Bertie Auld’s International debut was an unusual one. Scotland actually beat Holland 2-1 in a friendly in Holland (not necessarily a result that one would expect today) and Bertie got sent off!
It was on 27 May 1959 in the Olympic Stadium Amsterdam during Bertie’s first spell with Celtic. His selection was by no means undeserved, although it would have to be said that 1959 was a poor year for Celtic.
But Bertie and three other Celts were chosen in a team which read Farm (Blackpool), Mackay (Celtic) and Caldow (Rangers); Smith (Celtic), Evans (Celtic) and Hewie (Charlton Athletic); Leggat (Fulham), Collins (Everton), White (Falkirk), Law (Huddersfield Town) and Auld (Celtic)
A highlight of making ‘Don Patricio’ was talking with #BertieAuld – about Patrick O’Connell, #Celtic and the importance of football remembering its history.
RIP Bertie, an absolute honour to have met you.
🎞️ https://t.co/sKmt1h1byi pic.twitter.com/XY2vi25QCC— Don Patricio O’Connell FILM (@DonPatricioFILM) November 17, 2021
Scotland were 0-1 down at half-time, but fought back in the second half with a goal from Bobby Collins (a magnificent one after he beat three or four men) and then after some great work from Denis Law, Graham Leggat hit a fine drive from the edge of the penalty box. The crowd was 55,000 and in 1959 there was no Tartan Army, not even a regiment, battalion or even a platoon, and the Dutch supporters were by no means happy at this turn of events, and threw cushions and missiles in protest. Some “friendly”!
And it was no better on the field. Bertie was badly fouled early in the second half by right half Notermans, but restrained himself. But then in added-on time, Graham Leggat was kicked in the face as he lay on the ground by the same “naughty man” Notermans, and was not punished for it.
But then Notermans tried it once too often, bundling Bertie out of play. Bertie “swung his boot in a gesture of retaliation” according to The Glasgow Herald and the Portuguese referee sent him off in spite of a few pleas from Scotland captain Bobby Evans who felt that Bertie was provoked.
The #CelticFC players will all wear the No.10 on their shorts at this Saturday’s League Cup semi-final against @StJohnstone at Hampden in tribute to Bertie Auld.🍀🦁
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) November 17, 2021
On his way, a couple of Dutch fans tried to have a full and frank exchange of opinions with Bertie and it was as well that the Dutch police got in the way, otherwise the misguided Dutch youths might have discovered what a “Glasgow kiss” was, as administered by the boy from Maryhill.
Cyril Horne in The Glasgow Herald is totally sympathetic “I am the last person to condone or attempt to justify serious misconduct by any player, but I hasten to sympathise with Auld…In view of the provocation that the young player suffered, I am sure that they selectors will consider the circumstances extenuating and that he will be exonerated”.
He was, and duly played in the next game against Portugal (a 1-0 defeat on 3 June), and then won his last International cap in October when the side drew 1-1 with Wales at Hampden on 4 November 1959.
He should have had more caps, one feels, especially after he returned in 1965, but then again, who am I to question the wisdom of the Scotland selectors and Managers? One does feel however that getting sent off while playing for Scotland was a major embarrassment to Mr Kelly in his SFA role, did Bertie no favours in the eyes of Mr K and led to his departure from Celtic a couple of years later.
David Potter
The Scotland team take part in a minute of silence for Walter Smith and Bertie Auld prior to during the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Scotland and Denmark at Hampden Park on November 15, 2021 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
