Under 16s world cup 1989

[Blue Lou Boyle]

Anyone else remember this?

Always think of only an excuse: "lets take nothing away from the Saudis - well, perhaps maybe a photocopy of their birth certificates!"

How Scotland almost won the World Cup

Hosts Scotland reached the 1989 under-16 World Cup final at Hampden - here BBC Scotland tells the story of a remarkable fortnight through the eyes of those who were there.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Blue As]

Yeah,went to the semi final v Portugal at Tynecastle and the final v The Men of Saudi Arabia.
Luis Figo played for Portugal.
Tremendous attendances at both games.

 

[SDF]

Yeah,went to the semi final v Portugal at Tynecastle and the final v The Men of Saudi Arabia.
Tremendous attendances at both games.

Semi final was delayed due to the turn out. Folk were turned away from the turnstiles.

 

[Blue As]

Semi final was delayed due to the turn out. Folk were turned away from the turnstiles.

Yeah,remember it being totally mobbed,we went in earlier than planned due to the crowds.

 

[muttley]

That Saudi team will be in their 70's now.

 

[RangersUK]

Was just thinking about this the other day. Was the last game I went to with my dad (and only game I actually went to with mum and sister also). Even then I could tell the Saudi players were men, and I was only 9. Did they also not get caught at a nightclub after it, showing their ID cards? Fubar in Stirling I think it was. Haha

 

[iaatpies]

Used to laugh at the suggestion that the Saudi players were waving to their wives and children in the crowd.

 

[RFCStu]

It was a proud day for the Saudi's with their wives and kids watching on.

 

[broono]

Was just thinking about this the other day. Was the last game I went to with my dad (and only game I actually went to with mum and sister also). Even then I could tell the Saudi players were men, and I was only 9. Did they also not get caught at a nightclub after it, showing their ID cards? Fubar in Stirling I think it was. Haha

I think you're right.

Think it might have been Victoria's.

 

[BWO]

Yeah,went to the semi final v Portugal at Tynecastle and the final v The Men of Saudi Arabia.
Luis Figo played for Portugal.
Tremendous attendances at both games.

& Rui Costa

 

[tazzabear]

It was a proud day for the Saudi's with their wives and kids watching on.

There were a couple of crackers going around regarding their age.
This was/is one of the best.

 

[tazzabear]

& Rui Costa

So?
We had Brian O’Neill.

 

[tazzabear]

Semi final was delayed due to the turn out. Folk were turned away from the turnstiles.

Last commentary on the clip:
“The goalkeeper was stranded”.
He was on the penalty spot.

 

[Coruña Loyal]

Nuno Capucho was also in the Portugal squad, with Carlos Queiroz as coach.

Scotland line-up in the final was:

Wills, McMillan, Marshall, Bain, Beattie, Downie
(Murray), Lindsey, O'Neill, Bollan, McGoldrick
(McLaren), Dickov; coach: Craig Brown]

 

[JohnD]

Two of the Saudis had walking sticks and one had incontinence pants.

 

[Jim Prideaux]

Paul Dickov scored a great goal IIRC.

 

[RangersUK]

I think you're right.

Think it might have been Victoria's.

Possibly could have been but I’ve got Fubar stuck in my head regarding their team. My old man was from Tullibody and I’m sure that’s how I remember. Crazy situation though.

 

[Blue Lou Boyle]

Interesting reading what happened to some of the players.

A taxi driver, a postman, working in a tannery.

At 16 playing for your country (regardess of the level) at hampden in a final in front of 50 odd thousand you would be forgiven for thinking you were on your way to a good career.

The hard work (and a certain amount of luck) has barely started.

 

[WinkieWATP]

Gary Bollan being a speedy skilful winger.

 

[TheStLouisBlue]

The Saudi Arabian players told stories of their victory to their grandchildren - after the game.

 

[Speedbird1966]

That Saudi team will be in their 70's now.

I went to a few of the games and worked at the airport at the time so went along to see them leave with the trophy. Saw them up close, no way were they that age !!

 

[broono]

Possibly could have been but I’ve got Fubar stuck in my head regarding their team. My old man was from Tullibody and I’m sure that’s how I remember. Crazy situation though.

You might be right.

Maybe I've got Vicky's in my head because it was Glasgow's premier nightclub at the time.

 

[Davidsmith1]

& Rui Costa

Not Rui
Was a
Different Costa.

 

[Davidsmith1]

Nuno Capucho was also in the Portugal squad, with Carlos Queiroz as coach.

Scotland line-up in the final was:

Wills, McMillan, Marshall, Bain, Beattie, Downie
(Murray), Lindsey, O'Neill, Bollan, McGoldrick
(McLaren), Dickov; coach: Craig Brown]

Rui Capucho not Nuno

 

[Davidsmith1]

Claudio Reyna was in the American team.

 

[Alfonsbear]

Went to the final. I will always remember all the Saudi players gathering for prayer before the game started. Right in front of the where the Rangers end joined the main stand. Someone in the crowd shouted "there's only one salman Rushdie" at the top of his voice. Cue hysterics amongst the punters. Would probably get lifted for it now.

 

[rez1872]

I was at the final with my BB football team.

Luis Figo played for Portugal.

 

[BWO]

Not Rui
Was a
Different Costa.

You sure about that?

Brown recalls Scotland's World Cup heroes 30 years on from Hampden heartbreak

The U16 side of 1989 were beaten on penalties by a Saudi Arabia side many feel

www.dailyrecord.co.uk

 

[Number_9]

The final is the only Scotland game I have ever been to

 

[Trueblue1968]

there is no doubt that the saudis cheated, some of the players in the final had moustaches etc

 

[mfgorm]

I was at the final. Just remember it being a typical Scottish let down.

 

[Davidsmith1]

You sure about that?

Brown recalls Scotland's World Cup heroes 30 years on from Hampden heartbreak

The U16 side of 1989 were beaten on penalties by a Saudi Arabia side many feel

www.dailyrecord.co.uk

No info on his list of tournaments played and it’s listing another Costa and a Rui Capucho.

 

[Spart7]

Yeah,went to the semi final v Portugal at Tynecastle and the final v The Men of Saudi Arabia.
Luis Figo played for Portugal.
Tremendous attendances at both games.

Was at that too, on crutches.

 

[top_cat]

Aye, all under 16, ffs!

Bottom row, second from the left, 3 wives, 6 weans

 

[Smkz23]

You sure about that?

Brown recalls Scotland's World Cup heroes 30 years on from Hampden heartbreak

The U16 side of 1989 were beaten on penalties by a Saudi Arabia side many feel

www.dailyrecord.co.uk

Whoever wrote that article has mistaken the Costa that Craig Brown refers to as being Rui Costa.

 

[hms]

Was just thinking about this the other day. Was the last game I went to with my dad (and only game I actually went to with mum and sister also). Even then I could tell the Saudi players were men, and I was only 9. Did they also not get caught at a nightclub after it, showing their ID cards? Fubar in Stirling I think it was. Haha

Sax in Cumbernauld

 

[gizmico1986]

Jim Beattie passed away recently of MND.

 

[RangersUK]

Sax in Cumbernauld

They must have had some size of squad, never mind age of squad, if they could spread themselves around Fubar Stirling, Vickies in Glasgow and also Sax in Cumberland haha

 

[Carson1912]

Went to the final. I will always remember all the Saudi players gathering for prayer before the game started. Right in front of the where the Rangers end joined the main stand. Someone in the crowd shouted "there's only one salman Rushdie" at the top of his voice. Cue hysterics amongst the punters. Would probably get lifted for it now.

I'm sure there was a chant of "what the fucking hell is that what the fucking hell is that" when they started praying.The good old days when folk could actually take a slagging.

 

[CrocodileDundee]

I got to meet pele at dens park which was very surreal. It was a schools in service day and I was off and told my dad I was gonna chance my luck and get into dens as I knew Pele was going to be there. My old man tried to tell me you’ve no chance but off I went with my Brazil top and a pen.

The side door to dens was wide open and I just casually walked in and waited on Andy Roxburgh to do a training season with a local school and then Pele appeared.

He was total gent, signed autographs for everyone in attendance and when it came to me I shook his hand and got him to sign my shirt. The pen wasn’t working great but he took ages on it to make sure it came out perfect. Probably my most prized possession and my dad still says it’s his biggest regret not coming with me.

 

[charlie_snowball]

I was at the final too. My old boy's pal took me with his boy who was the most annoying, thick boy you'd ever meet. That was until I met his wee pal that also came along...

Anyway, crushing blow to be beaten by the Saudis as they weren't a "football country". That was my 11 year old mindset anyway, irrespective of them being clearly in their mid 20s at the time.

 

[Blue Lou Boyle]

Aye, all under 16, ffs!

Bottom row, second from the left, 3 wives, 6 weans

He looks old enough to be their manager.

 

[GazzaG]

Jim Beattie passed away recently of MND.

Jim was a decent guy, remember him from his Petershill days in the 90s.

Knew he had passed away, but had no idea it was MND.

Horrible bastard of a disease.

 

[hambear]

I was at the final. The only time I stood on the terracing at the Rangers end of hampden.

 

[Teddy Casablanca]

I' m sure when Scotland played Portugal at Tynecastle. As Jock( is the Rangers player offside)Brown was reading the team line- ups at the beginning of the game. I think he described Figo as the Portuguese midfield hard man.

 

[DarthVader]

I was 13, went to a all the games at Fir Park with friends. My whole family went to the final.

If I recall correctly, Fir Park got an extra late stage game because of good attendances.

 

[Cambuslangger]

I was part of the opening ceremony. Held the name of the Columbia team as we walked out on the pitch. However, due to the piss poor quality of the name placard, the stick snapped! Then a comedy moment of me chasing it about the park like a fanny….

 

[1914-18]

My neighbours nephew played I'm sure, name was Dolan

 

[1BrianLaudrup]

My dad took me to a game at Tynecastle, I'm assuming it was the semi final. It would be another year or so before I really got the bug for football, but I remember being there. Think we also went to see Brazil v Bahrain, two countries I'd never heard of at that time so had no idea of the gulf in footballing tradition between them. I supported Bahrain that day for some reason. Think they lost on penalties.

 

[Crouchy]

My neighbours nephew played I'm sure, name was Dolan

William Dolan.

Tim defender.