EVERYONE knows Glasgow loves its football – but did you know the first ever official international match was played here in the city, 147 years ago this month?

When Scotland took on England at the West of Scotland Cricket ground in Partick, on the very fitting occasion of St Andrew's Day, it was the start of a long love-hate relationship between the two sides – and a day the city would remember with pride.

The Scottish Football Museum celebrates the event with a range of fascinating pictures and memorabilia, including the only surviving ticket stub from the match, which reads:

“International Foot-Ball Match (Association Rules), England v Scotland, West of Scotland Cricket Ground, Hamilton Crescent, Partick, Saturday, 30th November, 1872 at 2pm. Admission – one shilling.”

Ladies were admitted free.

Glasgow Times:

READ MORE: Iconic Scotland v England first Hampden Park mural completed

The museum collection, a fascinating insight into the early days of football in Glasgow, includes the cap worn by famous Scottish player Walter Arnott in an 1893 game against England and a photograph of him wearing it.

Its display explains the background to the very first match between Scotland and the Auld Enemy: “There were actually five unofficial international matches played between teams representing Scotland and England since 1870, none of which Scotland won.

“Strangely, all players selected for the Scottish sides, and England sides, in these early unofficial internationals were mainly from the London area; with the majority playing for the Scotland team not actually Scottish.

“It took a man called Charles Alcock, the FA General Secretary, to write a public letter in the Glasgow and Edinburgh newspapers offering a challenge for a team made up of Scots to face a team of 11 Englishmen.

“This challenge would ignite a spark, for Queen’s Park Football Club decided to take Mr Alcock up in his offer.

“Robert Gardner and David Wotherspoon of Queen’s Park, whilst playing in London for a Queen’s Park FA Cup tie, stayed in the capital post-match to meet with the FA to arrange the fixture.

“Due to Edinburgh not being accustomed to association football code, both parties agreed Glasgow would be the best location for the tie.”

Glasgow Times:

The historic match was attended by around 2500 spectators, bussed in from around the city - this was a spectacle no-one wanted to miss.

The museum notes that although 2pm was the official kick-off time , the start of the game would be delayed because both teams spent time preparing - and if surviving sketches done by William Ralston are anything to go by, it seems the England players warmed up while smoking pipes.

The Herald, sister newspaper of the Evening Times, included a comprehensive match report.

It stated: ‘Both sides were working hard, and showing excellent play. The Englishmen had all the advantage of weight, their average being two stone heavier than the Scotchmen and they had the advantage of pace.

“The strong point of the home club was that they played excellently well together.”

The game finished in a goalless draw, but the seed was sown, and a rematch swiftly followed in March, which England won 4-2. Henry Renny-Taylour was the first ever goal-scorer for Scotland.

One week later, the Scottish FA formed, taking responsibility of the Scotland National Team.

Find out more about the Scottish Football Museum at Hampden Park, Scotland’s national stadium, or online at scottishfootballmuseum.org.uk

*Send us your footballing memories of Glasgow’s great games through the decades, whether at local, national or international level. Write to Ann Fotheringham, Features, Evening Times, 200 Renfield Street, Glasgow G2 3QB or email ann.fotheringham@heraldandtimes.co.uk