Every Scotsman who has ever kicked a football has wanted to be in a side that has beat England. There is something about putting one over the Auld Enemy that makes it a more important quest than any other. Beating foreign opposition is always a good reason to celebrate – but beating England is the signal for parties in the streets.

Probably the greatest ever international upset of all time in the clashes between Scotland and England came on 31 March 1928 – the day of the Wembley Wizards. Possibly an Englishman would never really understand what all the fuss was about – but to Scotland it was far more than that convincing score-line. It was the manner in which a team of so-called Scottish no-hopers humbled the mighty England on their own hallowed turf.

When the Scottish team was first announced for that game it was instantly written-off by many. There was a criticism that it contained too many ‘Anglos’ – name given to Scots who were playing their regular football in England.

In 1927 England had visited Hampden and won 2-1. Scotland wanted revenge – and to add a little more spice to the contest, as if it needed any, there was the added incentive that whichever side lost would be finishing bottom of the Home International Championship table. That’s why interest in the game was at its peak when the side was announced. There were amazing scenes in those days, like of which are never experienced today.

On 21 March 1928, a large crowd of several thousand supporters packed into Carleton Place, Glasgow which was the address of the Scottish Football Association. They were there to hear the official announcement of the team to face England. The traffic was halted and the police marshaled the crowd as if they were actually at a match.

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