In deepest, darkest November of 1872, England played Scotland in the first ever official international football match at the Hamilton Crescent cricket ground in Partick.
A crowd of 4,000 spectators paid a shilling apiece to watch the match finish goalless. There’s more here.
The two nations had actually played each other fives time previous, but FIFA refuse to acknowledge those early games as full internationals as all five of the Scotland teams were merely made up of players drafted from the London area. Fair enough.
Anyway, since their inaugural match over a century ago, England versus Scotland has become the most played fixture in international football. Of the record 112 meetings between the two countries, England have won 47 games to Scotland’s 41.
Here’s a few classic archive images from those early instalments of the auldest rivalry in association football history…
An artist’s impression of a goalmouth scramble during the international ‘friendly’ between England and Scotland, 1878 (Photo: PA)
A hand-coloured engraving depicts scenes from the first international match between England and Scotland at the Hamilton Crescent in 1872.
A photographer was arranged but he left without taking any pictures because the players refused to buy any!
A linesman wearing incredibly fancy pantaloons marshals the touchline as England play Scotland at Bramall Lane, Sheffield in 1903 (Photo: PA)
Scotland goalkeeper Jack Lyall prepares to hoof the ball downfield during a match against England at Crystal Palace…
…while up at the other end of the pitch, life is an awful lot less stressful for England ‘keeper Harry Linacre, 1905 (Photos: PA)
An enormous crowd of 122,000 watch England play Scotland at Hampden Park, 1908
Huge crowds swarm into Stamford Bridge for the Home International match between England and Scotland which the home side eventually won 1-0, with Harry Hampton the scorer, 1913 (Photo: PA)
The very cap awarded to England’s Billy Walker for his appearance against Scotland at Old Trafford, 1926
Scotland fans pack into Wembley to roar their team on against England, 1928…
…and then the Tartan Army escort Scotland captain James McMullan off the pitch after a famous 5-1 win
England captain David Jack shakes hands with Scottish counterpart Davie Meiklejohn over the Wembley centre-spot as Irish referee Williams McLean looks on, 1930 (Photo: PA)
For the record, we have absolutely no idea who the wee bloke in the middle is.
You’ll have to take our word for it but far, far below the camera blimp, England are pictured playing Scotland in front of a thronging crowd at Wembley, 1932 (Photo: PA)
England captain Bernard Joy shakes hands with Scotland captain John Gardiner over a very elaborate centre-spot at Dulwich Hamlet’s ground, 1937
England supporters are conducted in song before a game against Scotland at Wembley, 1938
Prime Minister Winston Churchill shakes hands with the England team ahead of a Wartime Friendly against Scotland, 1945
Somewhat surprisingly, the upcoming World Cup qualifier on Friday evening will be the first time the two nations have met in competitive circumstances since November of 1999 – a Euro 2000 qualification play-off at Wembley that Scotland won 1-0.
Here’s hoping Gareth Southgate’s mob fare a little better this time round, eh?