FIVE WEMBLEY SNIPPETS

End of the world for England: England had enjoyed an imperious start to their reign as world champions and were looking to extend a 19-match unbeaten run when they welcomed the Scots to London. Little did the hosts know, but a 50-year run without worthwhile silverware would follow the loss. Scots show off their swagger: This truly was a golden era for Scottish football. Within six weeks of Bobby Brown’s men shooting down the Auld Enemy, four members of the starting XI – goalkeeper Ronnie Simpson, left-back Tommy Gemmell and forwards Willie Wallace and Bobby Lennox – helped Celtic become the first British side to be crowned champions of Europe. The Rangers pair of John Greig and Ronnie Mckinnon were also involved at Wembley but saw their club side narrowly lose to Bayern Munich in the Cup Winners’ Cup final. Celtic reached the final again three years later but lost out to Feyenoord, while Rangers did win it in 1972. However, Scotland’s run as “unofficial world champions” did not last long – they surrendered the title to the USSR a month later. Age is no barrier: Simpson, pictured, was a late bloomer when it came to international football and was making his Scotland debut at Wembley at the age of 36. But he was by no means over the hill and proved his agility by helping Jock Stein’s Celtic see off Inter Milan in Lisbon. Remarkably, he would win just four more caps. Change is coming: England’s hopes of seeing off the determined Scots suffered a major setback within the first 15 minutes when defender Jack Charlton suffered a broken toe. Although substitutions had been permitted in English league football since 1965 (Scotland followed a year later) they were still not generally allowed in international competition, meaning Charlton had to limp on for the rest of the game after being moved up front. He still played his part by netting England’s first goal but the frustration over the impact injuries were having on major clashes ensured substitutions were in place for the Mexico World Cup three years later. Standing room only: If you were not among the 99,063-strong crowd at Wembley, you will not have seen Scotland’s greatest victory as it unfolded. Unlike today, the match was not deemed important enough to be shown live – and only the second half was covered by radio commentators. It was the only time during the 1960s the BBC did not cover the annual clash between Scotland and England but Scottish TV did screen three highlights programmes in the hours after the final whistle. RONNIE SIMPSON The Celtic goalkeeper made his Scotland debut at Wembley at the age of 36. But he was by no means over the hill by that point and six weeks later helped Jock Stein’s Parkhead side become the first British team to win the European Cup. After hanging up his gloves in 1970, he had a spell as Hamilton boss and served as a local councillor in Edinburgh. Simpson died of a heart attack in 2004. TOMMY GEMMELL The Celtic left-back became the first British player to score in two European Cup finals after following up his 1967 Lisbon strike with another against Feyenoord three years later. After leaving Parkhead in 1971, he had spells at Nottingham Forest, Miami Toros and Dundee – whom he captained to a League Cup triumph in 1974. After stints as boss at Dens Park and Albion Rovers, he moved on to a career in financial services. Gemmell died last month following a long illness. EDDIE MCCREADIE The defender returned to Wembley a month later but this time ended up on the losing side as Tottenham beat Chelsea 2-1 in the FA Cup final, although he did taste victory three years later when the Blues overcame Leeds in a replay at Old Trafford. Mccreadie, who spent two years as manager at Stamford Bridge before resigning in 1977 when his request for a company car was rejected by the board, now lives in the United States. JOHN GREIG There was disappointment in store for Scotland’s captain a month after leading his team to victory over England as his Rangers side lost to Bayern Munich in the Cup Winners’ Cup final, although he did lift the trophy in 1972 by beating Dynamo Moscow at the Nou Camp. The Ibrox side’s post-war appearance record-holder went on to manage Rangers but resigned in 1983 having failed to capture a league crown during five campaigns in charge. Greig, pictured below, was later voted the “Greatest Ever Ranger” by supporters. RONNIE MCKINNON The Rangers defender would have joined Greig in becoming a “Barcelona Bear” had it not been for a leg-break suffered against Sporting Lisbon in the second round of their 1972 glory run. The injury ultimately ended his Ibrox career and he never pulled on a light blue jersey again. After three decades in South Africa, he now lives on the Isle of Lewis. JIM BAXTER The Sunderland playmaker’s display of keepy-uppy exhibitionism has come to symbolise Scotland’s mastery over Alf Ramsey’s world champions. But Baxter should have achieved much more with his talents. While he won three league titles and a clutch of cups during his first Rangers stint, he struggled after moving south for spells with the Black Cats and Nottingham Forest. He retired in 1970 following a brief return to Rangers, but his problems with alcoholism blighted his later years. Baxter lost his battle with cancer in 2001. WILLIE WALLACE Wallace had scored a brace as Celtic clinched a domestic treble with victory over Aberdeen 0 Bobby Lennox, above, and Billy Bremner also had great club success. in the Scottish Cup final the week before facing England, and was also in the Celtic line-up a month later as they beat Inter Milan in Lisbon to claim their place in history. He moved to Crystal Palace in 1972 and rounded off his career in Australia, where he still lives. BILLY BREMNER The flame-haired battler had not long assumed the Leeds captaincy when he helped take down the English. He would go on to play a key role during a golden era at Elland Road, leading United to a pair of First Division titles, two Fairs Cup triumphs as well as victories in both the FA Cup and League Cup, although there was pain when they crashed to Bayern Munich in the 1975 European Cup final. A member of both the Scottish and English halls of fame. Bremner died in 1997 following a suspected heart attack. JIM MCCALLIOG Like Simpson, the Sheffield Wednesday midfielder was also making his debut – but was 16 years younger. It ended up being the perfect start as the youngster netted the winner. He was later a member of the Manchester United squad relegated to the Second Division in 1974, but helped the Red Devils bounce back at the first attempt. After brief stints in the United States and Norway, he now runs an Ayrshire B&B. DENIS LAW The Manchester United striker, who opened the scoring at Wembley, helped Matt Busby’s team win the European Cup in 1968 and, alongside Kenny Dalglish, jointly holds Scotland’s scoring record with 30 goals. Since retiring in 1975 after one last season with Manchester City, Scotland’s only Ballon d’or winner has worked in the media and for several charities. BOBBY LENNOX The man who put Scotland 2-0 up at Wembley was the fourth Celtic player in Bobby Brown’s line-up and another who enjoyed his career-defining moment in Lisbon. He was the last Lion to retire, playing on until he was 38. He ended his Parkhead career with 25 major honours, while his haul of 273 goals puts him second on the club’s all-time scoring list. Lennox is still a familiar face at Celtic Park, where he works as a match-day host.