Happy Victory Day (March 7, 1874)

No need to check your calendars. Unless you have one made specially by the Tartan Army, I doubt Victory Day is on there. But let that take nothing away from the importance of today in history. On March 7th, 1874, Scotland recorded our first international win, beating England 2-1. It was the third time the two auld enemies had met, the first ending in a 0-0 draw in 1872 and the second a 4-2 England win in 1873. But on this date, 134 years ago, we finally came out on top and celebrated international victory for the first time. Our goalscorers, heroes always in the history of the Scottish game, were Fred Anderson and Angus MacKinnon. In all, we’ve played England 110 times, and won 41 of those, with the English taking just slightly more of the glory with 45 wins of their own. For now.

Happy Victory Day to all Scottish football fans. With just under three weeks until the first match under George Burley, we’d do well to keep the glories (and disappointments) of old in mind. Alba Gu Brath.