Scotland schoolboys

Aged 14 Bremner had a trial for the Stirling Schoolboys County team in Falkirk on the 15^th November 1957. Playing for the county then alerted Scotland’s selectors to his talents. Bremner was selected to play for Scotland Schoolboys on four occasions, twice against England, and once against Wales and Northern Ireland. Three of the caps were part of the Victory Shield played between the four home nations every two years.

Northern Ireland 2 Scotland 2, Windsor Park, Belfast, 28 March 1958

In this first match in the Victory Shield Northern Ireland were hoping to revenge the previous years’ 7-2 defeat to Scotland in Motherwell in 1957. Bremner and the rest of the travelling schoolboy squad stayed at the Pickie Hotel in Bangor to the north-west of Belfast and trained at the Castle Park playing fields. He also attended a formal reception at Bangor Castle, as guest of the Borough Council. The match itself was played at Windsor Park, Belfast, under floodlight, and in a closely fought match the game ended in a 2-2 draw. The following day the Irish Schools FA hosted the Scotland schoolboys and officials to dinner in the Scottish team’s Bangor headquarters (Belfast Telegraph, 27 March 1958).

Wales 2 Scotland 2, Somerton Park, Newport, 4 April 1958

According to the Daily Mirror’s football journalist Willie Evans, “A forty-yard goal in the last minute by left half Barry Hole (Swansea) gave Wales a lucky 2-2 draw with Scotland in the Schoolboys’ international at Newport”. According to Evan’s report ,“For most of the game the Scottish boys looked the better side. They were much faster on the ball. And their full backs and half backs were much stronger in their tackling than Wales. Scotland were more methodical too.” Ian Gibson (Dumfries) opened the scoring with a header, and winger Bill Paton had put Scotland ahead for a second time after a Welsh equaliser.

The Welsh Western Mail (5^th April 1958) had a slightly different take on the game and praised the goalkeeping of Willie Mailey for keeping the Scots in the game. Until Hole’s last-ditch goal, “it looked as though Wales were to be robbed of their just desserts through a truly magnificent display by Scotland’s wee Willie Mailey”, reported the Mail.

England 3 Scotland 1, Wembley Stadium, 26 April 1958

There was much anticipation for the annual fixture between England and Scotland, which in 1958 was held at Wembley Stadium in London. The Hastings & St. Leonards Observer (26^th April 1958) reported that ‘over 350 schoolboys from Hastings, Bexhill, Rye and Battle schools, with 16 teachers, are leaving by special steam train”. The Nottingham Football Post (19^th April 1958) noted that 4000 school children were sent to the game, reporting that “tickets were sold months ago”. The Evening News (26^th April 1958) reported that “ninety thousand enthusiasts, most of them boys, crowded Wembley Stadium for the England v Scotland schoolboys’ international”. In anticipation of the game itself the Daily Mirror suggested “Power Should Beat Scots”:

I take English power to beat Scottish craft in this afternoon’s schoolboys international at Wembley. But it will be a close thing. Scotland bank on their inside forwards, Bill Bremner and Tommy Henderson, two youngsters who appreciate the value of the quick through-ball. On Wembley’s lush turf they are certain to give England’s defence many anxious moments.

Daily Mirror, 26 April 1958

The physical size of the England side did seem to have on impact on the match itself, which ended in a 3-1 victory for the hosts. But the match reports highlighted the skilful play on both sides. “This was the best game seen at Wembley for years”, reported the Daily Mirror (28^th April 1958). “As long as we have boys like this coming along there is no need to worry about Britain’s football future” the match report read. England’s inside forward Terry Venables, soon to be signed by Chelsea, gained special mention for influencing the game. However, Bremner too, referred to as Willie, was also singled out:

The Scots had two grand inside forwards in Tommy Henderson and Willie Bremner – but they had to spend too much time helping out their hard-pressed defence. Forward Ian Gibson, scored Scotland’s consolation goal.

Daily Mirror, 28 April 1958

Bremner was singled out by the News Chronicle as a player of note, particularly for club scouts in England. Indeed, the Chronicle managed to get an interview with Bremner who revealed he saw his future in English football:

Here it was again, classic soccer in a classic setting… the annual treat for football purists. And oh, how eyes glistened among the assembled ranks of league scouts. This schoolboy international as worthy of Wembley as any game played there, produced many names for the scouts notebooks. But one name was underlined – tiny Willie Bremner, Scotland’s inside left. And now I have surprising news for Scottish clubs who may be counting on patriotism to give them a start in the race that will surely develop for Will-o-the-wisp Bremner. Young Bremner wants to play for an ENGLISH club. “English football is faster” he says. “The players are better trained.” And who is Willie’s favourite footballer? Not a Scot but Johnny Haynes. But before he thinks of making a career in soccer, ginger haired Willie wants to be a glazier when he leaves St. Modan’s High School, Stirling, in the summer… in the second half we saw the real Scottish potential. Bremner and Tommy Henderson, another fine ball player, and both showing remarkable stamina for such wee laddies, gradually gained mastery in midfield.

THIS SCOT PREFERS ENGLAND, News Chronicle, 28 April 1958

The article gives an intriguing glimpse into both Bremner’s thinking as to why he wanted to play club football in England, but also what his alternative career might have been if a football career had not progressed.

Scotland 2 England 2, Ibrox Stadium, 18 May 1958

Scotland’s Victory Shield match against England was two weeks after the defeat at Wembley, played at Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow. A victory for Scotland would have given them the trophy they last won in 1956. The Motherwell Times remarked on Scotland’s inside forwards “Tommy Henderson of Larkhall Academy” and “Willie Bremner” who “formed an inside-forward combination which was superior to its English counterpart when the two teams met at Wembley last Saturday.”

An official reception party welcomed the England team at Central Station and much  like the game at Wembley special trains were laid on for school boys to travel to Glasgow to watch the game, including 700 from Aberdeen. The match ended in a 2-2 draw, with Henderson scoring the opening goal (above). According to the News Chronicle Bremner’s battle with his opposite number Terry Venables was again to the forefront:

Terry’s midfield tussle with wee but tough Willie Bremner was one of the highlights of a match which, despite a swirling wind produced plenty of skilful moves. How dangerous Bremner can be was shown early in the second half, on one of the few occasions when he got the ball from Venables. Willie flashed a long pass to outside-right Andy Penman, who cut in and beat Ray Hempsall to score Scotland’s second goal (51 minutes). Arsenal are interested in young Bremner and so are Chelsea

News Chronicle, 19 May 1958

Bremner’s performances for Scotland schoolboys clearly acted as a catalyst for English League interest in his talents by some of the country’s biggest clubs.

Final Victory Shield Placings

	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
England	2	1	0	5	3	5
Scotland	0	3	0	6	6	3
Wales	1	1	1	5	6	3
Ireland	0	1	2	3	7	1

In Bremner’s autobiography he mentions some of the boys he played with and against, and who went on to have professional careers. They included:

Scotland:

Andy Penman (Rangers)

Tommy Henderson (Leeds), Celtic, Hibs and Stockport)

Ian Gibson  (Coventry)

Bobby Hope (West Bromwich Albion)

Wales:

Barry Hole (Cardiff City, Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa and Swansea City)

Northern Ireland:

Jimmy Nicholson (Manchester United, Huddersfield Town, and Bury)

England:

Terry Venables (Chelsea, Spurs, QPR and Crystal Palace)

Phil Chisnall (Manchester United, Liverpool, Southend United, Stockport County)

Ronnie Boyce (West Ham United)

Bert Murray (Chelsea, Birmingham City, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Peterborough United)

Jantzen Derrick (Bristol City and Paris Saint-Germain)

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