In recent times, the Scottish national team has been dominated by Celtic players and even ex Celts such as Charlie Mulgrew. However, it wasn’t always that way.
Many fans will know about the crazily few caps that many Lisbon Lions won. Often this was put down to the fact that Rangers had a decent team, who had reached the European Cup Winner’s Cup final, whilst the likes of Kilmarnock reached the UEFA Cup Semi Final. Such quality in Scottish football could account for a few Celts missing out on selection, but when 11 Scotsmen conquer Europe, it’s bizzare that so many featured on such few occasions.
The phenomenon was not new in the 60s and 70s though. Indeed, one of the greatest ever Celts, James McGrory suffered similar fate. McGrory is still Britain’s record goalscorer and the 6th highest goalscorer of all time. The outstanding forward provoked the very first ever Hampden Roar with his goal against England. He scored 6 goals for the national team, being capped on just 7 occasions!
McGrory’s first cap came in 1928 and he didn’t score. As such, he didn’t feature for Scotland until 1931. He made 6 caps between 1931 and 1933, scoring 6 goals. He is, without question, the greatest striker that Scotland and Britain has ever seen. Even the great Pele once said “If I have half the career he (McGrory) has had then it would be incredible.”
During a bit of Celtic research recently, I found reference to this song being sang on the terraces pre-WW2: The Forgotten Celts.
When you know your team’s forgotten
Well it makes you feel just sore;
There’s England’s Centre, Tommy Lawton
He is always sure to score.
We’ve a man and sure he held him
When the score was nothing each
And his name is Willie Corbett
He kept Tommy at his reach.
Now we’ve Scotland’s best right winger,
And this lad won’t get his place;
For they will play Willie Waddell
And we think it is a disgrace;
But, of course he plays for Rangers,
These words you know are true;
He will never be a James Delaney,
So give the boys their due.
When you know your team’s forgotten
And the boys won’t get their due;
The selectors they won’t pick them
‘Cause they just see men in blue,
Now I think it’s time we started
And on this Cup we’ll have a bet;
Even though our team’s forgotten
We’ll still support the Celts yet.
