MP WELCOMES SFA CAP U-TURN
Posted on Tuesday, February 14 2006
“Moray legend finally gets SFA recognition”
Moray SNP MP Angus Robertson has welcomed a u-turn by the Scottish Football Association which will now award caps to all past international players.
About 80 former internationals were denied caps under previous rules and are now being offered commemorative awards by the SFA.
The issue was first raised by the Lossiemouth-born Stewart Imlach, who played four times for Scotland in 1958, including two games in the World Cup finals, and his son, Gary
The campaign received the backing of more than 30 Westminster MPs who signed a parliamentary motion tabled by Angus Robertson MP whose Moray constituency was the birthplace of Stewart Imlach.
Mr Robertson has now written to his parliamentary colleagues thanking them for their support.
Speaking after the SFA u-turn Angus Robertson MP said:
“Playing for Scotland is an honour and it has been recognised over time with the awarding of caps.
“I am glad that the SFA is finally going to properly acknowledge the contribution of Stewart Imlach and other players to Scottish international football.
“I’m sorry that his family has been denied this important posthumous memento for too long through the application of outdated rules.
“Congratulations to Stewart’s son Gary who has led the successful campaign to pressure the SFA into changing their minds.
“I’d also like to thanks my colleagues of all parties who signed my motion calling for a change of heart by the SFA. Lastly it is also proper to recognise the belated efforts of the SFA to right this historic wrong.
ENDS
The parliamentary motion reads:
“That this House notes the growing recognition for Lossiemouth born footballer Stewart Imlach who represented Scotland in the 1958 World Cup and was man of the match for Nottingham Forest in the 1959 FA Cup Final; welcomes the publication of the award winning book ‘My Father and the Other Working Class Football Heroes’ which highlights the fact that Imlach never received an official cap from the Scottish Football Association (SFA); and calls on the SFA to award a posthumous cap to the former internationalist as it has already done in at least one other case”.
Background note:
Stewart Imlach, from Lossiemouth, played for Nottingham Forest and made four appearances for his country in 1958, against Hungary, Poland, Yugoslavia and France, the last two games taking place at the 1958 World Cup finals in Sweden. He represented Scotland during a period when caps were only issued to those who appeared in matches against the other home countries.
In both 1994 and 2000, Imlach wrote to the SFA asking for a cap to be sent as an inheritance for his grandson, but with no success. After doing research for the award-wining book, his son discovered that the SFA had handed out a cap to at least one other player whose circumstances were similar to those of his father, and he has now challenged the association to reconsider its decision.
Stewart Imlach died in 2001 aged 69.
SFA Press Release
SFA TO AWARD CAPS TO FORMER INTERNATIONALS
The Scottish FA is to offer a commemorative cap to former international players who were denied a souvenir of their appearances for Scotland under the rules of the day.
David Taylor, SFA Chief Executive, said today: "It may surprise many people to know that not all internationals received caps, but different criteria were applied in days gone by. International football is rightly regarded as the pinnacle of a football player’s career and we can now celebrate the achievements of some famous names in Scottish football."
Until 1975, the distinctive tasselled caps were only awarded to players who took part in the British International Championship. That meant about 80 players who played for Scotland between 1929 – the date of the first continental international – and 1975 did not receive a cap.
"We will award a commemorative Scotland cap to any pre-1975 internationals who did not receive one under the previous system," he continued, " in recognition of their achievement in being selected to represent their country. This is an entirely new initiative by the Scottish FA board of directors that will give a tangible souvenir for those who did not appear in the British Championship."
The anomaly was first raised by the late Stewart Imlach, who played four times for Scotland in 1958 including two games in the World Cup finals, and his son Gary.
David Taylor added: "Times have changed, and although the British Championship was once seen as the highlight of the season, playing for Scotland in any match is a great honour. That is why we have taken this step, and I hope that it will be welcomed by the players and their families."
The player with the most international appearances to miss out on a cap was Eddie Turnbull, who played nine times for Scotland between 1948 and 1958. He will be invited to receive his commemorative cap at the Scotland v Switzerland match at Hampden Park on 1 March.
Many other former internationals have lost contact with the SFA, or have passed away. The Chief Executive said: "We simply don’t have contact details of most internationals from years gone by, and I would invite any former players who qualify, or a member of their close family, to write to me at Hampden Park in the first instance."
ENDS
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