TAXI INTERNATIONALS

[prorege]

I remember watching a Miners International as part of the Miners Gala in 1977.

Scotland v England, effectively an East Juniors Select v a Northern League Select, played in Holyrood Park, just behind the Palace.

Scotland won 7-0 but I think the visitors may have indlulged in some pre-match hospitality.

[bluedragon]

I remember watching a Miners International as part of the Miners Gala in 1977.

Scotland v England, effectively an East Juniors Select v a Northern League Select, played in Holyrood Park, just behind the Palace.

Scotland won 7-0 but I think the visitors may have indlulged in some pre-match hospitality.

I came across this old thread when doing some research on the “Miners’ International”. This looks like a missing result although I have Northumberland miners providing the opposition in 1978.

Although the East of Scotland JFA organised the annual match in Edinburgh, nominations were invited from any Junior footballer who was an employee of the National Coal Board.

With some great help from the Scottish Mining Museum we have the following list of opponents and results. If any one can help with missing information or memories of the matches I would be interested to hear.

1978 Northumberland
1977 Midlands
1976 Yorkshire
1975 Nottingham (won 9-0)
1974 Derbyshire (won 5-1)
1973 Durham (won 11-4)
1972 South Wales (won 4-1)
1971 France (won 5-1)
1970 Midlands (won 5-2)
1969 Yorkshire (drew 2-2)
1968 South Wales (won 3-1)
1967 Derbyshire (won 4-1)
1966 Northumberland (drew 4-4)
1965 Poland (lost 1-4)
1964
1963 Hungary (lost 0-2)
1962 Yorkshire (drew 1-1)
1961 France
1960 Lancashire
1959 North Wales
1958
1957 South Wales (won 2-0)
1956 Derbyshire (lost 1-3)
1955 Midlands
1954 Nottingham
1953 Yorkshire (won 3-2)
1952 Northumberland

[prorege]

The match I was at was on June 11th 1977 in Holyrood Park. The programme billed it as Scotland Miners v England Miners. Team lists were made up mainly of East Juniors and Northern League players.

[Gordon Baird]

A browse through the BNA provided the following information:

1952 - Scottish Miners 3 Northumberland 2
1954 - Scottish Miners 2 Nottinghamshire 1
1955 - Scottish Miners 3 Midlands 0
1956 - widely reported as a 4-1 win for the Scots, not 3-1.
1958 - Scottish Miners 4 Cumberland 1
1959 - Scottish Miners 3 North Wales 3
1960 - Scottish Miners 4 Lancashire 0
1961 - Scottish Miners 12 France 1

The miners' gala day was held in Holyrood Park on the first Monday in May from 1947 until 1964. The following year it was switched to June in the hope of better weather and, with Holyrood unavailable, it took place on Leith Links.
In 1954 it was reported that the SJFA had decided to debar full professional players from taking part, restricting the selection to Form "A" and amateur players.

[bluedragon]

The match I was at was on June 11th 1977 in Holyrood Park. The programme billed it as Scotland Miners v England Miners. Team lists were made up mainly of East Juniors and Northern League players.

Thank you. I think I have the 1977 and 1978 matches transposed. I will post another list to include the amendment and the new information from Gordon Baird.

The teams for that match that I have do not show clubs and are:

NORTHUMBERLAND

Willis
Varty
Vout
Hetherington
Scott
Rochester
Mullaney
Pattison
Dixon
Hall
Walker
Travelling reserves:
K Tweddle
S Redpath

SCOTLAND

Shankland
Beveridge
Ramage
Hay
Mollinson
Marshall
Wood
Stevenson
Robertson
Pryde
Hart
Travelling reserves:
J Mooney
R McCaffery

[bluedragon]

A browse through the BNA provided the following information:

1952 - Scottish Miners 3 Northumberland 2
1954 - Scottish Miners 2 Nottinghamshire 1
1955 - Scottish Miners 3 Midlands 0
1956 - widely reported as a 4-1 win for the Scots, not 3-1.
1958 - Scottish Miners 4 Cumberland 1
1959 - Scottish Miners 3 North Wales 3
1960 - Scottish Miners 4 Lancashire 0
1961 - Scottish Miners 12 France 1

The miners' gala day was held in Holyrood Park on the first Monday in May from 1947 until 1964. The following year it was switched to June in the hope of better weather and, with Holyrood unavailable, it took place on Leith Links.
In 1954 it was reported that the SJFA had decided to debar full professional players from taking part, restricting the selection to Form "A" and amateur players.

Thank you for all this information on the matches. The 1956 3-1 was my typing error! One question out of ignorance - what was a Form "A" player?

[bluedragon]

Thank you for all the help so far. Here is the updated list.

1978 Midlands
1977 Northumberland (won 7-0)
1976 Yorkshire
1975 Nottingham (won 9-0)
1974 Derbyshire (won 5-1)
1973 Durham (won 11-4)
1972 South Wales (won 4-1)
1971 France (won 5-1)
1970 Midlands (won 5-2)
1969 Yorkshire (drew 2-2)
1968 South Wales (won 3-1)
1967 Derbyshire (won 4-1)
1966 Northumberland (drew 4-4)
1965 Poland (lost 1-4)
1964 Durham
1963 Hungary (lost 0-2)
1962 Yorkshire (drew 1-1)
1961 France (won 12-1)
1960 Lancashire (won 4-0)
1959 North Wales (drew 3-3)
1958 Cumberland (won 4-1)
1957 South Wales (won 2-0)
1956 Derbyshire (lost 1-4)
1955 Midlands (won 3-0)
1954 Nottingham (won 2-1)
1953 Yorkshire (won 3-2)
1952 Northumberland (won 3-2)

[Gordon Baird]

I've no idea what a Form "A" player is but I'm sure someone on here will!

Do you want the names of the players involved? There were certainly two or three of the Scottish teams listed in contemporary newspapers.

[bluedragon]

I've no idea what a Form "A" player is but I'm sure someone on here will!

Do you want the names of the players involved? There were certainly two or three of the Scottish teams listed in contemporary newspapers.

If it is not too much trouble that would be great. Thank you. I have team line-ups for:

1952, 1953, 1955, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977 & 1978.

[bluedragon]

I've no idea what a Form "A" player is but I'm sure someone on here will!

I found the newspaper reference in the Edinburgh Evening News (31 March 1954):“The decision of the Scottish Junior FA that full professional players would not be allowed to take part in the Miners’ International this season has restricted the selection committee to Form “A” and amateur players…..”

The registration books of the time had a column headed:

"Professional or Form”A”"

and the entries are “A” or “pro”.

The next column is headed:

“If Form “A” – Am. or Pro.”

The entries are either “Am.” or “Pro.”

So a Form “A” player could be a professional? What then was the Junior definition of a “full professional”?

[Gordon Baird]

1954
R. Williamson (Rosewell Rosedale); J. Thomson (Easthouses Lily), W. Rodger (Easthouses Lily); R. Rankine (Alva Albion Rangers), J. Robison (Forth Wanderers), J. Mochan (Rosyth Recreation); J. Turnbull (Fauldhouse United), J. Donagh (Camelon), J. Woods (Lochore Welfare), E. Peat (Douglas Water Thistle), H. King (Coltness United).
Jackie Woods scored one of the goals.

1956
Connachan (Easthouses Lily); Nelson (Steelend Victoria), Clark (Thornton Hibs); Comerford (Duntocher Hibs), Clydesdale (Petershill), Mair (Douglasdale, captain); Glen (Arniston Rangers), Smith (Auchinleck Talbot), Querrie (Kilsyth Rangers), Gibb (Carluke Rovers), Devine (Whitletts Victoria).

There were two changes - Querrie was withdrawn by his club who had a re-arranged cup tie, while Willie Devine was signed by St. Mirren. Their places were taken by George Carr (Ormiston Primrose) and Hugh King (Wishaw). There's a photo of the team in the Edinburgh Evening News, 8 May.

Eddie Connachan was later signed by Dunfermline Athletic while Joe Nelson spent many years at East End as a trainer and kit man.

1957
A. McAlpine (Lochgelly Albert); J. Hair (Bonnybridge), A. Shaw (Lanark United); W. Bell (Whitburn), J. Killachan (Parkhead, captain), J. Baird (Arniston Rangers); R. Paton (Newtongrange Star), G. Kinninmonth (Dundonald Bluebell), A. Morrow (Douglasdale), D. McCulloch (Glenafton Athletic), A. Neill (Baillieston).
There were two changes again - Baird & McCulloch withdrew, the latter being signed by Falkirk. Their places were taken by Murray (Glenafton Athletic) & Hunter (Bo'ness United) respectively. Morrow scored both goals. Jim Baxter of Crossgates Primrose was in the reserve eleven...

1958
Ramage (Easthouses Lily); Graham (Shotts Bon Accord), Johnston (Craigmark); McHendry (Ormiston Primrose, captain), Walker (Thornton Hibs), Walsh (Dunipace); Sinclair (Bo'ness United), Murphy (Valleyfield), Smith (Lanark United), Allison (West Calder United), Wilson (Annbank).

Ramage turned senior so McBeth (Douglasdale) replaced him.

1960
M. Schofield (Darvel); J. Hamilton (Crossgates Primrose), J. McAtee (Kilsyth Rangers); W. Fordyce (Lanark United), J. Davidson (Newtongrange Star, captain), J. Archibald (Dalkeith Thistle); A. Cruickshank (West Calder United), J. Weir (Douglas Water Thistle), J. Patterson (Bonnyrigg Rose), W. Penman (St. Andrews United), H. King (Coltness United).

1962
Schofield (Cumnock); Reynolds (GlenaftonAthletic), Ireland (Sauchie); Dunsmure (Blairhall), McDonach (Thorniewood United), Watson (Forth Wanderers, captain); Penman (Lochore Welfare), McDowell (Pumpherston), Connor (Linlithgow Rose), Donald (Broxburn Athletic), Hamill (Clackmannan).

[bluedragon]

Thank you for taking the time to do that for me. it is very much appreciated. "Baxter (Crossgates Primrose)" in the Miners' reserve eleven now joins my other favourite "Law (Kittybrewster)" as reserve in the 1951 Aberdeen Primary Schools team!