#Fitba150 – 2022 Programme

Promoting and celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the World’s First International Football Match held on St Andrew’s Day 1872, Partick, Glasgow.

Our programme of events commemorates the world’s first international football match between Scotland and England, held at Hamilton Crescent, the home of West of Scotland Cricket Club in Partick, Glasgow, on St Andrews Day, 1872.

Our schedule runs during the month of the world’s biggest international football competition, FIFA World Cup 2022, and explains the Scottish roots of international football. This original ‘Great Match’ provided the ignition switch and launchpad for the explosion of football across Glasgow and Scotland, and led to the trailblazing Scotch Professors taking their beautiful game to the world.

This 150th anniversary of international football celebrates the first occasion where 4,000 Tartan Army foot soldiers marched to watch their heroes play. The game signalled the start of a love affair with their national football team, and our celebrations will immortalise the Tartan Army’s 150th birthday.

We’ve been building towards this anniversary over the last five years, and developed a platform to celebrate one of the most important moments in football. The world should recognise Scotland as the home of international football, where Queen’s Park Football Club set the template for all future matches, and established a legacy enjoyed around the world today. Our mission is to create memorable moments for everyone fascinated by Scotland’s pioneering contribution to the footballing world and tell this story to the masses.

Here are three facts about Scotland’s influence on world football:

• The Scotch Professors created the passing, running and inclusive game of football, and transported it to every corner of the planet. Today the ‘Scottish Game’ is played or watched by 3.5 billion people around the world today.
  
• The Scotch Professors built the World’s first purposefully built, enclosed international football ground at 1st Hampden. Queen’s Park are the Master Stadium Builders who perfected the football stadium with two later incarnations of 2nd and 3rd Hampden. Every stadium builder since has copied their template.
  
• Football is today viewed by a global audience? Would this audience have 24/7 access to football without the inventions of the Television and Telephone? Both invented by the genius of Scots.

#Fitba150 will kickstart a decade of celebrations, including major anniversaries of the Scottish Football Association, Clydesdale, Opening of the 1st Hampden Park, First Scottish Cup Final, and many memorable international and domestic matches. Everyone needs to learn these pioneers’ names and celebrate their contribution to football.

Our events will illustrate clearly how Scotland was the dominant force at the dawn of football and why the Scotch Professors became the missionaries who taught the world their beautiful game. We are encouraging everyone involved in Scotland’s broad and rich landscape of football culture to celebrate and promote Scotland’s pioneering role to the world. This is a party for everyone to enjoy.

Our programme of events during November, include:

• The Forgotten Hampden – Clydesdale Cricket Club
  
• The Birth of International Football – Scottish Football Hall of Fame; Hampden Park
  
• The 150th Anniversary of International Football – West of Scotland Cricket Club
  
• Masterclass by Rose Reilly – Glasgow Caledonian University

The first two events will tell the story of the pioneering trailblazers of international football to the media, politicians and custodians of the game, and explain why they have to tell everyone this story. We have a simple mission to spread the word of the Scotch Professors and how they changed the footballing world forever.

Our third event is at West of Scotland Cricket Ground from 12:30pm to 3pm on St Andrew’s Day and will give fans the opportunity to make the pilgrimage to the hallowed ground of ‘Game One’. The Hampden Collection has teamed up with the West of Scotland Cricket Club to provide fans with the opportunity to stand on the ground on the 150th anniversary. We will be on hand to explain this story in more detail, as you walk in the footsteps of giants, and relive the most important and influential football match in football history. This is the opportunity to celebrate the 150th birthday of the Tartan Army in style.

Our final event is at 5:30pm on St Andrews Day at Glasgow Caledonian University. GCU are hosting a masterclass with a modern Scotch Professor, and one of Scotland’s greatest living footballing exports. Rose Reilly has won the World Cup and is a legend in the women’s game, and will be interviewed by Dr Fiona Skillen. You can get your free ticket to this event at the following link:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/masterclass-with-dr-rose-reilly-tickets-444080676257

These events will showcase the beautiful game and will signal the start of a decade of celebrations. We hope to see you there.

Please get in touch and support our mission.