England 0-1 Scotland (1981)

Enduring a barren run of form, things get worse for England as they lose 1-0 at home to rivals Scotland in May 1981. England are punished for failing to take several chances, with Scotland's winner coming from the penalty spot through John Robertson after Bryan Robson is adjudged to have fouled Steve Archibald.

[@papaj9386]

I remember borrowing my Dad’s car and driving there with a car full of friends. Arriving at Wembley and being outnumbered 3:1 by Scottish supporters who were supposedly banned. No crowd segregation and us 17 and 18 year olds being surrounded by Scots. They were fantastic, fervent friendly joking supporters who sang their hearts out and shared their whiskey with us. Awful match but one of my most memorable experiences. Looking at this again reminded me of that England team what players (Robson, Coppell, Francis, Hodell, Watson, Wilkins) and those so bad they are now iconic shirts. Happy days. Final year at school and our life about to change.

[@andyoneill1503]

I was there 23 years old remember it like yesterday, definitely more scottish fans than English drunk and happy in London

[@chathamabs2011]

Trevor Francis: "Dive to your left Joe, trust me, go left" 😂

[@GRAHAM5020]

RIP Ray Wilkins.

[@raymondmcmenemy303]

Great player and a true gentleman.

[@neilrafferty2097]

Sad loss .

[@richcharleston7445]

My Aunt who lived in Devon sent 2tickets up for my Dad n me. Travelled down on the Friday night from Glasgow Fantastic experience for an excited 14year old lad as I was then . Great day great players on both sides . Rip Ray Wilkins 💙

[@scottw.3258]

Lol. Didnae think you were 14 now mate...

[@paullittle4622]

Big Joe corrigan in goal for England, some great players on view in this game, Scotland really did produce some fantastic footballers

[@sidneygreen9120]

D day for Joe 👍

[@oscoe]

Yeah, they qualified for 74/78/82/86 world cups. Shame they could never do well at a tournament

[@111LisaMac]

I was there supporting Scotland. Just turned 17. Happy days :)

[@terrypussypower]

@rue de bac Eh?

[@ppuh6tfrz646]

No, you weren't.

[@problemchimp4231]

Loved watching John Robertson in this era...

[@detomasopantera1966]

One of the top 5 11s of his generation 👌👌👌

[@68majortom]

he smoked like a trooper yet flew by defenders like they weren't there!. Miller n McLeish were amazing that day. ✌️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@scherben8870]

Shocking turn out from the Scotland fans. Only 40,000 showed up.

[@langdale55]

Couldn’t be arsed with the train journey.

[@georgegreig8054]

70.000

[@StewartNicolasBILLYCONNOLLY]

This was the year when the English FA decided they had had enough of being humiliated by Scotland, Ireland and Wales. The Secretary of the FA, Ted Croker, tried to ban sales of tickets to Scotland fans, who traditionally made Wembley a Home game for Scotland. There was a huge banner in the stands shown on TV "How many tickets would you like, Mr. Croker?" Total humiliation! Plus......0-1 lol

[@Noodles37UK]

Stewart Nicol as BILLY CONNOLLY When I was a wee boy in the 70s, my Dad shocked and delighted me when he said, " we've actually beaten England more times than they've beaten us". So when they EVENTUALLY beat us on the statistics, they call off the Home Internationals... Northern Ireland are actually the current champions btw hahahaha

[@steffanhoffmann8937]

@@Noodles37UK yup! Sorry fella couldn't find the NI flag so this will have to do okay? 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@steffanhoffmann8937]

So true! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@Dinobaburas.]

Jon motson chokin in his sheepskin jacket.

[@fraser_mr2009]

england scotland games were always right

[@jessran70]

Robbo never got enough caps. Great wee player.

[@mrhenke7480]

World class player

[@danielmurray569]

Most underrated British player of all time

[@colinmcginlay3186]

Bertie Volks on his West Germany debut, warming up asked Beckinbaur 'where are the Scottish players?' pointing to John Robertson in the tunnel having a smoke watching the Germans warm up..That's one of them replied Beckinbaur

[@alexisbuchanan2028]

My favourite Scotland strip. I remember Wilkins and Souness having a crunching tackle near the halfway line...needless to say Souness walked away. Butch needed a minute or two. Great days

[@matthewleslie4448]

That incident was in the 1986 game - Souness didn't play in this one as did neither of his Liverpool teammates as they were preparing for the European Cup final v Real Madrid

[@alexisbuchanan2028]

@@matthewleslie4448 ah right...thanks for reminding me. Time plays with the memory.

[@oscoe]

I met Ray Wilkins once, total gent and really nice man.

[@alessandrogravina1090]

the England shirt is the most beautiful football shirt ever designed I fell in love with that when i was a kid and still love it after all these years Fantastic

[@philh8288]

Ive still got one junior size, I was 9. cyrlle Regis and Derek Stalham signed it. Derek statham was the best left back in the country, but he only played for West Brom, Samson played for Arsenal.

[@familyread7889]

Ahh back when Scotland could play. Great players once

[@Kelly14UK]

Glasgow. Appreciated comment wherever you're from, and that was a nice save from Rough 01:37

[@jimmccork]

Sad but true!

[@steve1962]

I was at this game as a steward.......worked for the first half and got to see the rest of the game with a free burger and chips......happy days!!

[@jimmccork]

Drove from Aberdeen with a pal, slept on someone’s floor. Magical time - great seats level with the penalty area where Stevie managed that brilliant dive to win the penalty. In fairness, he perfected that move in Aberdeen! A great weekend - with a 50-50 Scots and English mix in the pubs and parties. Just magic. Shame we don’t have fixtures like this any more. It’s all childish nationalism and FIFA ranking points now.

[@oscoe]

Agreed. Different (better) times. Trying to work out how to build a time machine

[@rickelmonoggin]

Nice of Trevor Francis to put his goalie off for us.

[@MrJonno85]

@Psychic GG They were still together at Forest, though Francis was angling for a move.

[@bobbyhanly3466]

Not the sharpest knife in the drawer, our Trevor.

[@72moon]

Looked soft but Archibald had his heels clipped. As a Scot I have to say I always liked that England top. Can't get over the "Battle of Prestonpans 1745" banner in the final second.

[@Duncan1974]

Nothing is going to confuse a goalkeeper more than an outfield player telling him what he should be doing...just let the keeper focus on the job in hand...

[@ppuh6tfrz646]

It also persuaded Robertson to hit it the other way.

[@nicolavivarelli4127]

Excellent Scotland ! 🇮🇹🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@MegaDeansy]

Strange 'Highlights' - looks like Scotland only had 2 chances in the entire game but that was certainly NOT the case - who's the editor - John Motson himself ?

[@michealmorrison7723]

I was there all the way from the Highlands with 14 others in a mini bus , sitting right behind the benches, Scotland certainly had a lot more of the game than highlights suggest ?! I have a programme with Trevor brooking and Geoff hursts autographs spoke to us before game , one of the best weekends ever 😂❤

[@arturowagner4728]

Quite a few Brian Clough alumni in this match, I just noticed...

[@a.m.armstrong8354]

Had he been England manager what a difference he'd have made!

[@MrBendibus]

Archibald celebrated the penalty knowing Robbo was taking it.

[@robertthomson4013]

Great to hear a unbiased commentary omg ha 😂😂🤣😂

[@neilmcmenemy]

What I think Trevor Francis said to Joe Corrigan was, "Looks like we're going to lose one nil Joe..."

[@gmaccruyff55]

Robson should have been sent aff (last man) and Francis made a knob of himself!

[@MrJonno85]

That rule didn't apply then.

[@Stephan74]

I was at the game from Scotland. In truth the English striker's were poor that day and definitely were the best team. But its all about goals. Miss those games but I don't think they would work now.

[@oscoe]

Graham Rix….not the best.

[@inverkenny]

Clear penalty.

[@arnesaknussemm2427]

RIP the great Ray Wilkins.

[@hm_nn_5633]

This is my favorite England shirt of all time.

[@gordoncampbell100]

Trevor Francis , perhaps first UK £1m transfer , but Robbo was priceless back in the day .

[@weetak]

Best ever england n scotland kits

[@ewanmacfarlane9195]

The pressure on the penalty. Just tucked it away with aplomb.

[@rayrichards5375]

Sad to think we don't produce players of that calibre any more

[@markant9534]

Who, Scotland?

[@trevorbrown6654]

One of the few games big Joe Corrigan played for England. He was, along with Phil Parkes and a couple of other quality English goalies playing in the top tier, spectacularly unlucky in that he was around at the same time as as Shilton & Clemence. Interesting too that Scottish players had their name on their shirts but not the English players.

[@rip5666]

I was part of that Scottish HORDE that day. 1 - 0.

[@philh8288]

Bring back the home internationals NOW!

[@alostoraalostora9490]

The old Wimbley 💔💔

[@ant7936]

The only thing better today? The pitch.

[@ewanmacfarlane9195]

What ..the pitch was like a bowling green.Ha ha no mate I know what you mean.

[@armchairdetective1214]

What a pass by proven!

[@nigeljames83]

Just love it all Engerland ,,,,, Then Wham!!!!!!

[@legandrydirk]

Prelude to the 82 world cup,were we go out again on away goals.We had some squad probably the best we had since 74.

[@aalkhalaf1]

Scotland wind despite that England had the play and the chances .. This is football if you don't score when you have the chance to do so.

[@whitefoamsea8070]

Commentary :John Motson Editing:Jimmy Hill?

[@gwynedwards1257]

Brilliant advice from Francis

[@Kotikjeff]

Good old Robbo.

[@terrypussypower]

Trevor Francis trying to play mind games with Robertson by going up to Corrigan before the penalty, only played into Robbo’s hands!! That makes the fact he dived the opposite way even better!

[@Jimmy_Cooper]

Why the inquest ? It was a fcukin stonewaller

[@glennfleming]

I can still not get my head around the fact that I never got a cap for England - when Joe Corrigan did.

[@justclosing]

Francis went to Corrigan and told him Robertson prefers to shoot in the right-hand side. The BBC should be called the EBC

[@jimcampbell1232]

francis went to corrigan and told him we are going to get beat 1.0 here

[@johnmeechan4976]

Scottish " horde" ffs ridiculous statement

[@andrewmcculloch8137]

john meechan I thought it was just me, I took a double take when I heard that.

[@valiantv2897]

correct usage, whats your problem with it ?

[@Dinobaburas.]

A horde that ran your stadium every time we went down there, typical unbiased commentary.

[@russo10]

If Trevor Hoddlecock would have only kicked the ball over the line, it would have been a goal Brian.

[@oscoe]

You mean Kevin Hoddlecock. Trevor Rixwithe was the other striker. Trevor, Kevin, Brian and Graham were four of our finest.

[@garydownes3320]

Gary downes. N ireland all four home nations had great kits then around that time and 82 world cup

[@johnmeechan4976]

First team to have the names on the back of the jerseys?

[@1951woodygeo]

Penalty no doubt about it he clipped him .

[@cheesyfeet1976]

Scotland first team ever to have names on the back of their shirts?

[@charliepeebles]

+cheesyfeet1976 No, some other national teams did it in the 70's.

[@scherben8870]

NASL teams all did it in the 70s.

[@derekwilson6612]

Total ticket ban and "sock a jock" flyers handed out at the Londonshire club grounds for the few of us that would show up. I got my ticket through a friend of a friend of a... who was a Director of Yeovil Town. Easily over 80000 "sweaties" and very few non dignitary pig shaggers. Not a great game, but a tremendous night in a foreign Capital afterwards.

[@AyeTVsco]

+Derek Wilson hahah :)

[@MrJonno85]

I think Robson was playing as a sweeper that day.

[@tonysoprano2912]

Brilliant times , when football was football ⚽️ Best ever Scotland strip to 👌🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@markganus1085]

An overall decent England side playing a plucky Scotland. Too bad those days are over

[@legandrydirk]

Its not over there coming back up after the game last year were Scotland narrowly lost 3 2 by losing two goals from set pieces.We will have a guy as fast as Walcott playing in Robertson at left back.And have S Fletcher up front a better man in the air and a better finisher with a better defensive side to his game than Miller.And I hope our best keeper Craig Gordon is back in goals to for it.So all in all we should be stronger when they visit.Only draw backs Snodgrass being injured who would have started.I hope we give them a better game and take our chances and keep it tight at the back.Its what lost us it the last time being sloppy at the back.Cut that out and we can win trust me we are playing really well right now.Its good going to games watching us play attacking football under Strachan

[@lndnflms484]

Forgot Graham Rix ever played for England. Clearly out of his depth here. Otherwise it was a pretty good England side and a big improvement on the sides from the 70s.

[@bobbyhanly3466]

"Graham Rix played for England." Now there's a perfectly simple sentence.

[@lindamacleod1686]

Yay Scotland!!!

[@lewisgreen1633]

Don Howe is to blame why Graham Rix got anywhere near an England shirt..

[@kailashpatel1706]

He got ahead on the 1982 team ahead of Tony Morley..figure..

[@MrJeepsters]

Les écossais étaient très inspirés avance les coupes du monde : ils battaient systématiquement les anglais (73-77-81).

[@andytcla]

Remember this game for not much else than the long walk to the ground. The tube drivers were refusing to stop at Wembley, after the sweaties had filled one of them in 2 years previous. Nearest available stop was Brent cross a few miles away!!

[@nelvaldo.4850]

I remembered being there when i was 14 ,scots where banned 😂😂😂😂😂, at half time they had police dogs performing and jumping through hoops and over fences, when a Scottish german shepherd was up the jocks all cheered and bood the english dogs performing 😂😂😂😂 great day happy memories ❤❤. All the jocks where pissed and 1 next to me was stood up ,fast asleep 😂😂😂😂😂🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Happy days ❤.

[@briangoudie3531]

Dohhhhh of course he's going to change his penalty direction

[@user-do3wt9sk7t]

Scotland beat the best England's players at 80s I saw in Spain 1982 The England team was better than West Germany but the game England × Spain.

[@kailashpatel1706]

The 1982 England team did not lose a match in 1982..better than Brazil..

[@kailashpatel1706]

you think that 1982 team was that good, the England side?

[@user-do3wt9sk7t]

@@kailashpatel1706 The 1982 World Cup was the best World Cup I had seen and the England team was better than Germany and Poland was better than Italy

[@kailashpatel1706]

England could have played a better and younger team with a better manager..it was the best world cup, but England would not have beaten Italy..too good that year..

[@a.m.armstrong8354]

@@kailashpatel1706 Kailash, you've been on the lash. Didn't Brazil beat this England at Wembley that very year? Quite comfortably I remember..Italy were the only team equipped to deal with that '82 Brazil, and only because Brazil got overconfident. That Brazil eased off at Wembley but were in the best team never to win a World Cup bracket, along with Holland '74 and Hungary '54, Kailash..

[@gerrycoogan6544]

BEST GAME EVER! The result was never in doubt but the Scots toyed with their vastly inferior opponents before finally delivering the killer blow. My favourite memory of that game is a moment during the second half when a small gathering of England supporters started fighting amongst themselves (Millwall versus Wimbledon, or whatever) and, as the tit-heads piled in to "restore order", 95,000 Scots in the stadium started singing: "Ban them from Wembley! You've got to ban them from Wembley!" There were a few other nice tunes about a guy called Jimmy Hill but I can't seem to remember the words at this point. Great days!

[@garsm2290]

John Robertson penalty. Did he ever miss?

[@NuisanceMan]

Wow... how did England not get a goal?

[@oscoe]

Two words. Graham. Rix

[@gerrycoogan6544]

@NuisanceMan Because they were shite.

[@MrPaulmorris7777]

No Dalglish. No Shilton!!!!

[@MrJonno85]

Liverpool players were preparing for the European Cup Final.

[@dawn1110uk]

That strip! The brass neck from England was just staggering!

[@herbertvonzinderneuf8547]

What was up with it?

[@MrJonno85]

@@herbertvonzinderneuf8547 Maybe she is suggesting that it had a 'Union Jack' design and therefore more appropriate for a British kit?

[@herbertvonzinderneuf8547]

@@MrJonno85 Yes - I still could not get het up about it. Scotland's kit in 2012 was red white and blue. Who cares.

[@kevinstoneham1245]

Always thought Rix was a defender. Yet he was so far forward.

[@Dinobaburas.]

Yeah, near the school's.

[@MrJonno85]

Midfielder.

[@quackerboots]

Clear penalty

[@richardfraser4303]

observe the England strip at the time. who the bloody hell did they think they were???????

[@herbertvonzinderneuf8547]

What is wrong with it?

[@richardfraser8697]

@@herbertvonzinderneuf8547 l dunno, maybe the red, white and blue! The arrogance is truly stunning!!!!

[@herbertvonzinderneuf8547]

@@richardfraser8697 I think you will find the current Scotland kit is red, white and blue.

[@richardfraser8697]

@@herbertvonzinderneuf8547 you will never get this, will you?

[@herbertvonzinderneuf8547]

@@richardfraser8697 I had assumed there was some sort of perceived union flag colours appropriation issue? But your question makes me wonder if there is something much more subtle going on, that I have missed.

[@fierlafijn]

'Adjudged'? Didn't see Robson complain much

[@notasleeptothefuture4658]

Is a horde the same as a tory swarm!

[@hillfortscouk5210]

Good win

[@samsonwilkinson8090]

It was a hame of two galves.

[@john111257]

im john robertson...not this one

[@17henke]

John Robertson u Mrs Robertson’s son

[@73reider]

Am i right in saying poor Kenny Sansom is a homeless Alcoholic now, Tragic.

[@fkthelefties]

drew inspiration from George Best

[@leefran71]

A dubious looking penalty if ever i saw one!

[@rickelmonoggin]

Agree. Outrageous that Robson wasn't given red for a professional foul. Ref a total homer obv.

[@detomasopantera1966]

Clear penalty

[@smashdalde9713]

Nailed on penalty.

[@MrJonno85]

@@rickelmonoggin Professional Foul rule didn't apply then. You could even punch the ball off your own goal-line (as Terry McDermott did on this very pitch just a few months earlier) and not be sent-off.

[@rickelmonoggin]

@@MrJonno85 Ok, I guess I'll let the ref off then.

[@GRAHAM5020]

I'm scottish and i think Archibald made the most of it, maybe the referee saw something, but the camera angle did'nt show anything that shouted penalty

[@gerrycoogan6544]

Nonsense. I've never seen a more despicable, savage, ruthless example of disgraceful foul play. It was a brutal, cynical attempt to cripple Archibald for the rest of his life or, at the very least, send him to hospital. As a true sportsman, I can only condemn the despicable conduct of the apparently psychopathic and deranged English "defender" who obviously still hasn't got over Bannockburn. My only criticism of the referee is that he didn't order the savage English hoodlum off the pitch. History will always show that the score was; England 0 - (absolutely no goals whatsoever. Not even one.) Nada. Rien. > (As they say in France.) Scotland 1 Robertson (pen) Scotland scored all of the goals, England couldn't score any goals, the referee was superb and I got laid at a party after the game. A perfect day!

[@macocaire1314]

For the last 20 minutes The Scotland supporters were loud, waving a sea of saltires and lion rampants and singing...…"We're gonny beat England, we're gonny beat England"......and we did. I was there and loved it.

[@andi17ish]

The famous sock a jock pamphlet when we were banned from Wembley and the English were going to give us a pasting aye right only about 60'000 of us turned up my last time at blee happy days

[@40jimmy]

I will never forgive Scotland for the Joe Jordan hand ball

[@gerrycoogan6544]

We can handle that. See you at the Euro finals. Oh, wait...

[@Sprongo]

Whoever edited this must be english.

[@clifflaw4560]

26 Thumbs English

[@walterratto5922]

Siempre Escocia haciéndole la cola al british jaja

[@richardcoats6430]

They are British.

[@reggiepheby407]

Hb

[@Edward1312]

This result was daylight robbery!

[@terrypussypower]

England got humped. Should've been 3-0 to Scotland.

[@user-vt9um8mv4t]

Get it up ye motson

[@dennislexgar5285]

Bonney wee Scotland sadly still to qualify BEYOND the group stege at a major championship finals ! 10 tournaments - 8 world cups and 2 European championships but maybe euro 2020 will be the real breakthrough year at the 11th time of asking?? 2020 vision and a clear path for Scotland to progress to the last 16 or beyond of Euro 2020 finals the group matches will be held in Glasgow London and Dublin among a number of European Cities!! So Euro 2020 go Scotland go!!!!

[@studier2006]

A very lucky win by Scotland!! Was it a penalty? Maybe? As for the ridiculous comment by Mr Motson describing the Scottish supporters as "Hordes". If Scotland played England nowadays at Wembley, perhaps a cricket score? Only joking but Scotland would be thrashed.

[@markant9534]

oof! You hit the post with that comment, lol

[@lindamacleod1686]

They played there not long ago and did NOT get thrashed actually

[@johnnyM809]

Never a penalty...and i'm Scottish !

[@detomasopantera1966]

Now go where the ref was and tell me that's not a penalty

[@ihateyoumother-fucker3204]

😂😂😂😂probably a Glasgow Rangers fan to????

[@lewisgreen1633]

johnnyM809 Archibald was an honest player..Robson clipped his legs

[@markknopflerisnot]

IF that chance had fallen to Peter Withe, it MIGHT have gone in...ffs, what crap

[@grandsonofsamnifdy4266]

Ye cannae ban us fae Wembley 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@davidcrespin584]

Never a penalty

[@terrypussypower]

Yeah, in your dreams. I've rarely seen a more blatant penalty.

[@gerrycoogan6544]

@@terrypussypower Penalty all day long. Stonewaller. Archibald was lucky that he ever walked again after that vicious, cynical, cold-blooded attempt to cripple him. Robson should have been banned for life. So should any other players in England shirts. Fortunately, for once, justice prevailed and the record books will always show; SCOTLAND 1 (Robertson, pen) ENGLAND 0.

[@dandlion1958]

How many times are you going to relive your world cup final, Scottish footbal is a jock, sorry joke.

[@joma6552]

The irony of a sassanach talking about reliving a certain match shouldn't be lost on any football fan . Your country hasn't shut the fuck up since 66 , your one and only trophy . As a so called major force in world football , your history in competions is nothing short of embarrassing .

[@neilrafferty2097]

England’s record is nothing to shout about .

[@johnbinnie5697]

Englishman having the blinkered ignorance to talk down another nation. England are the most overrated bunch of underachievers in world football.