Scotland in the 60s

The 1960s heralded a golden age of players who wore the dark blue of Scotland. Law, Gilzean, Baxter, Greig, and Johnstone are just some of the names still familiar to supporters today. Bookended by heavy defeats against the Auld Enemy, the decade witnessed just one other defeat in the annual fixture against England and contained both the most-celebrated and horrific of Wembley encounters. The 1960s also included a brief spell with Jock Stein as manager and the only Scotland international to date to be decided in extra time. Valiant but ultimately failed World Cup campaigns included memorable matches against Italy, West Germany, and Czechoslovakia; an embarrassing loss to the amateurs of Norway was offset by a six-goal spree in Spain a matter of days later. Set against the backdrop of the Swinging Sixties, Scotland in the 60s looks at each of the 64 matches played by the national side during the period and the consequences of those results. Extensive newspaper and video archive research is complemented by the memories of the players who took part and the reminiscences of supporters and journalists who were there.