HibeeJibee

That was a sort of trial/warm-up before they toured North America in the closed-season. Monday of the international break where Mo Johnstone scored twice to beat France. Couple of years after they also played Kilmarnock at Rugby Park as part of the Irish League's centenary celebrations in 1990-91... it came after games with Manchester United and the Football League both at Windsor Park... crowd was around 4,000 seemingly. At stake the "Wilkinson Sword Trophy": hosts won 2-1. No idea why an away game v Kilmarnock was desired: they were only mid-table in SFL1 (newly-promoted from SFL2). Even the match programme seems entirely silent on that front. Motherwell beat Celtic same night in Scottish Cup SF replay to reach "the family final".

I'm sure it was simply coincidence... ! There were actually 2 v League of Ireland at Ibrox: From when series against the League of Ireland got added to the schedule in 1947 it won't come as a shock to us 6 games were played at Parkhead, against just 2 at Ibrox and 2 at Shawfield - including that illustrated earlier: actually delayed 24hr by freezing fog. Meanwhile against the Irish League we find 9 at Ibrox, against just 1 at Parkhead (plus 1 at Fir Park trying to revive series after 9yrs lapse).

Correct, as noted Irish League = Northern Ireland and League of Ireland = Eire. Having checked the programme you're correct it was Tom McAdam of Celtic. Interestingly enough Jock Stein managed the Scottish League, assisted by Motherwell trainer Willie McKenzie.

I just looked up this game... the last home Scottish League international. Played on Wednesday 1st November 1978, it ended 1-1 in front of 4,427 at Fir Park; and was first time the Irish League had ever avoided defeat on Scottish soil. Held the same night as Rangers, Aberdeen, Hibs and St Mirren played international ties a fairly strong squad was nevertheless fielded but could only rescue a draw courtesy Willie Pettigrew's late equaliser... among those involved were full internationals Rough, Narey, Burns, Hegarty, Bannon, Pettigrew, and unused sub Murdo Macleod. Alan Rough David Narey Tommy Burns Gregor Stevens Paul Hegarty Bobby Thomson Bobby Houston Eamonn Bannon Willie Pettigrew Colin McAdam (sub Doug Somner) Peter Marinello Unused subs Hamish McAlpine, Neil Orr, Murdo Macleod, Ian Redford Incidentally it appears "man of vision" Roger Hynd never managed again... except for 6 games as St Johnstone caretaker in 1980!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59043453 ... Brechin have subsequently been drawn at home to Darvel, the West of Scotland League Premier Division juniors who caused the shock of the second round with a 1-0 win away to League Two's Stranraer. Meanwhile, Monday's second round game between West of Scotland juniors Clydebank and Elgin City ended 1-1 ...

1,040 Clydebank v Elgin 876 Preston v Auchinleck 855 Dunbar v LTHV 519 Berwick v Stirling Albion 202 Broomhill v Tranent

Final of the Alex Jack Cup next month too. Not sure when Crossgates last won silverware (certainly since being revived), and it would put them on the cusp of Scottish Cup qualification as well.

It was basically unique. Remember that SFA didn't bother entering Euro 60 or Euro 64 qualifying - on latter occasion only ourselves, Cyprus and Finland stayed out - then for Euro 68 the British teams were allowed to aggregate the Home Nations results for 1966-67 and 1967-68 with winner progressing to playoffs. SFA still regarded the Euros as a minor tournament so on entering Euro 72 qualifying decided to play the home qualifier v Belgium at Pittodrie, which was commonly used for Under 23 internationals at that time. Home qualifier v Portugal was played at Hampden but with Eusebio in town a big crowd was presumably expected. It was our only home game - qualifier or friendly - played outwith Hampden between 1938 and 1990; which tells you the sort of attitudes prevailing in its corridors towards the Euros as late as 1971. Some other games were (very occasionally) taken outside Glasgow. There were 3x B internationals held in Edinburgh and Dundee during 1950s; there were 4x unofficial internationals against Scotland B, Scottish League or British Army held in Edinburgh between 1940s and 1960s; as noted Aberdeen regularly held U23 internationals in 1960s and 1970s with a couple at Kilmarnock, and a couple at Edinburgh in 1950s. However no Scottish League international was ever held outside Glasgow after 1925, until very last v Irish League at Motherwell in 1978. EDIT: There were also 2x unofficial U23 internationals against Scottish League Division Two at Falkirk in early 1960s, and British Army at Motherwell in 1961.

Saturday 23rd October 2021 Hill of Beath Hawthorn 1-2 Newtongrange Star Whitehill Welfare 3-2 Dundonald Bluebell Pair of what could be very significant results at the bottom. Newtongrange get their opening win and move to within 9pts of safety. Whitehill move above Hill of Beath to within 4pts. With most clubs having 19 or 20 games remaining, everybody from Dunbar downward will be looking nervously over their shoulders.

Saturday 23rd October 2021 Craigroyston (seven) 7-4 Tweedmouth Rangers Extraordinary scoreline catapults Craigroyston from bottom to 12th.

Saturday 23rd October 2021 Burntisland Shipyard 0-5 Edinburgh South Heriot-Watt University 2-1 Easthouses Lily Lochgelly Albert 1-3 Peebles Rovers Lochore Welfare 2-1 Glenrothes Stirling University EOS 4-1 Hawick RAU Shock result at Shippy. Lochore beat Glenrothes. Peebles closing on top half. Burntisland and Stirling Uni EOS deadlocked.

Saturday 23rd October 2021 Armadale Thistle (seven) 7-1 Edinburgh College Fauldhouse United 0-1 Livingston United Stoneyburn 3-2 Bathgate Thistle Armadale move into 2nd. Bottom sides continue toiling.

Disappointing that fewer than half of ties appear to have had their attendance issued? Here are those that did: 678 Sauchie v Dunipace 608 Kelty v Buckie 401 Brechin v Haddington 395 Annan v Jeanfield 357 Stranraer v Darvel 352 Edinburgh City v Bo'ness Utd 282 Cowdenbeath v Civil Service Strollers 250 St Cuthbert v Gala (interestingly a groundhopper counted only 160!) 210 Dalbeattie v Rothes

Monday night TV game should be Auchinleck-Hamilton but can see BBC fawning over QP-Kilmarnock. Interesting to note Dalbeattie/Rothes/EK and Brechin/Darvel guaranteed to make Last 32 and several other non-leaguers have decent prospects.

Dumbarton v Sauchie Lothian Thistle HV/Dunbar United v Edinburgh City Stirling Albion v Tranent Not great draws - but not at all insurmountable either, particularly with replays still applying.