Scotland 42 England 1: An Englishman's Mazy Dribble through Scottish Football

by Mark Winter

Scotland 42 England 1 is an English OAP's light-hearted and affectionate look at Scottish football. Growing up in the 60s when 'abroad isn't for the likes of us' was a common refrain, Mark Winter developed a fascination with Scotland and its football clubs, his interest piqued by listening to the football results in compulsory silence as his grandad's pools coupon was checked. The process provoked many questions in the mind of the impressionable eight-year-old. Why had Third Lanark, apparently out of pure spite, won and stopped his grandad becoming a rich man? If East Fife was a town, why wasn't it on a map? When playing those cunning continentals, why did Scottish teams suddenly become British when they won? Fifty years later, Mark decides to visit all 42 league clubs north of Hadrian's Wall to separate the myths from the facts. Setting off from Dover each time, invariably he is met by a warm welcome, a hot pie and a strong drink. Along the way he has to climb the odd mountain. What he expects and what he finds are quite different.

320 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2023

Reviews

[Ray Smillie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gentle look at Scottish football from a fellow DAFC fan (albeit Dover Athletic rather than my beloved Dunfermline Athletic) and his extensive travels to visit every senior ground north of the border. Very much a solo affair for Mark Winter with a few trips that didn't go to plan, mainly because the planned fixture had been moved, cancelled or mysteriously just didn't happen. By the time of publication he admits that Bonnyrigg Rose were part of the 42 and he hadn't seen them however, I am sure he will have rectified that. A worthy read.

[William Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read