Post by hamish on Nov 5, 2003 0:39:00 GMT
Please find my response to Brian Meek in the Herald today,Monday as he has a go at me in person. My crime is not backing the British team in the Olympics!!
I have a picture at home of George Hardwick leading out the GB Team in a match at Hampden in 1947 against The Rest of Europe that not only saved FIFA from bankruptcy but safeguarded the four Home football nations as separate identities into the 21st century. This game having served its sole monetary purpose also allowed Scots to support Stanley Mathews just once in his career and we then continued as a nation to be obsessed with our southern friends until qualifying for the 1974 World Cup. Suddenly there was a new game in town with bigger fish around to fry us! Competing at the highest level not just as an athlete but as a supporter broadens the horizons, just ask any sports fan who has attended a Commonwealth Games in New Zealand, the Rugby World Cup in the new South Africa, or watching British athletes conquering the world in the Sydney Olympics. My proudest moment as a Scottish football fan was at the opening game of the 1998 World Cup where, and lets face it, the Scottish supporters with a worldwide reputation were headhunted to open the tournament with the holders Brazil. A large percentage of less than sad Scots wore Brazil tops as an accompaniment to the kilt as a homage to the greatest football nation on the planet. In 1960, 127.000 spectators witnessed the finest club game ever staged in Europe and left a nation bewitched forever with Real Madrid and an emotional investment that was repaid last year with a stunning goal from Zidane. The Scottish football fan is not perfect and then again having won a trophy or two at major tournaments for fair play, Seville, Bordeaux 98, Italia 90, Dundee Utd,Sweden 92 amongst others we really are better the petty jibe of little Scotlander and have the credentials and accolades to prove it. A national UK football team is of no interest, however the thought of Brazil playing at Hampden against Scotland really excites me. I for one will be at the front of the queue at Safeway for a ticket for that game and Brian I'll keep a space for you.
Hamish Husband
37 Mason
I have a picture at home of George Hardwick leading out the GB Team in a match at Hampden in 1947 against The Rest of Europe that not only saved FIFA from bankruptcy but safeguarded the four Home football nations as separate identities into the 21st century. This game having served its sole monetary purpose also allowed Scots to support Stanley Mathews just once in his career and we then continued as a nation to be obsessed with our southern friends until qualifying for the 1974 World Cup. Suddenly there was a new game in town with bigger fish around to fry us! Competing at the highest level not just as an athlete but as a supporter broadens the horizons, just ask any sports fan who has attended a Commonwealth Games in New Zealand, the Rugby World Cup in the new South Africa, or watching British athletes conquering the world in the Sydney Olympics. My proudest moment as a Scottish football fan was at the opening game of the 1998 World Cup where, and lets face it, the Scottish supporters with a worldwide reputation were headhunted to open the tournament with the holders Brazil. A large percentage of less than sad Scots wore Brazil tops as an accompaniment to the kilt as a homage to the greatest football nation on the planet. In 1960, 127.000 spectators witnessed the finest club game ever staged in Europe and left a nation bewitched forever with Real Madrid and an emotional investment that was repaid last year with a stunning goal from Zidane. The Scottish football fan is not perfect and then again having won a trophy or two at major tournaments for fair play, Seville, Bordeaux 98, Italia 90, Dundee Utd,Sweden 92 amongst others we really are better the petty jibe of little Scotlander and have the credentials and accolades to prove it. A national UK football team is of no interest, however the thought of Brazil playing at Hampden against Scotland really excites me. I for one will be at the front of the queue at Safeway for a ticket for that game and Brian I'll keep a space for you.
Hamish Husband
37 Mason