From 1870 to the present day, the Scotland national football team have played various matches that are not accorded the status of official (FIFA) internationals by the governing body, the Scottish Football Association.Scotland - Unofficial Matches Results, RSSSF, 23 July 2020 These include early matches against England prior to the first-ever official international in 1872, wartime fixtures between 1914–1919 and 1939–1946 when official competitions were suspended, overseas tour matches played by a Scotland XI of varying strength and status, and others as specified.
While some of the tour matches (involving players under consideration for the national team, some having already been capped at full level) could be seen as similar in status to those played by the Scotland B team, they have not been recorded officially as such.
List of Matches 1870s–1910s 1870–1872 England v Scotland matches
The selection of the Scottish XI were players drawn from living and working in and around London area. Some of the players' Scottish links were tenuous and in some cases non-existent.Scotland Unofficial Matches 1870-1891, RSSSF, 24 June 2020
Names of note included Alexander Morten, who played in the first match, Arnold Kirke-Smith, who played in two matches, and William Lindsay, who played in all five matches, of the Scotland representative team were all in fact later capped by the official England national team.
1880 In 1880, a Scottish tour of Canada and the United States was suggested. Several preparatory matches were played, mostly against club sides and including a mini-tour of northern England, with the potential traveling squad referred to as the 'Scotch Canadians'. However, the tour itself never went ahead after the death of its main organiser, SFA secretary William Dick.New book celebrates Canadian soccer and its close links with Scotland, Scottish Sport History, 24 January 2014The Victorian Football Miscellany ("Scotch Canadians"), Paul Brown; Superelastic, 2013; Four matches are detailed below:
A match was scheduled with Morton on May 22, but was cancelled because the Greenock Academy directors refused them permission to use Academy Park.
1888
1891
1900 A testimonial match for Everton's Scottish player Willie Muir in September 1900 was played between 'Englishmen' and 'Scotchmen' based at Merseyside clubs; the Scots won 2–1.Willie Muir's Benefit Match, Liverpool Mercury, 11 September 1900 (via Play Up, Liverpool)
1901 An exhibition match with Germany was scheduled for 28 September 1901 as part of the Glasgow International Exhibition, but was cancelled due to a disagreement over funds; the visiting German team lost 12–0 to England's amateur team a few days earlier.
1902
A testimonial match for Liverpool's Scottish player William Goldie in November 1902 was played between an 'England Select XI ' and a 'Scotland Select XI' drawn from players at Merseyside clubs; the Scots won 4–0.England Select XI v Scotland Select XI 0-4 (William Goldie's Benefit), Liverpool Courier, 4 November 1902 (via Play Up, Liverpool)
1913 A testimonial match for Rangers and Scotland winger Alec Smith was played in January 1913 between Rangers and an 'International XI' including the retired RS McColl, but this featured Wales international Billy Meredith.
1914 A testimonial match for Partick Thistle and Scotland player Alex Raisbeck was played in January 1914 between Partick and an 'International XI' team, but this included England international Jack Parkinson and several other players who had never played for Scotland.A good benefit: Riot of goals at Firhill, Daily Record, 7 January 1914 (via Partick Thistle History Archive)
World War I
By the end of the first year of fighting during World War I, most official football tournaments were suspended (a notable exception was the Scottish Football League Division One). International matches took place very occasionally during the duration of the war itself (July 1914 to November 1918) with Scotland only playing two, both military benefit matches against England. Following the Allied victory, regular sports events began to return, and Scotland played in two Victory International matches against Ireland followed by two against England in Spring 1919. Established competitions and fully recognised international matches resumed in the 1919–20 season.
1915 A fundraising match for the Belgian Refugee Relief Fund was played between an 'International XI' and an 'Edinburgh XI' in April 1915; the internationals included England's Joseph Hodkinson, Billy Meredith of Wales and William Crone who had played for the Irish League (Bobby Walker and Peter Nellies of Hearts also switched sides pre-match to cover for call-offs).Football. Belgian Relief Match Internationalists' Win, Edinburgh Evening News, 15 April 1915; via London Hearts Supporters ClubThe Belgian Relief Football Match, Edinburgh Evening News, 17 April 1915; via London Hearts Supporters Club
1920s–1940s 1920 A Testimonial match for Partick Thistle and Scotland player Jimmy McMullan was played in April 1920 between Partick and an 'International Select' team.Jimmy McMullan 1920, Partick Thistle History Archive
1921 Tour of USA and Canada A Scotland XI tour of Canada and the USA was organised by Glasgow club Third Lanark and the Dominion of Canada Football Association. Some local publications of the time listed the visitors as 'Third Lanark', others as 'Scotland'.
Squad:
Alec Bennett (Albion Rovers) Craig Brown (Motherwell) Jimmy Brownlie (Third Lanark) Willie Bulloch (Partick Thistle) Jimmy Gordon (Dunfermline Athletic) John Low (Dunfermline Athletic) Tom Maxwell (Dunfermline Athletic) Willie McAndrew (Third Lanark)
Neil McBain (Ayr United) Charlie McCormack (Third Lanark) Jimmy McMenemy (Partick Thistle) Bobby Orr (Third Lanark) Willie Rankin (Motherwell) James Scott (Dumbarton) Doug Thomson (Aberdeen) Andy Wilson (Dunfermline Athletic)
25 matches were played, with 24 wins, 1 draw and 0 defeats. 1 match is detailed below:
1923 Third Lanark undertook another summer tour in 1923, this time to South America (eight matches),Río de la Plata Trip of Third Lanark 1923, Pablo Ciullini, RSSSF, 19 August 2020 and again guest players from other clubs were invited, the most high-profile being Hughie Ferguson, but although apparently some attempt was made to portray this as a 'Scotland team',Tommy McInally: Celtic's Bad Bhoy, David Potter; Black & White Publishing, 2009; this was much less prevalent than for the 1921 tour and only one of the players had been capped at full level (Robert Orrock who played in one match ten years earlier).
1927 A testimonial match for Bradford City defender Willie Watson was played in April 1927 between Bradford and a 'Scottish Internationals' team, but this included Ireland international Bert Manderson and several other players who had never played for Scotland.Valley Parade Benefit, Leeds Mercury, 28 April 1927
1927 Tour of USA and Canada A Scotland XI tour of North America was organised by the SFA in 1927.
Squad:
Sandy Archibald (Rangers) Danny Blair (Clyde) Jock Buchanan (Morton) Willie Cook (Dundee) Tully Craig (Rangers) Andy Cunningham (Rangers) Patsy Gallacher (Falkirk) Tom Hamilton (Rangers) John Hunter (Falkirk)
Adam McLean (Celtic) Jimmy McStay (Celtic) Willie McStay (Celtic) Tom Morrison (St Mirren) Tommy Muirhead (Rangers) Jimmy Munro (St Johnstone) Tom Scott (Falkirk) Jimmy Simpson (Dundee United) Andy Swallow (St Johnstone)
20 matches were played, with 19 wins, 0 draws and 1 defeat. 3 matches are detailed below:
1929
A friendly match between Scotland and the Netherlands in June 1929 was retrospectively considered not to be official by the Royal Dutch Football Association due to their disapproval of professionalism in the sport–all the Scotland players were professionals. The SFA regards it as official.
1932 A friendly match in Copenhagen on 9 October 1932 in which Denmark defeated the Scotland amateur team 3–1 (James Paul scored the Scottish goal)Denmark v Scotland, 9 October 1932, 11v11.com is regarded as a full international by the Danish Football Union,Danmark - Skotland 3–1, Danish Football Union (in Danish)Denmark - Overview of Official Internationals, RSSSF and consequently has sometimes been included in overviews of matches between the nations.Scotland v Denmark, BBC Sport, 19 August 2002
1935 Tour of USA and Canada A Scotland XI tour of North America was organised by the SFA in 1935.
Squad:
Andrew Anderson (Heart of Midlothian) George Cummings (Partick Thistle) Bob Donnelly (Partick Thistle) Dally Duncan (Derby County) Alex Ferguson (St Johnstone) Bob Fraser (Aberdeen Hughie Gallacher (Derby County) Bobby Main (Rangers) Whitey McDonald (Rangers)
Davie Meiklejohn (Rangers) Willie Miller (Partick Thistle) Willie Mills (Aberdeen) Tom Smith (Kilmarnock) William Stevenson (Clyde) Tommy Walker (Heart of Midlothian) Dave Wilson (Hamilton Academical) Peter Wilson (Celtic)
13 matches were played, with 13 wins, 0 draws and 0 defeats. 2 matches are detailed below:
1935
1939 Tour of USA and Canada A Scotland XI tour of North America was organised by the SFA in 1939.
Squad:
Bobby Bolt (Falkirk) Jimmy Carabine (Third Lanark) Jimmy Caskie (St Johnstone) Jerry Dawson (Rangers) Jimmy Dykes (Heart of Midlothian) Ben Ellis (Motherwell) Archie Garrett (Heart of Midlothian) John Gillies (Clyde) Dougie Gray (Rangers)
George Hamilton (Aberdeen) Jack Jones (Third Lanark) Willie Lyon (Celtic) Doug McAvoy (Kilmarnock) Malky MacDonald (Celtic) Tommy McIntyre (Hibernian) Tommy McKenzie (Motherwell) Sandy McNab (West Bromwich Albion)
14 matches were played, with 13 wins, 1 draw and 0 defeats. 2 matches are detailed below:
World War II
Official football tournaments were suspended soon after the outbreak of World War II in Autumn 1939. International matches took place occasionally during the duration of the war itself, with Scotland playing against England 15 times, a team representing the Republic of Ireland once, and various branches of the British armed forces who could call on strong squads of professional players called into service. In addition, there were six 'Army Internationals' nominally between Scotland and England, but with the players selected from members of the military stationed in each country regardless of their heritage (the 'Army in England' team won five of these, with one draw).Testimonials, Clubs and Forces, England Football Online
When the conflict ended in May 1945 with an Allied victory, regular sports events began to return, and Scotland participated in, and won, the 1945–46 British Victory Home Championship. Two further Victory International matches in 1946 against Belgium and Switzerland are considered to have full international status. All established competitions and fully recognised international matches resumed in the 1946–47 season, the outset of which included one further unofficial England v Scotland match to raise funds for those affected by the Burnden Park disaster earlier that year.
British Victory Home Championship
1946
1947 On 10 May 1947, a Great Britain XI played a Europe XI at Hampden Park to commemorate the Home Nations rejoining FIFA. The GB team, which won the match 6–1 in front of over 130,000, wore the dark blue of Scotland to acknowledge the venue, but only three Scottish players were involved.England Player Honours – International Representative Teams, England Football OnlineMatches of Supranational Representative Teams 1937-1970, RSSSF
1949
1949 Tour of USA and Canada A Scotland XI tour of North America was organised by the SFA in 1949.
Squad:
George Aitken (East Fife) Jimmy Brown (Heart of Midlothian) Sammy Cox (Rangers) Bobby Evans (Celtic) Jock Govan (Hibernian) Billy Houliston (Queen of the South) Johnny MacKenzie (Partick Thistle) Tommy Orr (Morton)
Willie Redpath (Motherwell) Lawrie Reilly (Hibernian) Billy Steel (Derby County) Willie Telfer (St Mirren) Willie Thornton (Rangers)