threshold of success, as a place in the World Cup Finals in France beckoned. Jim Leighton was the solitary Don in the starting line up and he was rarely troubled in a comfortable 4-1 win. A year later, Pittodrie welcomed the Faroe Islands in a European Championship qualifier. Goals from Craig Burley and Billy Dodds were enough to see Scotland scrape through in what was an uninspiring performance against the part time Faroese. By this time, the Aberdeen contingent had vanished from the Scotland set up. Kevin McNaughton was the last Aberdeen player to play for his country at Pittodrie when he turned out against Nigeria in 2002.

Former Aberdeen legend Alex McLeish was in charge of Scotland when the national team welcomed South Africa to Pittodrie in 2007. A Kris Boyd goal was enough to give Scotland the win in a tight encounter. Former Aberdeen captain Russell Anderson was in the Scotland defence that night.

The last occasion Scotland played at Pittodrie was against the Faroe Islands under Craig Levein. An experimental Scotland side were never stretched against the minnows and the Scots ran out comfortable 3-0 winners.

SCOTLAND INTERNATIONALS AT PITTODRIE |

ABERDEEN FC PLAYERS SCOTLAND APPEARANCES AT PITTODRIE |

Bobby Clark, Martin Buchan, Steve Murray v Belgium 1971

Stewart McKimmie, Alex McLeish, Jim Bett v Egypt 1990

Brian Irvine, Stewart McKimmie (Sub), Scott Booth (Sub) v Estonia 1993

Stewart McKimmie, Brian Irvine, Scott Booth Eoin Jess (Sub) v Switzerland 1993

Jim Leighton, Billy Dodds (Sub) v Belarus 1997

Kevin McNaughton v Nigeria 2002