1945–46 in Scottish football

The 1945-46 season was the seventh and final season of special wartime football in Scotland during World War II.

Overview

Between 1939 and 1946 normal competitive football was suspended in Scotland. Many footballers signed up to fight in the war and as a result many teams were depleted, and fielded guest players instead. The Scottish Football League and Scottish Cup were suspended and in their place regional league competitions were set up. Appearances in these tournaments do not count in players' official records.

Honours

In contrast to previous wartime seasons a single league, the Southern League, operated for Scotland with two divisions (although its membership did not include all the pre-war Scottish league clubs).cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/br1anmccoll/southernleague|title=Southern Football League|publisher=Scottish Football History|accessdate=2008-10-02] No country-wide cup competition took place, although the Glasgow Cup continued andcite web|url=http://www.rsssf.com/tabless/scot-glasgowcuphist.html|title=Glasgow Cup finals|publisher=RSSSF|accessdate=2008-10-02] a Southern League Cup was competed for,cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/br1anmccoll/southernlc|title=Southern Football League Cup|publisher=Scottish Football History|accessdate=2008-10-02] a competition which later formed the basis of the League Cup.

International

In keeping with the other wartime seasons the Scotland national football team went on official hiatus, although unofficial games, appearances for which do not count towards the final caps totals of participants, continued.

Scotland faced England in one such match on 13th April 1946 at Hampden Park. In front of 139, 468 spectators Scotland won 1-0 with a Jimmy Delaney goal in what was dubbed a 'Victory International'. The Scotland line-up featured: Robert Brown, David Shaw, Jock Shaw, William Campbell, Frank Brennan, Jackie Husband, William Waddell, Neil Dougall, Jimmy Delaney, George Hamilton, Billy Liddell.cite web|url=http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/eng-warvic-intres.html|title=War-Time/Victory Internationals - Details|publisher=RSSSF|accessdate=2008-10-07]

A second game against England was also played at Maine Road, Manchester on 24th April 1946. This game was neither an official nor a victory international but rather was played as a fundraiser for the victims of the Burnden Park Disaster. A crowd of 70,000 witnessed a 2-2 draw with Donald Welsh scoring twice for Scotland. Their line-up featured: Willie Miller, David Shaw, Jock Shaw, William Campbell, Frank Brennan, Jackie Husband, William Waddell, Neil Dougall, Willie Thornton, George Hamilton, Billy Liddell.

For the first time since before the war Scotland also faced opposition other than England. On 23rd January 1946 a crowd of 48,830 at Hampden saw Scotland draw 2-2 with Belgium, with Jimmy Delaney scroing both goals. The line-up was: Robert Brown, James McGowan, Jock Shaw (captain), James Campbell, Andrew Paton, George Paterson, Gordon Smith, Archibald Baird, Jimmy Delaney, John Deakin, Jimmy Walker. Both the Scottish Football Association and the Royal Belgian Football Association afford this game full international status, although it is not recognised as such by FIFA.cite web|url=http://www.rsssf.com/tabless/scot-intres1950.html|title=Scotland - International Matches 1946-1950|publisher=RSSSF|accessdate=2008-10-07]

In similar circumstances Scotland faced Switzerland at Hampden on 15th May 1946. In front of 111,899 fans Scotland won 3-1 with two from Liddell and one from Delaney. The line-up was: Robert Brown, David Shaw, Jock Shaw, William Campbell, Frank Brennan, Jackie Husband, William Waddell, Willie Thornton, Jimmy Delaney, Thomas Walker, Billy Liddell.

Notes and references

External links

* [http://www.rsssf.com/tabless/scotchamp.html League winners at RSSSF]
* [http://www.rsssf.com/tabless/scot-glasgowcuphist.html Glasgow Cup winners at RSSSF]