Scottish Football Minutiae [1] Quiz

Answer: Denis Law

Denis Law scored 45 goals in 41 games in 1964. He was preceded as European Footballer of the Year by Lev Yashin, and succeeded by Eusebio. Although Denis was born in Aberdeen, he was snapped up by Huddersfield Town as a young boy.

Answer: Third Lanark

Third Lanark were the first British team to tour Argentina in 1923. Their biggest home attendance came in a Scottish tie against Rangers in 1954, a staggering 45,455. Their lowest crowd was against Clydebank in 1967, a meager 297.

Answer: George Best

Best made his home debut for Hibs against Partick Thistle, and more than doubled the gate to 22,000. The Hibs won 2-1.

Answer: Rangers, Celtic, Hibs, Dundee & Dundee United

In fact, until Roman Abramovich arrived, no team from south of Watford had come close to emulating Spurs. Hibs were actually fifth in the Scottish League in 1955, but were invited to participate in the first European Cup. 18 clubs who were thought to be attractive, and who had the floodlights necessary to host matches at night were invited to take part. Hibs became the first British club in Europe because the English League persuaded the English champions Chelsea, not to enter the competition.

Answer: Eric Stevenson

Many players had crossed the great Edinburgh divide over the years. Most famous of them all was Gordon Smith who won League Championship medals with both Hibs and Hearts, and just to prove it wasn't luck won another winners medal with Dundee in 1962.

Answer: Sir Alex Ferguson

Alex Ferguson once scored 5 goals for Rangers against Raith Rovers in a 10-2 victory at Ibrox. Ferguson seemed to be made the scapegoat for Rangers 4-0 defeat by Celtic in the 1969 Scottish Cup Final. He has gone on record saying that he was not the worst player on the pitch that day, and that in fact it was the Rangers tactics set out by Davie White that were to blame.

Answer: Billy Houliston

Billy Houliston never played in a losing Scotland side. After his playing career he became a director at Queen of the South, and was later chairman during which time Queens won promotion to the first division managed by George Farm. The England side beaten in 1949 included such legends as Billy Wright, Stanley Matthews, Stan Mortensen, Jackie Milburn, and Tom Finney.

Answer: Richard Gough

Gough started his career with Dundee United before moving south to Spurs where he earned the dubious honour of being the first Tottenham player to captain a losing FA Cup Final team. In 1987, Gough joined Rangers where he won nine league titles in a row.

A couple of spells in America with the Kansas City Wizards and San Jose Clash and a return to Rangers for one season, allied with spells at Everton and Nottingham Forest rounded off his illustrious career. Gough although born to a Swedish mother in Sweden, qualified to play for Scotland as his father was Scottish.

Answer: Clydebank

In 1977, Clydebank became the first club in Britain to have an all-seated stadium. They filled the old terracing at Kilbowie Park with wooden benches but never got around to erecting any covering, so the supporters were exposed to the elements. Aberdeen became the first British team to have an all-seated, all-covered ground in 1978 when work was completed on Pittodrie Stadium.

Answer: St. Mirren

In 1877, a decision was taken by the gentlemen to disregard rugby and cricket in favour of association football. St. Mirren were one of only five clubs to survive who were founder members of the Scottish League. The club was named after Saint Mirin who is the Patron Saint of Paisley.