150th Anniversary Heritage Match
Scotland v England
Tuesday, 12 September 2023 (kick-off 7.45pm)
Hampden Park, Glasgow

Watch live on Channel 4

Scotland and England will celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the oldest international fixture in football on Tuesday, as the sides meet in a special heritage friendly at Hampden Park.

With both sides in strong form in their respective UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying campaigns, it promises to be exciting fare in Glasgow.

Scotland come into this match in superb form; they are undefeated in eleven qualifiers –the longest run in Europe. Steve Clarke’s side have also won five consecutive matches in all competitions, while netting two goals in each game – for the first time since November 1949.

To mark the historic nature of the fixture, both captains visited the West of Scotland Cricket Club – the site of the first ever international match.

 

Previous Meetings

The sides last met at UEFA EURO 2020, with a hard-fought 0-0 at Wembley Stadium. Previously to that, Leigh Griffiths’ two late free-kicks sent Hampden wild, before Harry Kane pegged the visitors level in added time.

Scotland and England first met on St Andrew’s Day in 1872; the match which sparked international football. It is estimated between 2,500 – 4,000 spectators turned out to watch the game at the West of Scotland Cricket Club ground, paying one shilling each to be part of such a momentous day in the history of football, and indeed the world.

As the most successful team in Scottish football, most players forming the hallowed squad came from Queens Park, with a few other members hailing from Granville and South Norwood. The England side had been pulled from nine different clubs, including Sheffield Wednesday, Cambridge University, Crystal Palace, and Notts County.

Much like the clash at UEFA EURO 2020, this match finished 0-0.

115 matches have been played out with the Auld Enemy over the years; Scotland have won 41, England have won 48 and 26 have ended honours-even.

Team News

Steve Clarke has no fresh injury concerns following his side’s 3-0 victory over Cyprus in Larnaca.

Gareth Southgate will be without Jack Grealish and Trent Alexander-Arnold for this encounter, with both players having withdrawn from his original squad.

Pre-Match Thoughts

Steve Clarke: "We know we'll have a real challenge on our hands. Not only are England serial qualifiers for the major tournaments they have performed exceptionally well under the guidance of Gareth Southgate, reaching the World Cup Semi-Final in 2018, the EURO 2020 final and the last eight of the World Cup in 2022. They have a very talented and experienced squad, who will travel here looking to end our current run of positive results.

"Having said that we want to beat them every bit as much as they want to beat us. This should make for a full bloodied contest played in the right spirit in front of a full Hampden Park, which I’m sure will generate a magnificent atmosphere. In some friendlies you can perhaps relax a little, but not this one."

England Head Coach Gareth Southgate: “It will be a completely different game [to Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Ukraine]. Scotland are going very well, they are a good side, strong in the middle of the park and difficult to score against.

"It’s another really good test. Another hostile environment, against a team that are playing really well. You know, they’re in great form, full of confidence so it’s another important learning step for us.”

Saltire Square

Supporters attending the match will have extra entertainment to warm up for the big event at the our Saltire Square fan zone.

The fan zone event will be located in the ‘Purple Car Park’ opposite Toryglen Regional Football Centre on Aitkenhead Road and will feature street food, live music and a Q&A with a very special guest, hosted by Steven Mill and Ray Bradshaw.

Saltire Square opens at 4.30pm. Please note, numbers are limited to 500 people and is for Scotland fans only.

Match Programme

Our 150th Anniversary Collection continues with a special A4-size 150-page perfect-bound programme will be available around Hampden Park pre-match, and is also available to order online here.

Select Your All-Time Scotland XI

Ahead of the match, select your all-time Scotland XI – you could win a pair of tickets to the game! Click here to make your selection.

Scotland Squad

Goalkeepers
Zander Clark Heart of Midlothian
Angus Gunn Norwich City
Robby McCrorie Rangers

Defenders
Jack Hendry Al Ettifaq
Aaron Hickey Brentford
Scott McKenna Nottingham Forest
Nathan Patterson* Everton
Ryan Porteous Watford
Andy Robertson Liverpool
John Souttar Rangers
Kieran Tierney Real Sociedad

Midfielders
Stuart Armstrong Southampton
Billy Gilmour* Brighton
Lewis Ferguson Bologna
Ryan Jack Rangers
John McGinn Aston Villa
Callum McGregor Celtic
Kenny McLean Norwich City
Scott McTominay Manchester United

Forwards
Ché Adams Southampton
Ryan Christie Bournemouth
Lyndon Dykes Queens Park Rangers
Kevin Nisbet Millwall
Lawrence Shankland Heart of Midlothian

*Denotes Scottish FA JD Performance School graduate