Jim went from a Scotland fan to player in 48 hours
Scotland’s Under-17 players are currently in Malta playing three matches as part of the qualification process for next summer’s European Championships in Hungary.
There are more chances than ever for young players to represent their country at one of the younger age levels, and start to make a move towards the top team.
Back in 1960, the SFA conducted an experiment to give rising stars a chance to push their claim for full-international recognition.
An Under-23 team took on a Second Division XI at Falkirk’s Brockville Stadium.
It wasn’t the first time the Under-23s had faced non-international opposition. There had been games against Rangers and Hibs in the 1950s.
But the timing of this game was a surprise, and another reminder that asking professionals to play a lot of games isn’t a new thing.
The game took place on a Monday night in April, just 48 hours after the full Scotland team had drawn 1-1 with England at Hampden Park.
Jim Pierson of Stirling Albion was a wing-half in the Under-23 side, and had a good idea about the form of some of his team-mates.
He recalled: “I had been at Hampden to watch Scotland against England, and three of the players from that game were lining up alongside me at Falkirk.
“Celtic goalkeeper, Frank Haffey, his clubmate Dunky MacKay, and Motherwell’s Ian St John had all faced England.
“But they were all more than happy to be part of the Under-23 team that won 3-1.
“A couple of our best players, Billy McNeill and Willie Hunter, went on to get full caps.
“There were summer internationals against Austria, Hungary and Turkey coming up.
“The selectors wanted to get a look at as many lads as they could.
“I had been playing against these guys in the First Division and, although I didn’t make the
full side, it was a great honour to be picked with them for the Scotland team.”
It wasn’t the first time that Jim had rubbed shoulders with future legends of the game.
He went on: “I got three Scotland Schoolboy caps, including a game against England at Leicester City’s Filbert Street in 1953.
“Bobby Charlton was in their team, and you could see he was going to be a great player.
“I remember his brother, Jack, being at the game to watch.
“We were given a tie and a cap to mark those appearances. I’m not sure what happened to the tie – but the cap still fits!”
Things change very quickly in football, and when the Under-23 experiment was repeated just nine months later, Jim was in the opposition.
He had signed for Falkirk and was in the Second Division representative team alongside club-mates Dougie Moran and Alex Duchart.
On this occasion, his side was on the end of a 10-2 defeat.
Jim said: “I had been happy to join Falkirk. The manager, Alex McRae, and Willie Ormond, who started his coaching career there, were always saying they were going to sign me.
“We got promoted to the First Division in my first season. There was a great spirit, and we had some great laughs in the dressing-room.”
When a move to Arbroath was next on the agenda, it meant another drop into the Second Division.
But Jim again helped his club reach Scotland’s top flight.
With in-form strikers Dennis Bruce and Jimmy Jack banging in the goals, the Lichties won promotion.
Less than a year later, Jim was off to England. He said: “My knees were beginning to go a bit, and I got an offer to play non-league for Guildford City.
“I’d met my wife at the dancing in Inverness when I was there playing a testimonial, and we decided to give it a go. I also got a job as a plumber.
“I signed a one-year contract and, more than 50 years later, I’m still in Guildford.”