Keepie-up show was Rough’s first sight of Diego
Alan Rough felt privileged to be on the same pitch as Diego Maradona back in 1979.
He felt even more fortunate to be subbed at half-time!
The legendary keeper – who won 53 caps and played at the 1978 and 1982 World Cups – was already aware of Maradona’s precocious talent before he lined up against him at Hampden.
Rough, now 69, recalled: “A couple of years before that game, Scotland had gone on a short tour of South America to play Brazil, Chile and Argentina.
“The latter match was played at the home of Boca Juniors – who Maradona would go on to play for – and to entertain the crowd, he was brought out at halftime to show off his balljuggling skills.
“He was just 16 at that point and looked like a wee kid pulled in off the street. But even then his skill was amazing.
“He was so good, I don’t think the crowd wanted the match to re-start.
“In the end, we drew the match 1-1, and Willie Johnston got sent off. But those memories of Maradona stick out.
“Two years later, we came across him again at Hampden.
“Jock Stein was the manager, but I don’t remember any mention of having to keep an eye anyone in particular during the team talk.
“In the old Hampden, a buzzer would go off in the dressing-room, telling the teams to head out to the tunnel.
“As we were standing there, there were all these Argentina players, most of them over six feet and some of them with moustaches, and this wee boy alongside them – Maradona.
“He didn’t look like an Argentinean, but we soon saw why he was in their team.
“He was brilliant, and he set up their opening goal past me, scored by Leopoldo Luque.
“Then I was replaced by George Wood at half-time, and Maradona popped one past him in the second half as we lost 3-1.”
The Scotland scorer that afternoon, Arthur Graham, got close enough to Maradona post-match to swap jerseys.
It was the first time Maradona had worn the No. 10 he made famous, and when it went up for auction a few years back, it fetched £10,000.
The jersey has twice been on display at the Scottish Football Museum, by which time Maradona’s fame had ben confirmed by countless dazzling displays – and the infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal at the 1986World Cup Finals in Mexico.
Alan Rough recalled: “I was actually waiting on a flight at Manchester Airport when the news of that goal came through.
“The English were all going off their heads. I just had a quiet chuckle to myself!
“I dare say if Maradona had scored a similar goal against us, our reaction would have been the same, and we might never have forgiven him.
“So my sympathies went out to Peter Shilton.”