Six thousand miles from home, the stage is set for another instalment in world football’s oldest rivalry – Scotland v England. It doesn’t matter what age group, what level, this is a fixture that stirs the soul. In this particular instance, on a paradise island in Thailand, it is two teams of over-50s players – most in the nae hair or grey hair category – who are preparing to do battle in what is effectively a world semi-final.
Scotland only needs a draw to secure their spot in the highly coveted final of the Koh Samui International Masters against top-ranked Iran. However, none of the determined Scottish players are even considering settling for a tie in the build-up, in the locker room, or now in the tunnel. The veteran players have yet to claim victory against England since 2011, making it a long-standing frustration. This seems like the ideal opportunity to change that and finally come out on top.
Scotland has every reason to feel proud of their accomplishments so far, as they have performed admirably in difficult and challenging circumstances to win two matches and tie one in their group. They are very close to securing a spot in the final, but they still have to face their longtime adversaries. As the teams ready themselves to step onto the field in relentless monsoon rain and stand behind their flag-bearers for the national anthems, the tension and discomfort in the air is palpable.
That is until the sober silence is pierced by a loud salvo of: “We’ll be coming, we’ll be coming, we’ll be coming down the road,” from defender Stuart Cameron. Immediately, you can hear the noise of his fellow Tartan Army boys and, as the battle cry gathers momentum, excitement and determination are coursing through the whole squad’s veins. It’s the perfect ice-breaker and the Scotland squad stride out to the centre-circle brimming with renewed confidence. Twenty yards to the left, the opposition look a little unnerved.
Pre-match mind games don’t always translate into results, but Scotland capitalise, winning 3-1. Not only will the team go home with a medal, but they have finally secured that elusive win against England. With adrenaline still flowing, captain Jim Rae assembles a pitch-side huddle to tell his tired but thrilled teammates what they have just achieved. This is his seventh tournament and this long-awaited win means the world.
Regrettably, a day later, the match against Iran proves to be too challenging for Scotland. The team is narrowly defeated 2-1 by a formidable group of previous elite players, many of whom have competed in the official World Cup.
According to Rae, despite losing to a strong Iran team in the final, we put up a tough fight and should be proud of our accomplishments. Rae, who began his career at Dundee and also played for Spartans and Whitburn, shares that all the first-time players were exceptional and worked well together as a team. This was the most united and dedicated group he has played with.
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The journey has been incredible and the same can be said for the development of the Scotland Seniors soccer team. Alan McTurk, who was unable to join the recent adventure due to health reasons, deserves credit as the driving force behind the national squad. McTurk, a former player for Ayr United and later for teams in Australia and Singapore before returning to Kilwinning Rangers, came up with the idea in 2009 while on a family vacation in Australia where he reconnected with old teammates. He was intrigued to learn that they had been representing Australia at the annual over-38s Seniors World Cup in Thailand, which was created to promote tourism and international sport in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami.
They guaranteed him that the level was top-notch, evidenced by Germany’s victory under the leadership of Felix Magath. “However, we were a bit tipsy and trading playful remarks, so my instinctive response was to claim that I could assemble a Scottish team that would triumph over them in the tournament,” chuckles McTurk, who is currently 53 years old.
McTurk and former Dunfermline midfielder Paul Donnelly, who were teammates in Australia, went on a trip to the 2010 tournament in Thailand to gather information. They were convinced that Scotland should create a team and participate the following year. McTurk reflects, “It was a harsh learning experience for us. I mean no disrespect to any of the players who went on that initial trip in 2011, but as a team, we were not up to par and ended up losing 9-0 in our first game. We did improve as the tournament went on, but it was a wake-up call and we knew that if we wanted to compete and represent ourselves well each year, we needed to bring in top-quality players.”
Managers Donnelly and McTurk have made an effort to reach out and find high-quality players. The list of players who have joined the team in the last ten years is impressive, including Steve Tosh, Charlie Christie, Jason and Lee Dair, Gary Clark, Barry Wilson, Scott Walker, Marvin Andrews, Colin Cameron, and Gary Holt. There is also a group of veteran players, including Rae, Scott Burnside, Mark “Branco” Cameron, and Grant Tierney, who have been with the team for a long time and make sure that new players feel like part of the team.
Scotland’s Seniors team consists of highly skilled former professional players and successful semi-pros from the Junior and East of Scotland leagues. They have proven to be strong competitors and have reached the finals of the Seniors World Cup in both 2014 and 2018, but unfortunately fell short to England both times, with the first loss being decided by a penalty shootout. England, on the other hand, has had star players like Peter Beagrie, Barry Hayles, and Lee Trundle contributing to their success. In 2019, Scotland was denied another chance at victory by a controversial last-minute penalty in the semi-finals against—you guessed it—England. The following year, the Seniors team’s season was put on hold due to the global pandemic.
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The committee used the opportunity to regroup and led to a complete change of direction for the year 2023. The main Seniors World Cup, which takes place in June, has strict age restrictions for veterans. These rules state that there can only be a maximum of three “younger” players between the ages of 38 and 43 on the field, four between the ages of 44 and 49, and at least three players over the age of 50 at all times. However, the spin-off over-50s version seemed like a simpler option, so Scotland chose to attend the Masters tournament at the Maraleina Sports Resort on Koh Samui instead. This tournament is held at the PSG academy on the island.
“Covid forced us to take a pause anyway, but with some of the guys getting older, and now firmly in the over-50 category, it made sense to consider going down the Masters route instead,” says McTurk, who has had his own personal battles to contend with, first a brain injury that forced him to hang up his boots, and then cancer.
Due to McTurk’s recovery from treatment, he was unable to join the 2023 trip. Instead, Tierney, who was the oldest member at 62, was chosen as the manager for the Koh Samui tournament. He received assistance from his former teammate Donnelly. “It was a great privilege and I thoroughly enjoyed it,” says Tierney. He even played in a match against Thailand, contributing to their 5-1 win with a hat-trick from Paul Gallacher, the younger sibling of renowned Clydebank goalkeeper Jim.
“I was pleased with how well our team bonded both on and off the field, creating a positive dynamic. While success is always hoped for, it was especially satisfying to defeat England on our journey to the final. Overall, the trip ran smoothly and everyone played a part in achieving results and creating enjoyable experiences. I’ve been involved in this since 2014, and no matter what level of competition, it’s a special and memorable experience to be a part of. It fosters a great sense of camaraderie and allows for the formation of lifelong friendships and memories.”
I can personally confirm this feeling, as I was fortunate to be chosen as one of the six new members in the 2023 team. At 52 years old, I believed my days of playing meaningful 11-a-side matches were over, so it was a remarkable opportunity to return to this level of competitiveness and play alongside some of the players I used to have intense 50-50 tackles with in the past.
Upon observing the team, it was evident that they possessed exceptional skills and conditioning. The roster featured players such as Allan Ramsay and Stephen Quigg, both of whom have represented Junior teams at an international level and have won numerous Scottish Junior Cups. Additionally, there were former professional players who had experience playing in Scotland, Cyprus, Germany, and other countries.
For the five matches we played over a gruelling schedule of six days, we were focused and professional, but we also clicked as a group of guys from all walks of life, pitched together thousands of miles from home. To wear your country’s colours, whatever the circumstances, is something to treasure, and I felt a glow of pride when I returned home and showed my old dad, who lives with Alzheimer’s, a picture of me playing for Scotland… then seeing his face beam with delight when I told him we managed to beat England.
McTurk states that all individuals who have gone on a trip since 2011 will agree that it is an amazing experience and a memory that will always be cherished. For those who have had professional experience in the past, it is an added bonus to be a part of the big occasion once again. And for those who have not, it provides an opportunity to experience it for the first time. At their age, there is no comparable experience.
The special memories are not confined to the pitch. The Scotland Seniors team have always put charitable work at the heart of their values, and etched on the itinerary on each Thailand trip is a visit to a local school to deliver coaching sessions, kit and footballs to youngsters. We continued this tradition in Samui, with the new recruits given the privilege of leading the activities, and it was humbling to see the joy on the young players’ faces. The school in the Chaweng resort was grateful for our time and friendship, and a Scotland flag was left for staff to display in the school as a memento.
Traveling to week-long tournaments in faraway places can be costly. However, the players cover their own expenses and the team and committee consistently demonstrate their kindness by organizing fundraisers and participating in charity games for local causes. In the past, we have donated to exceptional organizations like Headway, Jak’s Den, Beatson, and Calum’s Cabin. Last October, a match at Stark’s Park raised over £4,000 for a sensory garden for a disabled child in Kirkcaldy. To continue our charitable efforts, a sportsman’s dinner is scheduled for this April and we have plans for future donations in the works.
On the pitch, plans for 2024 are starting to take shape, with a number of options under consideration. A home nations tournament against England, Northern Ireland and Wales has been mooted, the over-50s Masters in Thailand would love to welcome Scotland back, and there is also the possibility of an alternative competition in Europe.
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“It was a positive experience to have our team reunite and participate in a tournament once again following the pandemic,” McTurk stated. He also mentioned the opportunities that the Over-50s international scene presents and expressed confidence in the eligibility of their team members. Additionally, there is a possibility of seeing the return of Grant Holt in the near future, and there have been conversations with Colin Hendry who is interested in joining if his other obligations permit. The prospect of having the former Scottish captain onboard is promising, and the team is looking forward to what lies ahead.
Source: theguardian.com
