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- Overseas, Commonwealth and Development Office staff around the world to mark the 150th anniversary of the famous Scotland v England fixture
- Football legend Jack Charlton’s granddaughter among those pulling on their boots to celebrate the world’s first international football match
- Diplomats working abroad in countries including Bahrain, the British Virgin Islands, Malaysia, Mozambique, Poland and Serbia are celebrating 150 years since the Scotland v England friendly with St Andrew’s Day kickabouts.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office staff around the world are celebrating the 150th anniversary of the first football international on St Andrew’s Day by holding their own Scotland v England match.
The granddaughter of football legend Jack Charlton will line up for England this Sunday (December 4) in a charity match organized by staff at FCDO’s joint headquarters, Abercrombie House, in East Kilbride, Lanarkshire.
Kate Wilkinson moved to Scotland 6 years ago to work as Syria Program Manager for FCDO and the staff are looking forward to starring in the Scotland v England clash, which is jointly raising funds for East Kilbride Community Trust and Women’s Aid South Lanarkshire and East Renfrewshire. .
Diplomats working abroad in countries including Bahrain, British Virgin Islands, Malaysia, Mozambique, Poland and Serbia are also celebrating the historic fixture’s 150th birthday.
The match is celebrated as the world’s first international football match since a 0–0 draw between Scotland and England in front of 4,000 spectators at the West of Scotland Cricket Ground in Glasgow on 30 November 1872.
World Cup-winning defender Jack, who died in 2020 aged 85 after a battle with lymphoma, made his mark on the famous fixture.
Leeds-born Kate, 28, said:
My grandfather loved England v Scotland games and used to joke to the fans that if he hadn’t been injured in the famous 1967 match, Scotland would never have won 3-2.
At that time there were no substitutes allowed so my grandfather was forced to rotate as a striker for most of the matches after breaking his thumb in the beginning. He still managed to score.
I’m very keen to help celebrate the fixture’s 150th anniversary, although I’ve told my team not to expect too much from me – I’ve got 2 left feet!
Funnily enough, Charlton soccer skills were not passed down from Jack or Bobby to the rest of the family. I had no qualms about being part of England’s Euro-winning Lions team this summer.
I think when we were little my grandfather would have looked at me and my siblings playing and thought ‘God, what on earth has happened here?’.
I’m sure once my team sees me play, they’ll decide I’d better cheer them on to victory from the touchline. This is a great opportunity for us to raise money for good causes.
Around 1,000 staff are at the heart of delivering UK foreign policy from FCDO’s joint headquarters in Scotland – with plans to redeploy a further 500 jobs to the East Kilbride site as part of the UK Government’s leveling-up agenda.
Sunday’s fundraiser is taking place at K-Training Academy in East Kilbride at 4pm.
East Kilbride Community Trust Facilities Manager Ian Atchison said:
It is wonderful that the FCDO is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of international football by hosting Scotland v England games around the world.
Ideally, Scotland would be facing England in the World Cup this week, but we are proud to be part of the event in East Kilbride.
Scots diplomat Euan Davidson and English counterpart Freddie Brunt captained the sides for England’s 6-a-side match against Scotland in Maputo, Mozambique on Sunday. The Dark Blues won 9-5.
Euan beamed:
It was a great game for the neutrals, with England regaining the lead in the last 10 minutes before Scotland staged a comeback to secure a historic victory.
What the Scottish players lacked in fitness, skill and ability, we made some creative signings, drawing on Mozambican, Brazilian and Dutch players to score all our goals!
Freddy said:
It was a topsy-turvy game played in true British conditions – windy and wet. Scotland were ahead, England came back, but then we got tired and Scotland ran away with it.
I believe a Scotland win will soften the blow of not having a team to cheer for at the World Cup like England and Wales.
Staff in Warsaw, Poland braved snow and sub-zero temperatures to play their game, while in Belgrade, Serbian diplomats Lara Brydon and Thomas Wright enjoyed a Scotland v England Subbuteo game during a St Andrew’s Day event held at the British Embassy. Their match ended 1-1.
FCDO is also celebrating St Andrew’s Day around the world – with Scottish Secretary Alastair Jack France traveling to Paris on a 2-day trip to promote Scottish business.
The Secretary of State will meet UK and French businesses as well as government ministers, diplomatic staff, MPs, senators and British community leaders. He will visit the channel to see how Harris is using tweed and other Scottish materials in his latest series and co-host a St Andrew’s Night dinner with British Ambassador to France Dame Mena Rowlings.
Background
- Interviews with Kate Wilkinson are available upon request
- Contact Graeme Donohoe on 07384 248 770 or email graeme.donohoe@fcdo.gov.uk if you have any further questions
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