A Look Into Histories

A LOOK INTO HISTORY TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY

UNDER 18’s DAVID MOYES v MARK HUGHES

Annual Schools Internationals between Scotland, Wales and England had always been at under 15 level but this changed in 1964 with the first Scotland v Wales game at Under 18 level played at Motherwell’s Fir Park (1-1).
As this story relates entirely to our Match Programme priced 20p on glossy paper, the game in question, Scotland Under 18’s v Wales Under 18’s was played on Saturday 17th May 1980 at Meadowbank Stadium in Edinburgh and readers were kept well informed with results such as England beating Scotland 3 0 at Lincoln City FC and Wales drawing 1 1 with England at Cwmbran. The game would be 40 minutes each way and subs could only be up to two boys and the goalkeeper. Outside of the regular competition, the Under 18’s had also played England in a friendly on May 3rd losing 0-1. A photograph of the team at the Lincoln City match was followed by pen pictures, the team line-ups, former schoolboy caps including Celtic’s Billy McNeil in 1958, Craig Brown in 1958, Lou Macari 1966, Danny McGrain 1971/1972 and Andy Gray 1973. Full details of the recent Under 15 European Championship were given showing that Scotland won out of 10 countries though England did not take part so the Scottish side played them at Motherwell on 12th April winning 2-1.
The most significant piece of history with this game in s May 1980 was the Scottish No 5 and captain who was David Moyes of my old school Bearsden Academy and had led his side to the first ever Under 18’s Division One Glasgow Schools title in 1979-80 and would go on to retain same in 1981. He had played for West Dunbartonshire in the trials and was in his second season as a member of the Glasgow Schools team and played Manchester Boys on 26th April 1980 at Hampden Park. He was undecided as to a future career !! Celtic had him on an “S” form though there was no mention that he was playing for Drumchapel Amateurs the first club of Sir Alex Ferguson. His success with West Ham United was front page news with victory in the Europa Conference League in June 2023.

At No 9 for Wales and marked by David Moyes was Mark Hughes of Wrexham who it’s said had signed for Manchester United and enjoyed table tennis and squash. His ambition was to gain honours at International level and to that desire came success with 72 appearances for Wales and both players also carving out successful Management careers Moyes now at Everton and Hughes at Carlisle.