The St Valentine’s Day Massacre of Scotland

Scotland and England don’t play out “friendlies”. Not even when the match is to celebrate 100 years of the Scottish FA. Not even if the day is Valentine’s Day. February 14th 1973 as it happened turned out to be the St Valentine’s Day massacre of Scotland. Humiliated in front of their own crowd by their fiercest of rivals.

A decade after the Football Association had celebrated its centenary in 1963, the Scottish FA reached the same milestone. To begin the celebrations Scotland invited the Auld Enemy England to make the trip to Hampden Park in February 1973 for a friendly. The match was to take place on Valentine’s Night. And what could stir the passions of the average Scot more than the visit of their closest and most hated rivals from south of the border?

100th Cap For Moore

To add to the occasion, England captain Bobby Moore was to win his 100th cap in the days when that was a rare achievement. However, as was and what always is the case these two great nations were ready to spill blood for the cause. The match was to be a friendly in name only, with Scottish players keen to impress new manager Willie Ormond. Scotland’s new boss had replaced Tommy Docherty, who had been lured by First Division strugglers Manchester United.

On a cloudy and snowy night, a crowd of 48,470 braved the wintry weather. An attendance that was well below the usual attendance when the sides met annually in the Home International Championship.

England was going into the match in patchy form scoring just 11 goals in their previous 13 matches. However, against the Scots, they found their form in a commanding and impressive display of attacking football.

Game Over

Within 16 minutes the game was all but over. Peter Lorimer turned the ball into his own net before his Leeds United team-mate Allan Clarke scored to make it 2-0. Moments later a long throw from Martin Chivers ended with Mike Channon putting England 3-0 up.

Free-scoring England were just as dominant in the second half. Netting twice after long punts forward by goalkeeper Peter Shilton created goal-scoring chances. Chivers benefitted from awful defending to make it 4-0 before Clarke ran through to score a neat fifth.

Although England was hopeful of winning beforehand, few would have anticipated such a convincing triumph.

Scotland Have The Last Laugh

England beat Scotland once again just three months later. However, they were not so convincing this time around winning just 1-0 at Wembley.

Despite these two defeats, it would be Scotland who would have the last laugh. The Nation from north of the border qualifying for the World Cup. While England didn’t.

If only England could have saved one of their goals in The St Valentine’s Day Massacre of Scotland for that infamous night against Poland in October 1973.